News RoomFor immediate release GE Americom Announces Cable Neighborhood Program Will Provide Cable Affiliates Access to GE-1 and GE-4 PRINCETON, NJ, August 10, 1998 GE American Communications, Inc. (GE Americom), a GE Capital company, today announced the establishment of a major cable antenna program to provide cable headends greater access to cable programming neighborhoods residing on its GE-1 and the soon-to-be-launched GE-4 satellites. The antenna program represents a significant investment in both the cable industry and in one of GE Americoms core businesses. Through the program GE Americom will distribute up to 2,500 antennas to reach up to 90% of the cable subscribers in the continental United States. GE Americom will offer a free 3.8 meter antenna with technology characteristics and electronics enabling the dual reception of GE-1 and GE-4 services to any cable headend serving a minimum of 11,000 subscribers. For those qualified cable head-ends that have a dedicated GE-1 antenna, the program also provides for retrofit and upgrade of the antenna to receive feeds from both satellites. Qualified head-ends interested in subscribing to the GE-1/GE-4 antenna program may call toll free 1-877-GECable (877-432-2253) for additional information. "This is one more step towards establishing GE-1 and GE-4 within the select group of premier cable satellites serving U.S. programmers, cable headends and cable subscribers," said Carl Capista, Vice President, Satellite Services North America. "Certainly, cable programmers will welcome the greater choice of this C-band capacity for the nationwide delivery of their services." Speaking about GE-4, soon to be GE Americoms newest C-band and Ku-band hybrid satellite, Carl Capista added, "As a cable programming and broadcast television distribution platform, GE-4 will play an important role within GE Americoms rapidly growing satellite fleet. Once launched and operational, GE-4 will help us to continue to provide a reliable and robust line-up of industry-leading satellite services to a growing base of domestic and international customers." GE Americoms newest cable satellite, GE-4, is scheduled to be launched and operational by the second quarter of 1999; it will replace Spacenet 4. Cable programmers and other C-band and Ku-band customers, including those with capacity aboard Spacenet 4, will be able to take advantage of GE-4s expanded power and capacity at the same orbital position of 101° W. GE-4 will feature twenty-four 36 MHz, 20 watt C-band transponders providing 50 state, Canadian, Mexican and Caribbean coverage. It is anticipated that many of the GE-4 transponders will become homes for new cable programming as well as the programming services migrating from Spacenet 4. The GE-4 satellite will also carry twenty-four 36 MHz, 110 watt Ku-band transponders providing 50 state coverage. Each Ku-band transponder will also have switching capabilities to provide service almost anywhere in North and South America. Pending FCC authorization, an additional four 72 MHz Extended Ku-band channels will be operational and have the same switching capabilities. The GE-1 satellite, with its payload of twenty-four 36 MHz, 20 watt C-band transponders, already distributes a growing number of cable services including several Rainbow regional sports services, Deutsche Welle, Univision and PAX NET. Launched in late 1996 at 103° W., GE-1 provides 50 state and Caribbean coverage during an expected 15-year life. It also carries the first US payload of 36 MHz bandwidth, 60 watt powered Ku-band transponders and a shaped-beam reflector antenna design. Both GE-1 and GE-4 feature advanced satellite platforms offering superior reliability, flexibility, system redundancy and service life. With over 20 years of experience, GE Americom is recognized as a pioneer and a leading provider of global satellite communications solutions. These solutions primarily drive the distribution of digital, broadcast and cable television over satellite. As one of the worlds largest satellite operators, GE Americom currently operates eleven satellites providing satellite-based solutions to North America. In Europe, GE-1E provides high-powered Ku-band service to European and Middle Eastern television markets. As the largest shareholder of Argentine satellite operator NahuelSAt, GE Americom is committed to the delivery of satellite-based communications services throughout South and Latin America. And with next years launch of its first Asian satellite, GE-1A, GE Americom will operate a global satellite system that will reach more than 80% of the worlds population. Some of GE Americoms key international customers include Viacom, Time Warner/Turner Broadcasting, Discovery, NBC, NHK, Disney, Deutsche Welle and Merlin. Through its subsidiary GE Spacenet, GE Americom provides global network solutions in over 40 countries. GE Capital with assets of over US$250 billion, 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 manufacturing, technology and services company with operations worldwide. Contact: Monica Morgan # # # |
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