WETV ON ASTRA: SHARING EXPO2000 WITH EUROPE

From July 3, 2000, a new, international television service, WETV will begin broadcasts of programmes from EXPO2000, the World Exposition, via ASTRA, Europe's leading direct-to-home satellite system. This English-language WETV service, produced by WETV's studio on the EXPO2000 site in Hanover, Germany, will be available free of charge to European digital audiences on ASTRA transponder number 112 (frequency 12610.5 GHz; V-polarisation).

WETV's EXPO2000 international lifestyle magazine programme, "Welcome to the Global Village", will be broadcast each Monday and Saturday starting 6.00 p.m. CET, enabling viewers at home to enjoy unique coverage of the national pavilions and special events at the first World Exposition of the 21st century.

WETV is a new international broadcaster based in Ottawa, Canada. WETV uses television and the Internet to provide world-wide audiences with programming that shares the stories of people from all corners of the globe. WETV joins over 70 freely available and easy to receive digital TV channels, in 11 different languages, on ASTRA at 19.2° East.

The reception of WETV and of the full line-up of digital free-to-air channels on ASTRA at 19.2° East just requires a digital set-top-box and a dish equipped with a Universal LNB pointed at 19.2° East. Owners of existing digital set-top-boxes can either automatically or manually re-tune their receivers to view WETV on ASTRA transponder number 112; frequency 12610.5 GHz; V-polarisation, FEC 5/6; symbol rate 22 Msym/s).

EXPO2000 has united around 180 nations from around the globe within a common theme "Humankind, Nature, Technology: A New World Arising" Amongst the participating countries is the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, home to the ASTRA Satellite System (Hall 14). On the Luxembourg stand the visitors can experience the future's audio-visual broadband communication integrating live TV and radio, cached video and the unlimited space of the Internet, and providing unlimited connectivity to entertainment and information, instantly and on demand.

For further information please contact:

About WETV

WETV is a new, international broadcaster that uses television and the Internet to provide world-wide audiences with programming that shares the stories of people from all corners of the globe. Its EXPO2000 programmes highlight the Exposition while exploring issues of sustainable living. WETV also invites viewers to "Speak Out" through the Internet in a weekly opinion poll on vital issues about the future of our planet.

About SES/ASTRA

Société Européenne des Satellites S.A. (SES) is the operator of ASTRA, Europe's leading direct-to-home Satellite System. Via nine active satellites at the orbital positions of 19.2° East and 28.2° East, ASTRA transmits in analogue and digital more than 950 different television and radio channels as well as multimedia and Internet services to an audience of close to 78 million homes in Europe. Four additional satellites are under construction and are due for launch before end 2001. SES is also a major shareholder in AsiaSat, since acquiring a 34.13% stake on January 15th, 1999.

SES securities are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (symbol: SES) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (symbol: SDSL).