Intelsat, the world's leading provider of commercial satellite services, signed a multi-year contract with Rainbow Network Communications to use the Galaxy 14 satellite to deliver HD programming into the North American cable market, officials said Friday.
Rainbow Network Communications, a unit of Rainbow Media Holdings, is a network-programming origination and distribution company supplying an array of services to the cable, broadcast and satellite industries. RNC's client base includes Rainbow Media's own AMC, The Independent Film Channel, WE tv and VOOM HD Networks.
Intelsat’s Galaxy neighborhood offers transmission services for HD programming being distributed via U.S. cable operators. Located at 125 degrees West in the U.S. cable arc, Galaxy 14 is designed to meet the needs of the growing proliferation of HD content.
“Intelsat’s Galaxy fleet is the premier platform for advanced content distribution into the North American region,” Steve Pontillo, Rainbow Media’s senior vice president of broadcasting and technology, said in a prepared statement. “When we examined our options for HD distribution, Intelsat’s Galaxy 14 satellite was ideally positioned to provide us with the North American cable penetration Rainbow Media needed to meet its long-term business objectives.”
