SatLink chosen as global TV distribution partner for i24News

2 September, 2013

SatLink has been selected by i24 News for the global distribution of its three international news channels. The new 24/7 broadcaster will utilise Satlink’s comprehensive satellite and fibre distribution network to deliver its multi-lingual channels across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, as well as providing other services including: production, Satellite News Gathering (SNG), Occasional Use coordination, fibres to the UN buildings in New York, to Gaza and Ramallah and content monitoring.

The i24 News channels launched on 17th July 2013and are broadcasting live news reports throughout the day alongside interviews and analysis. Broadcasting three different channels in three languages; English, French and Arabic, SatLink is providing ground services and satellite capacity to Asia on AsiaSat 5 over DVB-S2, to Europe & the Middle East on Hotbird 13˚E on Ku-band and Canal + bouquet on Astra 19.2˚E on Ku band, and the CanalSat Afrique bouquet to North Africa on SES 4 on Ku-band.

As a new player in the market, i24 needed a satellite communications partner that was able to support them in delivering fast, reliable news from the Middle East to a global audience.

i24 News will also be taking advantage of SatLink’s Content Monitoring solution, a service, which monitors all of the news feeds in the Middle East in Arabic, Farsi and English and provides reports and analysis direct to i24 of all of the current news emerging from the region. In addition, SatLink’s Occasional Use (OU) services will enable the swift and cost effective delivery of bundled, end-to-end solutions including production, SNG'S, OU satellite capacity, global fibre optic network, streaming and added value services.

i24 News channel will be joining SatLink’s growing bouquet of broadcast & transmission suite of services for leading international news broadcasters and agencies such as Thomson Reuters, AP, France 24, and euronews.

Frank Melloul, CEO at i24News commented: “We were looking for a global provider and partner to help us deliver high quality broadcast content to audiences across the globe. With SatLink we have found a partner that shares our passion of offering a fresh view of the world; that looks beyond the headlines and uses uncompromising journalism to explore multiple perspectives. With SatLink’s support, international reach and advanced technology, we are looking forward to setting new standards and expectations in news broadcasting.”

David Hochner, CEO of SatLink, commented: “We are delighted and proud to be part of the i24 news international launch. We are committed to offering the highest quality global news delivery via our extensive global satellite and fibre network, backed up with our in-depth knowledge and experience in offering content production and news delivery over the Internet to any device 24 hours a day. We’re looking forward to a long and prosperous partnership with i24news.”