Al-Jazeera Networks selects two Eutelsat satellites to broadcast its new sports channels in France

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Al-Jazeera Networks selects two Eutelsat satellites to broadcast its new sports channels in France

beIN Sport 1 ready for launch on Eutelsat on June 1, followed by beIN Sport 2 this summer.



Paris, 24 May 2012 – Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) announced today that its HOT BIRD satellite TV neighbourhood at 13° East and the EUTELSAT 5 West A satellite at 5° West have been selected by beIN SPORT to broadcast its two new channels for the French market, beIN SPORT 1 et beIN SPORT 2.



beIN Sport 1 is on track for launch on June 1 and will show premium coverage of the UEFA Euro 2012 championship from June 8. Its sister channel, beIN Sport 2, will follow this summer.



The contract with Eutelsat follows beIN Sport’s acquisition of LFP Ligue (France’s Professional Football League) and UEFA Champions League rights and many other premium sports for the French market. Favouring two satellite TV positions already well-anchored in French TV homes will enable beIN Sport 1 and 2 to optimise their reach from day one and ensure the highest broadcast quality for live and exclusive viewing of premium sports.



For Michel de Rosen, CEO of Eutelsat: “The longstanding presence of two of our leading satellite TV neighbourhoods in France’s media landscape will be further consolidated by the arrival of beIN SPORT’s first television channels for viewers in France. The launch of these new TV ventures also testifies to the dynamic of the satellite broadcasting market that continues to welcome new players and programming concepts in order to deliver viewers premium content and the finest image quality. Eutelsat is delighted with this agreement to pursue our relationship with Al Jazeera, a vibrant and go-ahead international broadcasting group. “

Zone de couverture du satellite EUTELSAT HOTBIRD (13° Est)

Zone de couverture du satellite EUTELSAT 5WEST (5° Ouest)

 

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Al Jazeera to launch at 13° East and5° West, expects to profitable in “four to five years”
May 25, 2012


Al Jazeera Networks has chosen Eutelsat’s Hot Bird platform at 13° East and Eutelsat 5 West A at 5° West to broadcast its new sports channels in France. Al Jazeera’s beIN Sport 1 will launch on June 1, followed by beIN Sport 2 at the beginning of August.

beIN Sport 1 will show premium coverage of the UEFA Euro 2012 football championship from June 8. The 13° East and 5° West positions have a large DTH footprint in France. Al Jazeera has yet to strike a distribution deal with pay TV operator CanalSat, although it has deals with ISPs including Orange, Bouygues Telecom and Free as well as cable operator Numericable.

At a press conference in Paris, president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi said he expected the channels to be profitable in four to five years, despite Qatar’s large investment, the relatively low subscription price of €11 and the fact that the channels will initially be free-to-view between 06:00-09:00, 12:30-13:30 and 19:00-20:30.