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C-SPAN Signs with GE Americom for Next-Generation Satellites
July 30, 2001 (Princeton, NJ) -- GE American Communications (GE Americom) announced today that Washington, DC-based C-SPAN has signed a multi-year, multi-transponder agreement for follow-on C-band transponder capacity on GE-10 and GE-11, the successor satellites to Satcom C-3 and C-4. Beginning in 2004, the higher-powered satellites will be used for the distribution of C-SPAN’s political programming currently reaching over 80 million households nationwide.
"C-SPAN’s live in-depth coverage of the U.S. government offers viewers first-hand insight into the workings of the political process. Coupled with its public affairs programming and coverage of current events, C-SPAN programming offers analysis from both sides of an issue, leaving it up to the viewer to draw their own conclusion. Innovative programming such as this creates diversity and further strengthens our current leading and next-generation cable neighborhoods located at 131° and 135°W.L.," said Carl Capista, Vice President, Satellite Services-North America. "We are delighted to continue our close working relationship with C-SPAN through another generation of cable satellites."
"Staying with GE Americom for the next generation of cable satellites is a tremendous benefit to our C-SPAN affiliates, allowing for a smooth transition from C-3 and C-4 to GE-10 and GE-11," said Robert G. Kennedy, C-SPAN Executive Vice President. "Cable operators will also benefit from the powerful neighborhood of programmers we helped create years ago with several Viacom services, as well as The Weather Channel and Lifetime. That neighborhood is now guaranteed to remain intact. As far as C-SPAN is concerned, the renewal of the relationship between our group of programmers and GE Americom is a win for everybody involved."
GE-10 and 11, the all C-band next generation satellites planned for operation in 2004, will each have 24 transponders and will be located at 135° and 131°W.L., respectively. To further ensure the delivery of customers’ programming, each satellite features a higher level of on-board redundancy than the previous generation. Plus, an in-orbit protection satellite, GE-7, which operates at 137°W.L., is available if necessary for full satellite restoration. Programmers can use either or both satellites operating at 131° and 135° W.L. to distribute content to more than 80 million American homes.
Created by America’s cable companies in 1979 as a public service, C-SPAN is regarded as the political network of record. C-SPAN is currently available in 81 million households, C-SPAN2 in 64 million households, and C-SPAN3 in nearly 4 million households nationwide.
With over 25 years' experience, GE American Communications, Inc. is recognized as a pioneer and leading provider of global satellite communications solutions. GE Americom is able to provide end-to-end telecommunications solutions to any region in the world through a fleet of 20 satellites. GE Americom's key customers include ABC Radio Networks, AT&T Alascom, British Telecom, Cidera, Deutsche Welle, Discovery, Fox, TV Guide/Gemstar, Gannett, ICG, Merlin, NBC, The New York Times, NHK, PaxNet, PBS, TELE Greenland, TV Europa, Viacom and TimeWarner/Turner Broadcasting.
On March 28, 2001, GE Capital announced with SES ASTRA that they plan to combine the assets of GE Americom and SES ASTRA to form a new premier global satellite company, SES Global. The new company will have a fleet of 29 wholly-owned satellites and be able to deliver broadband satellites services to more than 90% of the world's population. In addition, SES Global’s strategic partnerships and participations in AsiaSat, NSAB, Star One, Americom Asia-Pacific and Nahuelsat will combine to give entertainment, Internet, news and enterprise customers access to a fleet of 42 satellites. When the transaction is finalized in late 2001, GE Capital will hold a 25.1% economic interest and 20.1% voting interest in SES Global S.A.
GE Americom is a GE Capital company. GE Capital, with assets of more than US$370 billion, is a global, diversified financial services company grouped into six key operating segments comprised of 24 businesses. A wholly-owned subsidiary of General Electric Company, GE Capital, based in Stamford, Connecticut, provides a variety of consumer services, such as credit cards and life and auto insurance; mid-market financing; specialized financing; specialty insurance; equipment management, and specialized services, to businesses and individuals in 47 countries around the world. GE is a diversified services, technology and manufacturing company with operations worldwide.
Contact: Monica Morgan
+1-609-987-4143
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