290 Channels and Counting: SES AMERICOM Adds More Premium Programmers to IP-PRIME™ IPTV Platform

MTV, Scripps, The Weather Channel, Fox News Channel top new round of nets signed on

PRINCETON, N.J. – November 6, 2006 – The top choice for national IPTV distribution, SES AMERICOM, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges: SESG), today announced MTV Networks, Scripps Networks, The Weather Channel, Fox News Channel and a host of popular TV and music networks have signed IP-PRIME™ transport agreements, taking SES AMERICOM’s IPTV lineup to 290 channels.

The latest programmers to join IP-PRIME represent 80 television channels and more than 90 music audio channels, with the complete MTV Networks lineup, including VH-1, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, Noggin, Spike TV, MHD and TV Land; BET Networks channels, including BET and BET J; the complete Scripps lineup, including HGTV-HD, Food Network HD, and Fine Living; Fox News Channel, Oxygen, Ovation, Family Net, Lime, Jewelry TV, Outdoor Channel, SiTV, Music Choice channels, Sportsman Channel, Game Show Network (GSN), and Trinity Broadcasting’s channels.

SES AMERICOM’s IPTV content originates from the IP-PRIME IPTV Broadcast Center based in Vernon Valley, New Jersey, where video and audio programming is received, processed, and then securely transported nationwide over the AMC-9 satellite to authorized video hubs and consumer set top boxes. IP-PRIME’s open architecture allows independent networks to distribute programming directly to telcos and broadband service providers using technology that ensures secure delivery to the ultimate destination.

“SES AMERICOM is fast approaching the milestone 300 channel IPTV lineup ahead of schedule, as we prepare for the commercial launch of IP-PRIME early next year,” said Bryan McGuirk, president of media and enterprise solutions for SES AMERICOM. “The impressive, diverse IPTV programming we’ve secured up and down the digital dial is a strong testament to SES AMERICOM’s distribution experience and the trust we’ve earned from the programming community.”

“We’re glad to be expanding our longtime relationship with SES AMERICOM,” said Mike Donovan, senior vice president of engineering for Scripps Networks. “At Scripps Networks we like to provide our content to consumers through a wide variety of platforms, and IP-PRIME allows us to reliably and securely reach IPTV viewers.”

“SES AMERICOM’S IP-PRIME service represents a major advancement in signal delivery technology and as such is completely in accordance with our goal that every household in America should have access to our programming,” said Becky Powhatan, executive vice president, distribution and business affairs and general counsel, The Weather Channel Companies.

About IP-PRIME
The fully-managed IP-PRIME solution brings together the world’s leading IPTV components and technology partners—including Globecomm, Harmonic, Amino, NDS, International Data Corporation, Scientific-Atlanta and Siemens—creating an end-to-end service with encoding, middleware, scrambling/descrambling, content protection, satellite receivers, conditional access, set top boxes, service management and integration services. More than 30 television programmers and networks representing more than 290 channels have signed IP-PRIME transport agreements to date, marking the programming community’s overwhelming approval of the secure IPTV service. Currently providing beta trial service to telcos of all sizes throughout the country, IP-PRIME is set for commercial deployment early next year. The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC), which supports rural utilities offering services to millions of U.S. households, is in the advanced stages of end-to-end IP-PRIME field trials in three states, while BellSouth has been testing the IP-PRIME headend solution for nearly a year.

About AMC-9
IP-PRIME is delivered via SES AMERICOM’s AMC-9 satellite, which is ideally suited for delivering critical services with its high power C-band payload and high service availability across the US. SES AMERICOM’s industry-leading record of reliability enables the innovator to provide the carrier class service that telcos expect. AMC-9 is one of more than 40 satellites in the SES GLOBAL fleet.

About SES AMERICOM
The largest supplier of satellite services in the U.S., SES AMERICOM is recognized as a pioneer of global satellite communications services. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the launch of its first satellite, the company today operates a fleet of 18 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 of the world via a fleet of 44 satellites. In addition, AMERICOM Government Services, a wholly owned subsidiary, is dedicated to providing satellite-based communications solutions to both civilian and defense agencies of the U.S. government. 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.

Contact Information

Monica Morgan

Media Contact

SES AMERICOM

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