Intelsat, Broadwing, HTN combine to connect U.S. sports venues, deliver broadcast services

April 19, 2005 Pembroke, Bermuda -- Intelsat, Broadwing, and HTN have teamed to deliver new services to broadcasters. Broadwing and HTN have interconnected their respective North American fiber distribution networks to enable comprehensive connectivity among major U.S. sports venues. The combination of networks has allowed Intelsat to substantially expand the reach and content distribution capacity of its GlobalConnex Terrestrial Media Transport (TMT) network.

According to a press release, the relationship provides broadcasters with a seamless, high performance platform from satellite to 20 major cities and top U.S. sports venues, with a range of throughput options for high or standard definition transmissions. Intelsat's Video Operations Center (VOC) in Washington, D.C. provides everyday booking and monitoring services. Broadwing's Television Operating Center (TOC), located in Columbia, MD, provides network management services. According to the release, the network boasts first-generation technology and eliminates reconstitution of video signals, ensuring high-quality, end-to-end transmission. Additionally, broadcast customers can use their own compression equipment, or can leverage Intelsat's pool of high definition (HD) encoders, to facilitate on-site encoding at sports venues and other event locations.

HTN is currently leveraging the enhanced network offering to distribute Major League Baseball coverage from U.S. sports venues to broadcast studios throughout North America, according to the release.

"This network offers North American broadcasters a unique solution of terrestrially distributed HD and SD (standard definition) signal delivery from the source to the studio," contends Del Bothof, vice president and general manager of media services at Broadwing. "Older video networks don't offer these capabilities, leaving broadcasters with fewer alternatives. This solution provides broadcasters with the ability to leverage HD 270 megabit media transmission with superior quality of service guarantees."

"HTN had already been using Intelsat's GlobalConnex Media for content distribution, but the combination of Intelsat and Broadwing provides us with significantly expanded access to more cities and services, providing exceptional distribution value," adds Joe Cohen, CEO of HTN Communications.

"The high acclaim and success of our GlobalConnex Media services spurred Intelsat to think about ways it could further expand on the value and distribution options available specifically to broadcasters," concludes Ramu Potarazu, COO of Intelsat. "By teaming up with Broadwing, we are substantially increasing the distribution options we previously provided, giving broadcasters access to more cities, more sports venues and, overall, higher quality service and better choices."