OTTAWA – Telesat has struck an agreement with AMC Networks subsidiary AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology for C-band capacity on Telesat’s Anik F1R satellite, and the two organizations will jointly market AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology centre and satellite transmission facilities in New York, in combination with Telesat’s satellite capacity over Canada, as a cost effective solution for cable distribution across Canada.
Under the agreement, Telesat capacity is now a core component in AMC Networks’ cable TV distribution across North America. Distribution originates from AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology centre in New York where HD and SD programming are uplinked to Telesat’s Anik F1R. Anik F1R then broadcasts the content to Canadian multi-system operators (MSOs) via its broad C-band footprint, one of the largest in the North American cable arc.
The announcement says that the solution is highly efficient and cost effective for both AMC Networks and Canadian MSOs, given the large number of cable head-ends across Canada already receiving television programming via Telesat’s Anik F1R.
“Having AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology center in New York fixed on Telesat’s Anik F1R satellite creates opportunities for other U.S. content providers to make use of the same infrastructure for cost-effective distribution across Canada”, said Michele Beck, Telesat’s VP of North American sales, in the news release. “Telesat looks forward to working with AMC Networks to market this capability to select programmers, providing Canadians with greater viewing choice and giving U.S. content providers an easy and cost effective means to reach new markets and grow their subscriber base.”
“We’re pleased to be working with Telesat to distribute AMC Networks’ programming to cable head-ends across Canada on Telesat’s Anik F1R satellite,” added Steve Pontillo, AMC Networks’ chief technology officer. “In the coming months, AMC Networks and Telesat will be working together to create greater awareness of this capability among U.S. video programmers looking to extend their reach into Canada. Telesat and AMC Networks have a winning solution for Canadian cable distribution that we believe can meet the requirements of many other operators.”
