Intelsat, the only global satellite leader to provide coverage of every Olympic Games since 1968, has today confirmed that it pre-booked over 35 000 hours of programming for 50 channels for this year`s Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. This represents one of the highest traffic events in the company`s history, and equates to what would be almost four years of continual programming carried within a 20-day period.
Intelsat is providing all-digital transmission of the Games for many of the event`s rights holders, using six satellites from its global fleet covering every ocean region. The Intelsat system is carrying Olympic footage from Athens to North America, Asia and South America for a number of premier customers, including CCTV in China and GlobeCast, a leading international provider of satellite transmission and production services for professional broadcast customers. GlobeCast will utilise Intelsat capacity to offer high-quality services to ATV Hong Kong, TV Globo, Brazil, TVB Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei Broadcast Pool.
OTE, the national telecom provider of Greece, will use the Intelsat system to provide occasional use services to its customers in Europe. Intelsat-carried Olympic images will be broadcast to a potential viewing audience of over 3 billion people.
"Reliability is the most important aspect of providing coverage of the Olympic Games to our clients` viewing audiences," said Graham Smith, Head of Sport for Europe at GlobeCast. "We are utilising Intelsat satellites to deliver this content and we`re confident that, during this exciting event, our clients` programming will benefit from Intelsat`s experience and reputation for unmatched satellite service."
"The Olympics is arguably one of the most important events for bringing the people of the world together, and Intelsat is proud to play a key role in making that happen by enabling quality video distribution around the globe," said Ramu Potarazu, COO, Intelsat, Ltd.
"Our sophisticated, hybrid network supports complex video solutions and value-added services. Now, we`ve brought that to a higher level with our rapid integration of the new Intelsat Americas satellites and the establishment earlier this year of a fibre-based, digital video delivery network in North America."
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Building on 40 years of leadership. As a global communications leader with 40 years of experience, Intelsat helps service providers, broadcasters, corporations and governments deliver information and entertainment anywhere in the world, instantly, securely and reliably. Intelsat`s global reach and expanding solutions portfolio enable customers to enhance their communications networks, venture into new markets and grow their businesses with confidence. For more information, visit www.intelsat.com.
GlobeCast
GlobeCast (www.globecast.com) - a subsidiary of France Telecom (NYSE:FTE) - is the world`s leading satellite services company, operating a global network of satellite distribution platforms for DTH and cable broadcast, enterprise media and advanced IP-based content delivery. The company`s global presence includes 17 offices as well as 15 teleports and technical operations centres throughout America, Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Africa. GlobeCast offers the complete range of satellite broadcast solutions, including TV channel distribution, secure satellite Internet delivery, webcasting, satellite newsgathering, direct-to-home distribution, sports programming backhaul, program origination, studio production, special events mobile production and audio distribution.
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