ABC SIGNS $100 MILLION DEAL WITH OPTUS SATELLITE

Optus announced today an eight year agreement in excess of $100 million to provide state-of-the-art satellite services to the Australian Broadcast Corporation (ABC).

Under the agreement Optus will continue to manage a range of services including the distribution of the ABC's digital television transmission nationwide, carriage of interchange signals between ABC studios in capital cities and regional centres and support the broadcast of analogue television and radio services across Australia and to direct-to-home audiences in rural and remote Australia.

Vicki Brady, Managing Director of Optus Wholesale and Satellite said Optus is delighted to further its long-standing relationship with the ABC as the main supplier of satellite services.

"This agreement is concrete proof that Optus is the leader in satellite services in Australia. The group continues to provide quality service and cost efficiencies that will meet the present needs of the ABC well into 2017.

"With the Optus C1 satellite, the first two of the D-series satellites now in operation and the Optus D3 satellite set to launch later this year, Optus' satellite management, experience and expertise continue to be in demand," Ms Brady said.

Optus and the national broadcaster have a long history and have worked together since domestic services were introduced in 1985.

Paul Sheridan, Director of Optus Satellite said satellite is an effective technology that provides entertainment services to all parts of Australia including metropolitan as well as regional, rural and remote Australia.

"This deal demonstrates the wide reach of satellite technology. This relationship between Optus and the ABC continues to provide high quality and reliable service for the ABC and their viewers and listeners," he said.

The latest expansion to the Optus satellite fleet, Optus D3, will provide an additional 30 per cent in capacity across the fleet and is planned to be launched from French Guiana in the second half of 2009.

Media contact:
Simone Bergholcs
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: (02) 8082 7850