CABLE & WIRELESS OPTUS NOW DELIVERS SBS AUSTRALIA-WIDE

For the first time, SBS radio and television is now available throughout Australia with Cable & Wireless Optus beaming the SBS services via satellite.

A five year agreement with Cable & Wireless Optus allows SBS to expand its coverage beyond eastern states to include South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia.

John Filmer, Director of Enterprise, Cable & Wireless Optus, said the company is especially pleased to assist SBS to deliver its programming nationally given Cable & Wireless Optus has provided satellite distribution services for the broadcaster since 1986.

"The SBS decision to use Cable & Wireless Optus Aurora Digital Satellite Services re-affirms the Optus B3 satellite as the premium choice for the delivery of broadcasting services," said Mr Filmer.

The SBS signal is now available to home viewers and retransmission sites in Central and Western Australia. For people living in Adelaide, and all of South Australia, their television and radio broadcasts are now in the correct local time.

"The availability of SBS nationally delivers on the corporation's charter to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians," said Maureen Crowe, Head of Resources at SBS.

With the delivery of four SBS television and radio services, Cable & Wireless Optus carries more than 80 television and radio services on the Aurora platform including: ABC television and radio services in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland and South East areas; The Community Broadcasting Foundation which broadcasts four specialised radio channels; Imparja and Telecasters Australia Ltd which cover much of rural and remote areas in Central Australia and Queensland, as well as some under-served areas of NSW and Victoria. The WIN television service in Western Australia also began operations using Aurora earlier this year.

About Cable & Wireless Optus Satellites

Cable & Wireless Optus is Australia's leading satellite provider, delivering the majority of TV and radio satellite services across the country. The four Cable & Wireless Optus satellites (A1, A2, B1, B3) are a vital link in Australia's broadcast, voice and data communications network. They support an unparalleled range of services for organisations that need to deliver video and audio to Australian and international audiences.

Cable & Wireless Optus Aurora offers a suite of advanced digital satellite services that enables the simultaneous broadcast of TV, audio and data to an extensive number of sites throughout Australia.

As well as providing remote area TV and audio services, Cable & Wireless Optus Aurora also delivers the next generation of digital business communications and entertainment. It enables the combined live reception of TV, audio and data at locations throughout Australia via a small satellite dish and digital decoder.

In the future these channels may include advanced services such as high-speed data and interactive TV applications - for example, on-line ticket ordering.

For further information about Cable & Wireless Optus Aurora visit http://enterprise.optus.com.au.

For more information:
Melissa Favero
Cable & Wireless Optus
Phone: 02 9342 5030
Email: melissa.favero@cwo.com.au