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Hiwire(TM) and SES AMERICOM Load the Programming Lineup for Mobile TV Trial

Posted on: Wednesday, 18 July 2007, 09:18 CDT

SES AMERICOM, an SES company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges: SESG), and Hiwire™, a subsidiary of Aloha Partners, the largest owner of 700 MHz spectrum in the U.S., today unveiled an initial group of TV content companies and channels that will be part of its overall channel lineup for the parties' upcoming consumer trials in Las Vegas. Consumer test participants will use the Hiwire Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H) system operating on their standard cell phones throughout the city.

The Hiwire Las Vegas trial will feature the largest channel lineup of high-quality multicast mobile television ever tested with consumers anywhere around the globe. The trial will also deliver up to three times as many channels as any similar mobile TV network in the United States, giving consumers the depth of programming that satisfies their appetite for TV.

Hiwire will leverage Aloha Partners' sizable 700 MHz spectrum capacity to deliver this unprecedented channel lineup of high-quality, full-frame rate TV to consumers. The channel lineup, procured by SES AMERICOM, includes top, leading programmers and networks, with seven channels from Discovery Communications (including Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, TLC, Discovery Kids and Discovery's dedicated mobile network, Discovery Mobile), six channels from MTV Networks (including CMT, COMEDY CENTRAL, MTV, Nickelodeon, Spike TV and VH1), two channels from Turner Broadcasting -- CNN Mobile Live and Cartoon Networks/Adult Swim Mobile, Anime Network, E!, Fox News Channel, Travel Channel, The Weather Channel, MavTV and AccuWeather.com. The parties are in discussions to add other programming services as well which will be finalized prior to the consumer launch, scheduled to begin this month.

"The Hiwire SES AMERICOM joint mobile TV trial is delivering three times the number of broadcast quality television channels of any other U.S. mobile TV system being utilized today," said Bill Squadron, President of SES AMERICOM's IP PRIME division. "By joining our impressive 24 channel lineup, this innovative group of programmers and networks will be able to learn right along with us when it comes to the consumer preferences and technical performance that the trial demonstrates."

"Our trial will be a historic milestone as we have amassed the largest channel lineup of high-quality, streaming mobile TV ever trialed by consumers" said Scott Wills, president and COO of Hiwire. "We deeply appreciate the support that our programming partners have shown and their commitment to uniquely test the impact of programming on mobile TV in the U.S. We all hope to gain new insights about mobile TV viewer's habits and needs."

About Hiwire™

Hiwire™ is a subsidiary of Aloha Partners, the largest owner of 700 MHz spectrum in the U.S. Hiwire will deploy its DVB-H wireless broadcast network to deliver more channels of high-resolution mobile television and music services than any other wireless network. The Hiwire network delivers a broad channel lineup that appeals to the diverse demographic groups of mobile consumers who want high-resolution TV and music delivered to their cell phones and other mobile devices. Hiwire will build and manage its mobile media broadcast network and offer it for use by wireless carriers and consumer electronic portable device makers. Using the Hiwire network offers the most cost effective way for companies to deliver high-quality entertainment channels to their consumers delivered under their own brand name.

About Aloha Partners

Based in Providence, Rhode Island, Aloha Partners is the largest owner of 700 MHz spectrum in the U.S., as a result of purchases during FCC auctions of 700 MHz radio frequencies in 2001 and 2003 and subsequent acquisitions of spectrum owners. Aloha Partners currently owns 12 MHz of spectrum across the United States, concentrating coverage in all of the top 10 and 80% of the population in the top 100 markets. Aloha owns 700 MHz spectrum on UHF channels 54 and 59. 700 MHz spectrum is considered the optimal spectrum to use for mobile TV applications because of its superior in-building penetration and its economical advantage to cover large areas.

About SES AMERICOM

The largest supplier of satellite services in the U.S., SES AMERICOM is recognized as a leading innovator of global satellite communications services. The company today operates a fleet of 15 spacecraft in orbital positions predominantly providing service throughout the Americas. As a member of the SES family, SES AMERICOM is able to provide end-to-end telecommunications solutions to any region of the world via a fleet of more than 36 satellites. In addition, AMERICOM Government Services, a wholly owned subsidiary, is dedicated to providing satellite-based communications solutions to both civilian and defense agencies of the U.S. government. With its combined operations, SES AMERICOM serves broadcasters, cable programmers, aeronautical and maritime communications integrators, Internet service providers, mobile communications networks, government agencies, educational institutions, carriers and secure global data networks with efficient communication and content distribution solutions.

Source: Business Wire

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