22 March 2013

JSC Global Contact Consulting, the Georgian media company,has selected Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) for a new satellite broadcasting platform called Global TV. The company has signed a multi-year lease for capacity on the powerful EUTELSAT 36B satellite, using the widebeam footprint that provides premium coverage of Georgia, surrounding regions and as far as Western Europe. JSC Global Contact Consulting will initiate satellite broadcasting this month, starting with four Free-to-Air channels and progressively expanding to include both Georgian and international channels.

In order to accelerate access to the new platform, JSC Global Contact Consulting plans to install several thousand dishes across Georgia over the next two years that will be pointed to EUTELSAT 36B at 36° East.

Zurab Bazlidze, Director General of JSC Global Contact Consulting, commented: "The EUTELSAT 36B satellite quickly emerged as the platform of choice for our new venture. It combines the power we need for DTH broadcasting with exceptional coverage of our chosen regions. We can launch our new platform confident that the service and support provided by Eutelsat will accelerate the success of this new broadcasting initiative in Georgia."

Jean-François Leprince-Ringuet, Eutelsat's Chief Commercial Officer, added: "We welcome JSC Global Contact Consulting onto the powerful EUTELSAT 36B satellite that offers strong opportunities for continued growth. Satellite broadcasting in Georgia is poised to enter a new era and we look forward to building a longstanding relationship with our new partner."