|
SES AMERICOM Enters Into Lease Agreement With Rainbow DBS, AMERICOM2Home's Second Anchor Customer Agreement Expands VOOM’s High Definition Capacity June 9, 2004 – Princeton, NJ – SES AMERICOM, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris, Luxembourg and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges: SESG), today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Rainbow DBS, Cablevision System Corporation’s satellite division, to lease 16 transponders over the next ten years to augment the capacity of VOOM, its High-Definition (HD) television service. VOOM, which offers more HD programming than any cable or satellite provider, will lease the Ku-band transponders aboard AMC-6 satellite to deliver even more HD programming to customers. The agreement, scheduled to start October 1, 2004, firmly establishes AMERICOM2Home® as the “go to” provider for DTH capacity having secured bandwidth commitments for four FSS and BSS satellite payloads since its inception in April 2002. At the same time, the VOOM contract reinforces AMERICOM’s leadership as the U.S. carrier of choice for HD programming, leadership established with AMERICOM’s two-satellite HD-PRIME™ neighborhood. SES AMERICOM, as part of its AMERICOM2Home® (A2H) residential satellite services initiative, worked with VOOM to develop the capability for a single dish solution, which would provide VOOM subscribers the option to enjoy a wide range of exciting offerings delivered over its existing, proprietary satellite Rainbow 1, and soon over AMC-6. VOOM’s expanded programming capability will be further enhanced through the planned application of its MPEG-4 compression technology, which will be phased in over the next two years. AMERICOM2Home® is focused on providing technical and bandwidth solutions to direct-to-home providers. A2H demonstrated an innovative dual feed (Ku FSS and Ku BSS) elliptical dish antenna system for the VOOM technical team that was both technically efficient and cost effective. The dish, which has since been adopted by VOOM, enables the subscriber to receive quality signals from both satellites even though they are more than 10 degrees apart and operate in different bands. “We are pleased that VOOM has selected SES AMERICOM as part of an important step towards expanding bandwidth and enhancing its HD programming,” said Bryan McGuirk, senior vice president of domestic satellite services for SES AMERICOM. “SES AMERICOM’s AMC-6 satellite provides VOOM with additional opportunities to increase its customer program offerings, which already consist of more than 35 HD channels and 80 standard-definition channels.” “Partnering with SES AMERICOM is part of VOOM’s long-term strategy to maintain our competitive edge in HD programming,” said Mickey Alpert, chief operating officer for Rainbow DBS. “On the basis of their satellite platform, experience and technical know-how, we look forward to working with SES AMERICOM as we continue to move forward to meet the demands of a growing but underserved HDTV market.” Explosive Increase in HD Households According to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the sale of HDTV sets continues to grow exponentially. In April 2004 CEA revealed that January and February manufacturer-to-dealer sales of digital television sets, 88% of which are HD-enabled, were up 124% over the same period last year. That’s great news for HDTV programmers and service providers, like VOOM, as the number of high definition screens ready to receive HD content grows at a blistering pace. About AMC-6 Launched at the end of 2000, AMC-6 is a Lockheed Martin A2100 hybrid C/Ku-band satellite, which from its position at 72 degrees West in the eastern portion of the U.S. orbital arc, supports occasional video and SNG clients, as well as government, VSAT network, and entertainment customers. VOOM will leverage the satellite’s wide coverage and high levels of redundancy to expand its program offerings to subscribers its across the U.S. About VOOM and Rainbow DBS VOOM, provided by Rainbow DBS, Cablevision System Corporation’s satellite division, is the first television service to provide a comprehensive array of high-definition (HD) programming for the rapidly growing but underserved HDTV audience. With a lineup of more than 35 HD channels, VOOM delivers more HD programming than any other satellite or cable service provider. VOOM’s HD lineup includes STARZ! HD, Encore HD, Showtime HD, Playboy Hot HD, ESPN HD, HBO HDTV and Cinemax HDTV. VOOM also features an exclusive package of brand-new, commercial-free channels such as WorldSport, Epics and Animania. The service also includes more than 80 of the most popular cable channels in standard-definition (SD), 18 digital music channels, and over-the-air digital broadcast channels in HD, where available. VOOM is offered across the continental United States through local Sears retailers; at BrandsMart USA stores; through O’Rourke Sales Company’s independent electronics retailers, with approximately 10,000 locations in all 50 states; by calling 1-800-GET-VOOM; or by visiting www.voom.com. About SES AMERICOM The largest supplier of satellite services in the U.S., SES AMERICOM, Inc. is recognized as a pioneer of global satellite communications services. Established in 1973 with its first satellite circuit for the U.S. Department of Defense, the company currently operates a fleet of 16 spacecraft in orbital positions predominantly providing service throughout the Americas. As a member of the SES GLOBAL family (Euronext Paris, Luxembourg and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges: SESG), SES AMERICOM is able to provide end-to-end telecommunications solutions to any region in the world. In 2001, the company established AMERICOM Government Services, a wholly owned subsidiary dedicated to providing satellite-based communications solutions to both civilian and defense agencies of the U.S. government. In 2003, SES AMERICOM formed WORLDSAT, a wholly owned subsidiary that markets capacity on four satellites covering Asia, and the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean regions, and connecting premier regional satellite fleets. 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. SES AMERICOM key customers include ABC Radio Networks, Antrix Corporation Ltd., AT&T Alascom, British Telecom, Connexion by Boeing, Deutsche Welle, Discovery, EchoStar, Fox, Gannett, TV Guide/Gemstar, Globecomm Systems, HBO, Hughes Network Systems, JSAT, Korea Telecom, MCI, NBC, The New York Times, NHK, PaxNet, PBS, PCCW, SCC, TELE Greenland, TV Europa, TimeWarner, Unitel Hellas, Viacom, and various agencies of the U.S. government.
|