SES AMERICOM Setting Record Pace for Distribution of News, Special Events Coverage in 2004
National and Global Audiences Watched Political Conventions, Olympics, and Ongoing Election Coverage via SES AMERICOM Satellites
PRINCETON, NJ -- September 17, 2004-- With the Republican and Democratic National Conventions come and gone, the Presidential campaigns in their final stretch, a series of tragic hurricanes, along with a blur of sporting events of Olympic proportions in the history books, SES AMERICOM, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris, Luxembourg and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges: SESG), today announced that its special event and occasional use satellite services business is up 60 percent over last year and on record pace through September.
While many leading networks rely every day on SES AMERICOM satellites for fulltime distribution of news, information, sports and entertainment channels, occasional business has also flourished in response to a full slate of scheduled and breaking news events in 2004.
Broadcasters across the country and the world have depended upon SES AMERICOM’s reliable spacecraft, and the global satellite fleet of its parent SES GLOBAL, to distribute news and live reports of everything from Super Bowl XXXVIII, March Madness, and the Summer Olympic Games to high profile trials and hearings, critical hurricane and tropical storm updates, and extensive election coverage - from the springtime primaries to the post-convention bids for the White House. SES AMERICOM’s prime space segment inventory and special events and news gathering expertise have enabled broadcast and cable coverage of an action packed year of newsworthy events from start to finish.
SES AMERICOM’s success in the occasional satellite services business is based on having bandwidth available from key orbital slots, industry knowledge and insight, and has resulted, for example, in more than 3,600 hours of video transmission time at the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, and over 3,000 hours of high definition (HDTV) sports programming distribution to date.
"2004 has been arguably the most intensive year in recent memory for noteworthy and headline producing special events and breaking news," said Kelly Dressler, director of occasional sales and satellite services for SES AMERICOM. "As the global news gathering industry gears up to cover the final stretch of the road to the White House and the remainder of this extraordinary news year, SES AMERICOM is extremely proud to play a key role in delivering the quality video of these historic events to living rooms across the country and in virtually every corner of the world."
SES AMERICOM has a dedicated international team focused on serving the occasional satellite contribution and distribution needs of broadcasters, news agencies, networks, cable programmers, corporations, and ISPs. Whether it’s a planned event or an urgent, breaking news story, SES AMERICOM provides everything from end-to-end special events management to the instant availability of capacity and connections to distribution points around the world.
To meet the around-the-clock needs of the broadcast industry, SES AMERICOM provides an online reservation system, STARS Online, which feature online access to bandwidth and inventory in every region of the world. STARS Online enables SNGs, resellers, and broadcasters to view, book, amend or cancel occasional satellite bandwidth in real-time over the Web at https://stars.ses-americom.com. The system provides customers 24/7 access to SES AMERICOM’s occasional inventory of domestic C-band and Ku-band capacity, plus digital/analog video channels and transoceanic capacity.
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, 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.
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For more information, contact:
Monica Morgan, SES AMERICOM + 1-609-987-4143,
Paul Sims, Sims Communications (for SES AMERICOM) +1- 678-576-6126,
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