NEW: THE ASTRA-MOSAIC GOES LIVE

Société Européenne des Satellites is delighted to announce the launch of an exciting free interactive viewer service - The ASTRA-Mosaic. The ASTRA-Mosaic is an easy to use on-screen guide featuring the growing choice of freely available digital TV channels on ASTRA 19.2°East.

As well as providing an overview of over 65 pan-European channels available via ASTRA, viewers equipped with a Mediahighway receiver, approximately 75% of all ASTRA digital satellite homes at 19.2° East, will be able to directly access their selected channel from the ASTRA-Mosaic.

Just by selecting the channel logo, Mediahighway viewers will see the current programme details displayed on the bottom of the screen. Then, to select the desired channel, all the viewer has to do is press the OK button on their remote control.

To make full channel choice even easier, links have been created to the information channels of digital bouquets using Mediahighway technology: Canal Digitaal in the Netherlands, Canal Satélite Digital in Spain and Canal+ and Canal Satellite in France.

Accessing the ASTRA Mosaic on transponder 108 (12.551 GHz, Polarisation V, Symbol rate 22.0 MSymb/s, FEC5/6) is easy too. In France, on all Canal Satellite receivers, the ASTRA Mosaic can be found on channel 123. In the Netherlands, viewers with a Canal + Seca receiver will find the ASTRA-Mosaic on channel 55.

Commenting on the introduction of this new service, Yves Elsen, Commercial and Marketing Director of SES stated: "We are convinced the ASTRA-Mosaic will prove to be an invaluable tool for our expanding digital audience. With an ever-increasing choice of high quality pan-European services joining the digital line-up on ASTRA, the Mosaic provides an excellent overview of the growing range and variety of channels available. The service also helps viewers to quickly and easily access the channel and programmes they want to watch."

Later this year the ASTRA-Mosaic will be expanded to include the digital radio services on ASTRA. The service will be regularly updated as new freely available channels join the ASTRA digital line up at 19.2°East.

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