Thematic Channels From Across Europe and Africa Awarded for Highest
Quality of Content and Innovation

PARIS, November 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The winners of this year's
prestigious HOT BIRD(TM) TV Awards, the only international event recognizing the
highest quality of content creation and innovation by thematic satellite
television channels, were honored on November 20 at a gala ceremony in Venice.

The Awards are bestowed by a jury of media experts and organized annually by
Eutelsat in partnership with Eurovisioni and Satexpo. In addition to channels
participating from across Europe and the Mediterranean Basin, this year's event
was the first to include broadcasters from across Africa, further broadening the
range and diversity of content considered by the jury in each thematic category.

Almost 150 channels from 20 countries entered this year's event, making it the
most significant since the HOT BIRD(TM) TV Awards were established in 1998. The
winning channels selected by the jury for 2009 are:


    HOT BIRD(TM) TV AWARDS

    CATEGORY               CHANNEL           LANGUAGE
    HDTV                   HD Suisse         French, German, Italian,
                                             Rhaeto-Romanic
    Children's             Tv-nanny          Russian
    Cinema                 Wojna i Pokoi     Polish
    Culture/Education      Zakon Tv          Russian
    Documentaries          Vremya            Russian
    Fiction                M-Net Action      English
    Lifestyle              Body in balance   German
    Music                  Trace Tropical    French
    News                   BBC Persian       Farsi
       Excellence Award         SKY News 24       Italian
    Sport                  SKY Sport 24      Italian
    National Window        Yes Italia        Italian

Following the success over previous years of the People's Choice, viewers had
the possibility to once again enter their favourite channel for this popular
Award. This year's winner, Duna TV from Hungary, was the channel receiving most
viewer votes via leading TV websites.

To honour particular achievements in broadcasting, Eutelsat gave a Special Award
to China's CCTV9 that has consistently striven to generate diverse and quality
content abroad. An Award was also given to TivuSat, the new Italian platform
using satellite to extend access to national Digital Terrestrial Television
channels to homes beyond range of terrestrial reception.

In recognition of a new prize for thematic channels in Russia called 'Golden
Ray', an Award was also bestowed on Vesti, the 24-hour news channel. Finally, in
honour of their pioneering work in Europe on broadcasting and screening
prestigious 3D events, an Award was given by Satexpo to Ciel Ecran, Opensky, dbw
Communication and Eutelsat.

The Jury

The members of the international jury for the HOT BIRD(TM) TV AWARDS are:

Jerzy Barski, TV-Sat Magazine (Poland), Jacques Braun, Eurodata TV (France),
Paolo Dalla Chiara, Sat Expo (Italy), Giovanna Maggioni, Upa (Italy), Asu Maro,
Milliyet Sanat e Milliyet Daily (Turkey), Giacomo Mazzone, Eurovisioni (Europe),
Mimi Turner, Hollywood Reporter (Europe), Stephanie Boeczy, EGTA (Europe)

Jury coordinator: Duilio Giammaria, Rai (Itay). Technical expert: Mauro Roffi,
Mille Canali (Italy).

About Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the
holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 27 satellites
that provide coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle
East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is
one of the world's three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues. At 30
September 2009, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting 3,300 television
channels and 1,100 radio stations. More than 1,000 channels broadcast via its
HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood at 13 degrees East which serves over 123
million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
The Group's satellites also serve a wide range of fixed and mobile
telecommunications services, TV contribution markets, corporate networks, and
broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and for transport, maritime and
in-flight markets. Eutelsat's broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and
operates services through teleports in France and Italy that serve enterprises,
local communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa,
Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries
employ 615 commercial, technical and operational employees from 28 countries.

http://www.eutelsat.com

Eurovisioni

Eurovisioni, International Festival of Cinema and Television, was created in
1987 and now in its 23rd edition. Eurovisioni 2009 (from 11 to 14 of October)
was dedicated to creativity and innovation in the audiovisual market, is part of
the European events for the Year of Creativity, and received the patronage of
the Italian President, Giorgio Napolitano, the European Commissioner for
Information Society and Media, the Council of Europe, the Presidency of the
Council of Ministers, the Presidency of the Senate, the Presidency of the
Chamber of Deputies, the Lazio Region, the Province and Municipality of Rome,
and others. Among others, the initiative is supported by ARD, BBC, Canal +,
Eutelsat, France Télévision, RAI, RTVE, TVP, ZDF.


    The 2009 edition took place during the fourth International Film Festival
of Rome.
    http://www.eurovisioni.it

    Press Contacts
    Eutelsat
    Vanessa O'Connor
    HOT BIRD(TM) TV Awards
    Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88
    voconnor@eutelsat.fr

    Press Office in Italy:
    Eurovisioni
    Alessandra Lombardi
    Tel: +39-06-5960637
    Cell: +39-347-7589385
    http://www.hotbirdtvawards.com
    alexlomb@gmail.com

    Sat Expo
    Matteo Sassano
    Tel: +39-0444-543133
    matteo.sassano@pentastudio.it

SOURCE Eutelsat Communications