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New England Sports Network Signs Up HD-PRIME, Delivers Red Sox and Bruins Seasons in High Def PRINCETON, N.J. --(Business Wire)-- Oct. 12, 2004 --NESN Taps America's Only Two-Satellite HD Cable Neighborhood to Distribute Regional HD Sports Programming throughout New England Like a big league baseball pitcher who's on his game, SES AMERICOM, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris, Luxembourg and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges:SESG), announced today it has signed a multi-year, multi-million-dollar contract extension with the New England Sports Network (NESN) to distribute regional sports programming in standard and high definition to fans across the six New England states. Under the agreement, NESN will enlist the advanced HD capabilities of SES AMERICOM's new AMC-11 satellite, one of two identical state-of-the-art spacecraft supporting HD-PRIME, America's only two satellite HD cable neighborhood. NESN provides exclusive coverage of the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins, has delivered over 120 home games in HD since September 2003, and plans to begin covering some road games in 2005. The network also delivers minor league baseball and hockey, local college football, basketball and hockey, and other sports of regional interest. "New Englanders take their sports seriously and New England Sports Network is dedicated to making sure fans in nearly four million homes get the best coverage of the most relevant events in the region," said Carl Capista, vice president of media and entertainment services for SES AMERICOM. "SES AMERICOM has been distributing NESN programming for years and now our HD-PRIME neighborhood will serve New England viewers better than ever with exciting sports in HD." "SES AMERICOM and its HD-PRIME neighborhood deliver the quality and reliability NESN must have to provide our award winning Red Sox and Bruins coverage to New England sports fans," said Sean McGrail, president of New England Sports Network. "NESN has built its business by providing the best at home game viewing experience possible. Now our viewers can see New England sports like never before, with the leader in HD programming distribution on our team." The HD-PRIME(TM) Satellites AMC-10 and AMC-11 are all C-band satellites, with orbital slots located at 135 degrees west longitude and 131 degrees west longitude respectively. The two A2100 spacecraft, built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems, have been optimized for next generation programming services, including high-definition channels. Each of the 24 transponders is supported by a 20 watt SSPA, delivering almost a 20% increase in power over their predecessors, Satcom C-3 and Satcom C-4. In addition, a higher level of on-board redundancy plus an in-orbit protection satellite, AMC-7, currently operating at 137 degrees west longitude, will protect the cable programming services. About SES AMERICOM The largest supplier of satellite services in the U.S., SES AMERICOM, Inc. is recognized as a pioneer of global satellite communications services. Established in 1973 with its first satellite circuit for the U.S. Department of Defense, the company currently operates a fleet of 16 spacecraft in orbital positions predominantly providing service throughout the Americas. As a member of the SES GLOBAL family, SES AMERICOM is able to provide end-to-end telecommunications solutions to any region in the world. In 2001, the company established AMERICOM Government Services, a wholly owned subsidiary dedicated to providing satellite-based communications solutions to both civilian and defense agencies of the U.S. government. In 2003, SES AMERICOM formed WORLDSAT, a wholly owned subsidiary that markets capacity on four satellites covering Asia and the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean regions, and connecting premier regional satellite fleets. With its combined operations, SES AMERICOM serves broadcasters, cable programmers, aeronautical and maritime communications integrators, Internet service providers, mobile communications networks, government agencies, educational institutions, carriers and secure global data networks with efficient communication and content distribution solutions. |
