Telewizja Polska to broadcast five digital TV channels via ASTRA 19.2 ° East
Additional digital bouquet of thematic channels to follow in 2006
SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), has gained the Polish public TV broadcaster TVP (Telewizja Polska SA) as a new customer on its ASTRA Satellite System. According to a new long-term contract, TVP will broadcast its five existing TV channels in digital via ASTRA 19.2° East starting October 1st, 2005. Furthermore, TVP is preparing to launch on ASTRA a new digital bouquet of thematic channels in 2006. TVP is one of the biggest public TV broadcasters in Central and Eastern Europe and commands a total market share of 52% of the TV audience in Poland.
The TVP offer on ASTRA will comprise TVP1, TVP2, TVP3 Regionalna, TVP Kultura and TV Polonia. TVP will use the ASTRA transponder No. 59 (10861.75 MHz, horizontal-polarization, 22 Msymb/s, FEC: 5/6) at the orbital position of 19.2° East.
Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA, said: "With this breakthrough agreement, SES ASTRA will engage in a significant activity in the all important Polish TV market. We are very proud that TVP selected ASTRA for the satellite distribution of its digital programs and the roll-out of its digital bouquet. Partnering with TVP is a milestone in the development of our position in the Central and Eastern European markets."
Piotr Gawel, Vice President Marketing and Sales of TVP, said: "The progress of digital TV will allow us to overcome the capacity restrictions of terrestrial TV and significantly enhance our offer to viewers. It will allow us to enter exciting new fields like thematic channels and interactive services. With SES ASTRA as our new satellite service provider, we are delighted to provide the highest quality transmission to our customers and viewers."
The collaboration between SES ASTRA and TVP has been announced today at a joint press conference in Warsaw.
For further information please contact:
About TVP | www.tvp.pl |
Polish Television (TVP) is the largest and most experienced broadcaster in Poland. Polish Television TVP comprises 5 channels and 16 regional stations. These channels are TVP1, TVP2, TVP3 featuring local news and stories, TV Polonia, a channel specially created for Polish expatriate communities worldwide and finally TVP Kultura, which presents programmes dedicated to presentation wide area of art, science and history. Together they stand for 52% of the national TV market. Polish Television reaches virtually every home in Poland. We broadcast more than 110,000 hours of programming each year via four channels. TVP1 and TVP2 are the largest nationwide television channels in Poland, covering 98.7% and 97.9% of the country respectively and reaching 99% of the population.
TVP has been for years a major producer of TV shows, feature movies and drama. TVP airs many programs that do not have any equivalents in commercial stations, among them a wide selection of cultural offers and the truly unique Polish TV Theatre. There cannot be good television without good film. Polish Television is the largest producer of made-for television films in Poland, which means that TVP viewers can virtually follow the accomplishments of Polish filmmakers as they occur. TVP is the largest Polish producer of documentary films. It also participates in the production of prestigious feature movies.
TVP is a full-fledged member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) since 1993 and participates on numerous occasions in the works of the organization's executive bodies, task teams and work groups. TVP belongs to many international media organizations, incl.: URTI (International Radio and Television University), Bruges Group (European Trans-National Public Service Broadcasters), CIRCOM Regional (European Association of Regional TV Stations), EGTA (European Group of Television Advertising), IAA (International Advertising Agency), NAB (National Association of Broadcasters - the USA), EUROSPORT and many others.
Since January 2001, TVP has been an associate member of ARTE, the European Cultural Channel. TVP has been cooperating with ARTE since 1996.
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About SES ASTRA | www.ses-astra.com |
The ASTRA Satellite System is the leading Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite system in Europe, delivering services to some 103 million Direct-to-Home and cable households. The ASTRA satellite fleet currently comprises 13 satellites, transmitting in excess of 1400 analogue and digital television and radio channels as well as multimedia and Internet services. ASTRA's two prime orbital positions for DTH services are 19.2° East and 28.2° East. Professional services such as Direct-to cable (DTC), Satellite Newsgathering (SNG) and Occasional Use are offered from the orbital position of 23.5° East.
SES ASTRA is an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG). SES GLOBAL wholly owns two market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, and SES AMERICOM in the US. The Company also holds strategic participations in AsiaSat in Asia, Star One and Nahuelsat in Latin America, and NSAB in Europe. Additional info on SES GLOBAL at: www.ses-global.com.
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