PR/16/06
NTV-PLUS, RUSSIA’S LEADING PAY-TV PLATFORM, EXPANDS RESOURCE ON
EUTELSAT’S W4 SATELLITE THROUGH NEW CONTRACT WITH RSCC
Paris, 21 March 2006
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) announces that NTV-Plus, Russia’s leading
direct-to-home pay-TV platform, is boosting its capacity on Eutelsat’s W4 satellite from six to
eight transponders. The new agreement for high-power capacity on Eutelsat’s W4 satellite has
been concluded between NTV Plus and the RSCC (Russian Satellite Communications
Company), Russia’s national satellite communications operator and a longstanding partner with
Eutelsat in the Russian market.
The new capacity will be used by NTV-Plus to expand its pay-TV platform which was launched
in 1997 and today serves 450,000 subscriber homes, mainly located in Russia, through
Eutelsat’s W4 satellite. Since the beginning of March three new television channels (NTV-Plus
Tennis, NTV-Plus Sport Classic, Nash Football) have already joined the existing offer of 60
digital channels. Up to 20 further channels are planned for launch in the coming months.
“Since its launch on Eutelsat, NTV-Plus has built up its position as a key player in eastern
Europe’s vibrant broadcasting landscape,” said NTV-Plus Director General Dmitry Samokhin.
“Through this new capacity we are now equipped to extend and diversify the range of channels
we offer subscribers. The superior coverage provided by Eutelsat’s W4 satellite will also support
our expansion in CIS countries which are experiencing rapid development of digital services and
present great potential for growth for our digital platform.”
For Giuliano Berretta, Eutelsat CEO, “The development of our key video neighbourhood for
eastern Europe at 36 degrees East sits at the heart of our strategic objectives for Eutelsat’s
continued growth. NTV-Plus was the first broadcaster to deliver pay-TV to Russia from 36
degrees East and the first client to join our W4 satellite when it was launched in 2000. Today,
the success and the expansion of NTV-Plus consolidate our position in a region in which we
have built a longstanding presence and which we firmly believe will continue to expand as the
demand for broadcast and broadband services rapidly take hold.“