• Provides access to 8.8 million digital satellite homes across Europe
• Service starts 28 February 2008
• Maximum distribution capabilities with greater cost efficiencies

Washington, DC:  Arqiva in the USA announced today that it has been chosen by BET International as the platform on which it will launch Black Entertainment Television's new European Sky channel beginning February 28, 2008.  The launch follows a month of testing on the Eurobird satellite, and the deal will span five years.

As part of BET's mission to build a global distribution footprint beyond the 87 million households it currently reaches in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, the European Sky channel will feature a mix of locally derived content as well as BET (US) music and entertainment programming, designed to serve consumers of black culture throughout Europe.

BET International will join more than 250 programme channels currently accessing the Sky platform via over 40 multiplexes uplinked from Arqiva's UK teleports.  Available via the Sky guide, BET will be accessible to more than 8.8 million digital satellite homes.  The new service originates from BET's Washington, DC studios and connects to Arqiva's facilities in the UK via transatlantic fiber.

"Arqiva is very pleased to be able to support BET's extraordinary growth outside the Americas", says Simon Thrush, Senior Vice President of Arqiva in the US.  "The fact that Arqiva provides uplink access for over 250 channels on the Sky platform speaks to the depth of our distribution capabilities in Europe.  In addition, our new facilities in Paris and Rome now offer even greater penetration within Europe and beyond-all of which makes it much more cost-effective for companies based in the US to deliver to European audiences.  Using one provider, Arqiva, they can distribute to the entire European market."

Byron Marchant, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, BET Networks, says: "We chose Arqiva because it's the largest uplinker to the Sky platform in Europe and for its reputation for technical expertise.  It boils down to maximum distribution capabilities with greater cost efficiencies."  Marchant continues: "We are new to the European market and it's reassuring to know that we're working with an experienced operator with 15 years experience distributing in Europe and now internationally."

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