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CNN News to Use GE-3 for Contribution Feeds
PRINCETON, NJ, May 11, 1999
GE American Communications, Inc. (GE Americom), a subsidiary of GE Capital, announced today that Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s Cable News Network (CNN) will use a GE-3 C-band transponder. The satellite capacity will be used to deliver CNN News Contribution feeds from worldwide affiliates to CNN's headquarters in Atlanta.
Although CNN's primary use of the transponder will be to backhaul U.S. domestic feeds, it will also be used to interconnect with satellites over both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. All of these feeds will be incorporated into programming for CNN News, CNN International, CNNfn, CNNsi, CNN Espanol and the Internet.
Commenting on CNN's use of GE-3, Richard Tauber, Vice President, Satellite & Circuits for CNN said, "After careful consideration of available neighborhoods, orbital locations and the technical quality of the satellite we concluded that GE Americom's level of service is highest. At CNN we expect a lot from GE Americom - and get it."
"We are gratified that , CNN demonstrates such confidence in our services," said Carl Capista, Vice President Satellite Services - North America. "The criteria for their selection reflects all the things we try to deliver to all customers, large and small. They expect quality service and we work daily to make sure they will get it from GE Americom."
GE-3 is a hybrid satellite with 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders. The state-of-the-art satellite was launched in 1997 and provides 60-watt, 36 MHz bandwidth Ku capacity for the distribution of broadcast, satellite news gathering, education, business television and broadband Internet applications. GE-3's Ku-band transponders provide coverage to the Continental United States, Hawaii and Canada. The 16-watt 36 MHz bandwidth C-band transponders provide cable, radio and educational program distribution. GE-3's C-band transponders provide coverage to the Continental United States, Hawaii, Canada and the Caribbean.
The CNN News Group is one of the largest and most profitable news and information companies in the world. The hub of the CNN News Group is CNN/U.S. news network and flagship of the Group. Altogether, the CNN News Group comprises six cable networks (CNN/U.S., CNN Headline News, CNN International, CNNfn, CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN en Espanol), three private, out-of-home place-based networks, two radio networks, ten Web sites and CNN Newsource, the world's most extensively syndicated news service. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., is a major producer of news and entertainment around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.
With over twenty years' experience, GE American Communications, Inc. is recognized as a pioneer and a leading provider of global satellite communications solutions. These solutions primarily provide the distribution of broadcast and cable television programming and digital/Broadband Data Services over satellite. GE Americom currently operates twelve satellites providing satellite-based solutions to North America. In Europe, GE-1E provides high-powered Ku-band service for European and Middle Eastern television markets. With the launch of GE-4 and as an owner of Argentine satellite operator NahuelSAt, GE Americom is committed to the delivery of satellite-based communications throughout South and Latin America. And with the planned launch of its first Asian satellite, GE-1A, GE Americom's satellite interests will reach 90% of the world's population. Some of GE Americom's key international customers include Viacom, Discovery, NBC, NHK, Disney, Deutsche Welle and Merlin.
GE Capital, with assets of over US$300billion, is a global, diversified financial services company with 28 specialized businesses. A wholly-owned subsidiary of General Electric Company, GE Capital based in Stamford, CT, provides equipment management, mid-market and specialized financing, specialty insurance and a variety of consumer services, such as car leasing, home mortgages and credit cards, to businesses and individuals around the world. GE is a diversified services, technology and manufacturing company with operations worldwide.
Contact: Monica Morgan
609-987-4143
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