Agreement Reached To Lease Satellite Capacity

Friday, 7 April, 2006

Agreement Reached To Lease Satellite Capacity

BCL, TVWorks and TVNZ have reached agreement to negotiate a full transponder on the Optus D1 satellite which will enable the provision of free to air satellite delivered digital television services. The Optus D1 satellite is due to be launched later this year.

The agreement provides that BCL will lease satellite space directly with Optus and then sublease to both TVWorks and TVNZ, allowing a co-operative approach to providing the service under a single satellite based standard.

Geoff Hunt, THL Group CEO, said “BCL is pleased to be able to work with the broadcasters to start along the path to free to air digital television for New Zealand

Rick Friesen, COO of TVWorks indicated “We are all looking forward to being able to provide New Zealand with an alternative digital service and all the challenges that will bring”.

Rodney Parker, CFO of TVNZ said “TVNZ will be migrating it’s services currently transmitted on Optus B1 to Optus D1, and sublease capacity from BCL rather than directly from Optus”,.

Announcements regarding the launch of free to air digital television services are not expected until later in the year.

ENDS

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