Ascent Media Network Services (AMNS), a division of Ascent Media Group, and Intelsat, a global communications leader, today jointly announced that they have teamed up to deliver Channel One Russia Worldwide Network (formerly known as Public Russian Television, or "ORT") from Moscow into the US for the first time in the 50-year history of the service.
Russia`s premiere broadcaster, 51% owned by the Russian government and viewed by approximately 200 million people throughout the former Soviet Union, Channel One is being distributed to home cable viewers across the US via International Channel Networks based in Centennial, Colorado.
Currently, AMNS is providing international downlink, programme integration, time delay and server playout for Channel One from its London facility. Using AMNS`s transatlantic fibre, the signal is transmitted to the company`s switching centre in New York where it is routed to Intelsat`s GlobalConnexSM infrastructure for delivery.
AMNS will continue to coordinate with Intelsat to streamline and manage the process of delivering Channel One to the US in the future, when content will ultimately be carried out of Moscow over the Intelsat satellite at 342oE, downlinked at Intelsat`s teleport in Germany, and then transported via leased fibre facilities to Denver. At that point, International Channel Networks will re-package the content and oversee its distribution and marketing among US cable systems. International Channel Networks reaches 13 million households residing in the US, hosting 24 hours of programming in 20 languages on its main channel and 14 premium channels.
"Ascent Media`s full service capabilities and strong vendor relationships make us the ideal solution for ORT," said Frank Luperella, AMNS Senior Vice-President of global operations. "In bringing Russian news and entertainment content to the US market, we`re pleased to have the ability to collaborate with a company like Intelsat. The vast extent and flexibility of the Intelsat infrastructure allowed for the quick and easy execution of this project."
Jon Romm, President, Intelsat`s Media & Entertainment Business Unit, stated: "Companies wishing to distribute their content locally, regionally or internationally will find that Intelsat has made distribution quick, easy and very accessible. A solution like this one, with smart utilisation of the right facilities to provide a more affordable solution, really demonstrates the breadth and capability of both Intelsat`s and Ascent Media`s networks."
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Intelsat, Ltd offers telephony, corporate network, video and Internet solutions around the globe via capacity on 26 geosynchronous satellites in prime orbital locations. Customers in approximately 200 countries rely on Intelsat satellites and ground resources for quality connections, global reach and reliability. For more information, visit www.intelsat.com.
Ascent Media Network Services
Ascent Media Network Services specialises in video distribution and post-production services, with facilities in key hubs including Los Angeles, New York, Minneapolis, London and Singapore. Channel origination, master control, creative services and transmission are among the many offerings utilised by the major broadcast and cable networks as well as other content providers. In addition, the group provides a full array of engineering and technical services for broadcast, cable, satellite, and corporate clients. For more information, visit www.ascentmedia.com.