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Lifetime Entertainment Services Signs With GE Americom for Next-Generation Satellite
August 6, 2001 (Princeton, NJ) -- GE American Communications (GE Americom) announced today that New York-based Lifetime Entertainment Services has signed a multi-year agreement for follow-on satellite capacity on GE-11. Beginning in 2004, GE-11 will be used for the distribution of Lifetime Television, a network dedicated to programming for women which currently reaches over 80 million households across the nation.
Carl Capista, Vice President, Satellite Services-North America, said, "Lifetime’s commitment to original entertainment programming and public service initiatives designed for women provides a much-appreciated information source to America’s families. It is groundbreaking programming such as Lifetime’s which established the leading cable neighborhood at 131° and 135° and will be renewed with the launch of GE Americom’s next-generation cable satellites."
Gwynne McConkey, Senior Vice President, Network Operations & Engineering, Lifetime, said, "GE Americom has been a proven leader in the launch and delivery of satellite services over the years. Lifetime has enjoyed outstanding service for the past 15 years so it seemed a natural choice for us to look to Americom to continue to provide follow-on capacity for C-3 service."
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.
About Lifetime
Lifetime is the #1 cable television network in primetime and the leader in women’s television. Lifetime is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Launched in 1984, Lifetime now serves over 80 million households nationwide, available on more than 11,000 cable systems and alternative delivery systems. Lifetime launched a 24-hour sister service, the Lifetime Movie Network, in 1998, and a second sister service, Lifetime Real Women, will launch in the summer of 2001. On the web, Lifetime Online (www.lifetimetv.com) features informational resources and interactive entertainment. All four services, Lifetime Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women and Lifetime Online, are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of the Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.
About Americom
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 satellite 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, 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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