PBS Selects SES AMERICOM For Next Gen Broadcast Delivery
Robust AMC satellites, poised to enable PBS paradigm shift in content
distribution
Strategic PBS/SES AMERICOM partnership to be detailed at NAB Booth C4145
New AMC-21 satellite to lead PBS into new era
April 24, 2006 - Princeton, N.J. - Building on a long-standing strategic
partnership, SES AMERICOM, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and
Luxembourg stock exchanges: SESG), today announced that the Public
Broadcasting Service (PBS) has signed a major multi-year,
multi-transponder agreement tapping its satellites and expertise for
PBS' Next Generation Interconnection System (NGIS), which is set to
deliver significant content distribution efficiencies and cost savings
to public television for the next decade.
The current public television satellite interconnection system uses SES
AMERICOM satellites to enable program distribution by PBS, other public
TV distributors and other entities for broadcast by public television
stations. Successfully merging IT technology into the broadcast
environment, the PBS-designed NGIS system replaces traditional feed
recording with faster than real time file transfers. Overall, the
innovative system:
* supports the digital transition in public television by
transitioning away from legacy technology to a digital platform;
* improves efficiency in distribution by increasing transponder
utilization and reducing re-feeds while leveraging the existing
investment in member station ground equipment;
* enables PBS and all public television stations to benefit from
significant operational cost savings; and
* features a flexibility of design that allows the nation-wide
system to adapt to future changes in technology and business strategy.
"NGIS represents one of the most significant projects ever undertaken at
PBS, a complete paradigm shift in how we're going to distribute content
and programming to the public television community," said Ed Caleca,
senior vice president of technology and operations for PBS. "Our
migration to a digital, non-real-time file distribution system requires
the robust, reliable coverage and quality service that SES AMERICOM can
deliver to meet the current and future strategic needs of PBS."
"PBS continues to lead the way in a fiercely competitive marketplace
with innovations that will shape the television industry for years to
come," said Bryan McGuirk, president of media solutions for SES
AMERICOM. "SES AMERICOM, with its reliable satellites and groundbreaking
content distribution solutions, is proud to be such an integral part of
PBS' next generation broadcast delivery system, which combines satellite
and terrestrial distribution networks to distribute both linear and
non-linear programming line-ups to public television stations."
SES AMERICOM's state-of-the-art AMC-21 satellite, an Alcatel Alenia
Space spacecraft scheduled to initiate service at 125 degrees west
longitude in mid-2008, will provide primary 50-state distribution of PBS
programming. Until AMC-21 is operational, public television will
continue to enlist the services of the AMC-1 and AMC-3 satellites, which
have provided primary PBS content delivery for the last 8 years.
As part of the NGIS agreement with SES AMERICOM, PBS will also have
access to three additional key spacecraft. AMC-9 will enable PBS to
leverage SES AMERICOM's IP-PRIME distribution platform, which offers
programmers and content providers a cost-effective gateway to a broad
range of mobile devices. AMC-23, which operates from 172 degrees east
longitude, will allow PBS to integrate public television stations in
American Samoa and Guam into its real-time distribution network for the
first time. And AMC-4 is already providing service to PBS' backyard dish
viewers.
"SES AMERICOM's satellite fleet is robust, its launch plan for new
satellites is visionary, and the design and technology the company puts
into each satellite and distribution platform is exceptional," said
Caleca. "PBS and SES AMERICOM have formed a strategic partnership, which
will serve as the cornerstone of our NGIS initiative to drive
flexibility and efficiencies in our operation and create exciting, new
opportunities for every one of our member stations."
The PBS Next Generation Interconnection System is scheduled to begin
service later this year.
About PBS
PBS is a private, nonprofit media enterprise that serves the nation's
348 public noncommercial television stations, reaching nearly 90 million
people each week through on-air and online content. Bringing diverse
viewpoints to television and the Internet, PBS provides high-quality
documentary and dramatic entertainment, and consistently dominates the
most prestigious award competitions. PBS is the leading provider of
educational materials for K-12 teachers, and offers a broad array of
other educational services. PBS' premier kids' TV programming and Web
site, PBS KIDS Online (pbskids.org), continue to be parents' and
teachers' most trusted learning environments for children. More
information about PBS is available at pbs.org, one of the leading
dot-org Web sites on the Internet.
About SES AMERICOM
The largest supplier of satellite services in the U.S., SES AMERICOM, an
SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges:
SESG), is recognized as a pioneer of global satellite communications
services. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the launch of its first
satellite, the company today operates a fleet of 17 spacecraft in
orbital positions predominantly providing service throughout the
Americas. As a member of the SES GLOBAL family, SES AMERICOM is able to
provide end-to-end telecommunications solutions to any region of the
world via a fleet of more than 40 satellites. In addition, AMERICOM
Government Services, a wholly owned subsidiary, is dedicated to
providing satellite-based communications solutions to both civilian and
defense agencies of the U.S. government. With its combined operations,
SES AMERICOM serves broadcasters, cable programmers, aeronautical and
maritime communications integrators, Internet service providers, mobile
communications networks, government agencies, educational institutions,
carriers and secure global data networks with efficient communication
and content distribution solutions.
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