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COURT TV Signs with GE Americom for Next-Generation Satellites
August 1, 2001 (Princeton, NJ) -- GE American Communications (GE Americom) announced today that New York-based Court TV has signed a multi-year agreement for follow-on C-band transponder capacity on GE-11, the successor satellite to Satcom C-3. GE-11 will be Court TV’s home for distribution of its programming dedicated to crime and justice into 60 million cable homes across the United States.
"We are delighted that Court TV will continue our long-standing relationship and remain with Americom’s premier cable neighborhood," said Carl Capista, GE Americom’s Vice President, Satellite Services-North America. "Court TV is a proven industry innovator with their comprehensive legal coverage and analysis of the U.S. justice system."
"With GE Americom’s outstanding reputation for technical excellence and dedication to maintaining highest-in-the-industry availability, we can think of no one more capable to entrust with the distribution of our network," said Glenn Moss, Senior Vice President Business Affairs & Affiliate Relations, Court TV.
GE-11, an all C-band next generation satellite planned for operation in 2004, will have 24 transponders and will be located at 131°W.L. To further ensure the delivery of customers’ programming, GE-11 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 GE-11 operating at 131°W.L. to distribute content to more than 80 million American homes.
Court TV (www.courttv.com or AOL keyword: Court TV), a basic cable network, provides a window on the American system of justice through distinctive programming that both informs and entertains. As the destination for crime and justice programming, Court TV broadcasts trials by day and compelling stories of the criminal justice system in the evening. A service of AOL Time Warner and Liberty Media Corp., Court TV has over 60 million subscribers, and expects to reach 65 million by early 2002.
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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