Turner Delivers Global News and Entertainment with SES

12 October 2011

SES announced that Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), a Time Warner company, has signed capacity renewal agreements for nearly seven transponders on four satellites to enable the distribution of news and entertainment programs throughout North America and Europe. TBS relies on more than ten transponders on SES satellites for global coverage

As part of the multi-year, multi-satellite deal, TBS, Inc. is using five transponders of Ku-band capacity aboard SES’ AMC-3 satellite. Four transponders are used for CNN satellite news gathering (SNG) across the U.S. and Canada and one is used for distribution of CNN Newsource to more than 800 domestic affiliates. The SNG coverage will seamlessly migrate to the new SES-2 satellite once the spacecraft initiates service in the 87° West orbital slot next month. An additional 8 MHz of capacity is being used to provide voice communications between remote SNG news trucks and CNN in Atlanta.

Turner is delivering breaking news from North America via CNN Newsource to European affiliates using 9 MHz of Ku-band capacity on SES’ NSS-7 satellite at 338° East. The service is scheduled to transition to the new SES-4 spacecraft once operational next year. Direct-to-Home (DTH) viewers across the UK and Germany are receiving a variety of programming from Turner Broadcasting System, including CNN International, TNT, Boomerang and Cartoon Network, over Ku-band capacity on two of SES’ ASTRA satellites located at 19.2° East and 28.2° East.

“SES has the satellites, personnel and expertise that Turner Broadcasting System needs in order to reach audiences around the world,” said John Ball, Vice President of International Distribution Technology for Turner Broadcasting System. “Our long-term distribution partnership with SES is an important component of our global content delivery strategy.”

“Turner Broadcasting is a true innovator in television news and entertainment,” said Scott Sprague, Senior Vice President of Global Sales for SES. “SES is launching new capacity at a record pace into key orbital locations around the globe, enabling Turner and other leading networks and programmers to create and deliver new, cutting-edge content over new regions and platforms for years to come.”