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Photo credit: GETTY IMAGES (Skynesher)
Photo credit: GETTY IMAGES (Skynesher)

Press release -

wedotv LAUNCHES THREE FAST CHANNELS ON EUTELSAT HOTBIRD SATELLITES

  • · FAST Channels wedotv movies, wedotv BIG stories, and wedotv sports Now Available Free-to-Air Across Europe via HOTBIRD
  • · Utilising HbbTV Technology to harmonise the broadcast and broadband delivery of entertainment services through connected TVs, settop boxes and multiscreen devices
  • · Expanded partnership highlights the continued importance of satellite distribution to reach wider audiences

Paris, June 9, 2025 – Eutelsat Group (ISIN: FR0010221234 - Euronext Paris / London Stock Exchange: ETL) and wedotv, the global ad-supported streaming TV network, have signed a new deal to include three of their free-to-air streaming channels on Eutelsat’s HOTBIRD satellites at 13° East. New German-language FAST channels, wedotv movies, wedotv BIG stories, and wedotv sports are now available to homes across Europe via HOTBIRD.

wedotv has been an early adopter of HbbTV (hybrid broadcast broadband TV) technology to facilitate the launch of its streaming channels on cable and satellite platforms. The company launched an Italian version of its wedotv movies channel on Eutelsat’s HOTBIRD fleet two years ago utilising this technology with great success. The high-power HOTBIRD satellites form one of the largest broadcasting systems across Europe and MENA thanks to their unique extensive coverage. In Europe alone, they reach more than 130 million TV homes, with over 90% cable and IPTV penetration.

Now with this deal, wedotv is significantly expanding its reach, and again, using HbbTV technology to enable dynamic ad insertion on all channels.

HbbTV has been making steady gains in Europe and recently reached a milestone of 100 million households, according to the HbbTV Association. By combining traditional broadcasting with broadband technology, HbbTV creates an interactive and user-friendly viewing experience, improving the way viewers connect with content.

“Eutelsat has been a great partner for us at wedotv. Not only are our channels accessible to consumers via the HOTBIRD satellites, but additionally every cable network or IPTV service in the region can downlink these free-to-air channels for their basic cable packages. Further, we are happy to announce that we found our first partner on the ground in Switzerland. Kabelio will add all three channels into their EPG on position 40, 41 and 42. This greatly expands consumers’ access to our channels across Europe while also enabling dynamic ad insertion thanks to HbbTV technology,said Philipp Rotermund, wedotv co-CEO.

Aymeric Genty, President of the Eutelsat Video Business Unit added, “We are delighted to welcome these new FAST channels from wedotv to our flagship HOTBIRD video neighbourhood. Thanks to the extensive reach of our HOTBIRD satellites we are able to increase their distribution, bringing them to new audiences beyond terrestrial networks while being supported by advertising aligned with the FAST Industry.”

wedotv movies offers viewers a selection of top international and German-language films. wedotv BIG storiesis focused on nonfiction lifestyle and documentary content. wedotv sportsfeatures German live coverage of such sports events as German Sailing Bundesliga, SailGP, MotoGP, and Breeder’s Cup, as well as weekly highlights programs from football, Formula 1, e-sports and more.

Further expanding on the capabilities of HbbTV, wedotv’s full AVOD platform (wedotv.com) will be made available to users via “red button” access in the HOTBIRD app in the coming months.

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About Eutelsat Group

Eutelsat Group is a global leader in satellite communications, delivering connectivity and broadcast services worldwide. The Group was formed through the combination of the Company and OneWeb in 2023, becoming the first fully integrated GEO-LEO satellite operator with a fleet of 35 Geostationary satellites and a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation of more than 600 satellites. The Group addresses the needs of customers in four key verticals of Video, where it distributes more than 6,500 television channels, and the high-growth connectivity markets of Mobile Connectivity, Fixed Connectivity, and Government Services. Eutelsat Group’s unique suite of in-orbit assets and ground infrastructure enables it to deliver integrated solutions to meet the needs of global customers. The Company is headquartered in Paris and the Eutelsat Group employs more than 1,500 people across more than 50 countries. The Group is committed to delivering safe, resilient, and environmentally sustainable connectivity to help bridge the digital divide. The Company is listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ticker: ETL) and the London Stock Exchange (ticker: ETL)

Find out more at www.eutelsat.com

Media enquiries

Joanna Darlington
Tel. +33 674 521 531
jdarlington@eutelsat.com

Anita Baltagi
Tel. +33 +33 643 930 178
abaltagi@eutelsat.com

Katie Dowd
Tel. +1 202 271 2209
kdowd@oneweb.net

Investors

Joanna Darlington
Tel. +33 674 521 531
jdarlington@eutelsat.com

Hugo Laurens Berge
Tel. +33 670 80 95 58
hlaurensberge@eutelsat.com

DISCLAIMER

The forward-looking statements included herein are for illustrative purposes only and are based on management’s views and assumptions as of the date of this document. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks. For illustrative purposes only, such risks include but are not limited to: risks related to the health crisis; operational risks related to satellite failures or impaired satellite performance, or failure to roll out the deployment plan as planned and within the expected timeframe; risks related to the trend in the satellite telecommunications market resulting from increased competition or technological changes affecting the market; risks related to the international dimension of the Group's customers and activities; risks related to the adoption of international rules on frequency coordination and financial risks related, inter alia, to the financial guarantee granted to the Intergovernmental Organization's closed pension fund, and foreign exchange risk. Eutelsat Communications expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any projections, forecasts or estimates contained in this document to reflect any change in events, conditions, assumptions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based, unless so required by applicable law. The information contained in this document is not based on historical fact and should not be construed as a guarantee that the facts or data mentioned will occur. This information is based on data, assumptions and estimates that the Group considers as reasonable.

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