SES AMERICOM and Comcast Media Center Team Up, Offer HDTV Channel Origination and Delivery

SES AMERICOM and Comcast Media Center Team Up, Offer HDTV Channel Origination and Delivery

DENVER and PRINCETON, N.J., April 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SES AMERICOM, the leader in high definition programming distribution and creator of HD-PRIME(TM), the industry's only two-satellite HD cable neighborhood, together with Comcast Media Center (CMC), a business unit of Comcast Cable that operates a state of the art HDTV content production and network origination facility, today launched a comprehensive package of HDTV production, origination and transmission services designed to foster the development of HD content for the rapidly growing HDTV market in the US. The companies announced the joint marketing agreement in conjunction with the NCTA National Show, currently underway in San Francisco, where a broad range of cable operators and content providers can review the new suite of services in their respective exhibit areas (SES Americom: booth 721; CMC: booth1307).

The combined resources of SES AMERICOM's HD-PRIME -- America's Cable Neighborhood and the CMC's total content management solution for HDTV will provide content companies looking to offer individual programs or launch entire TV networks in HDTV with a centralized solution. SES AMERICOM's AMC-10 and AMC-11 C-band satellites reach more than 80 million television homes.

Denver-based Comcast Media Center, which currently originates 97 video services, including three full-time HDTV channels, and has a live event origination pod capable of handling three HDTV events simultaneously, is launching a state of the art Integrated Digital Operations Center (IDOC) as part of the HDTV initiative. The hybrid HDTV/standard definition network origination facility is capable of launching six HDTV networks or TV networks that need to originate in standard definition but will also have HDTV origination requirements. The all-digital control room will be adjoined by an HD/SD live event origination room for supporting sports and other live events that will be edited for channels originating from this facility. The CMC also provides state of the art HD postproduction services to many of the cable industry's independent producers of HDTV programming, totaling more than 500 hours of HDTV content this year.

"SES AMERICOM and the Comcast Media Center have a great tradition of working together to deliver television networks to America's cable households," said Bryan McGuirk, Senior Vice President, AMERICOM Media Services, SES AMERICOM. "By joining forces for both the origination and delivery of HD networks, we provide the industry with an integrated solution for expanding the universe of HDTV programming."

"Our arrangement for originating and transmitting networks to SES AMERICOM's HD-Prime neighborhood provides new and existing sources of television programming an easy plug-in solution for offering their programming and networks in HDTV," stated Gary Traver, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Comcast Media Center. "Everybody will benefit from this agreement and the commitment of both companies to a total HDTV content management solution."

The HD-PRIME(TM) Satellites

AMC-10 and AMC-11 are all C-band satellites, which operate from 135 and 131 degrees west longitude, respectively. The two A2100 spacecraft, built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems, have been optimized for next- generation programming services, including high-definition channels. Each of the 24 transponders is supported by a 20 watt SSPA, delivering almost a 20% increase in power over their predecessors, Satcom C-3 and Satcom C-4. In addition, a higher level of on-board redundancy plus an in-orbit satellite, AMC-7, currently operating at 137 degrees west longitude, protect the cable programming services.

About SES AMERICOM

The largest supplier of satellite services in the U.S., SES AMERICOM, Inc. is recognized as a pioneer of global satellite communications services. Established in 1973 with its first satellite circuit for the U.S. Department of Defense, the company currently operates a fleet of 16 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 in the world. In 2001, the company established AMERICOM Government Services, a wholly owned subsidiary 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.

About Comcast Media Center

Comcast Media Center (CMC), a business unit of Comcast Cable, provides a total content management solution through its "one source -- multiple delivery platforms" capabilities. Its Content Delivery Network offers global transmission via satellite and terrestrial fiber optics, VOD and streaming distribution capabilities. CMC's Content Management Network offers broadcast quality studio, mobile and post production services, origination services for linear TV networks and live events, HDTV production and origination and quality control and media management services, including encoding and storage.

Its Affiliate Services Network includes the HITS (Headend In The Sky) digital platform. Founded in 1994, HITS currently delivers over 150 digital audio and video services to more than 2,000 cable system headends. More information about the CMC is available at: http://www.comcastmediacenter.com/

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA)(NASDAQ:CMCSK) (http://www.comcast.com/) is the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 21.5 million cable customers and 7 million high-speed Internet customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable networks and in the delivery of programming content.

The Company's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, Outdoor Life Network, G4, AZN Television, TV One and four Comcast SportsNets. The Company also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.

Source: Comcast Media Center

CONTACT: Andy Holdgate of Comcast Media Center, +1-303-791-3422, or holdgatepr@comcast.net; or Paul Sims of SES AMERICOM, +1-678-576-6126, or paul.sims@ses-americom.com

Web site: http://www.comcastmediacenter.com/ http://www.comcast.com/

------- Profile: Ent