PanAmSat Corporation today announced that the ABC Cable Networks Group, the ESPN networks and the ABC Television Network have selected PanAmSat as their preferred provider of global satellite television services during the next 15 years. In an extensive multi-spacecraft arrangement, PanAmSat will expand their domestic and international distribution of Disney Channel, ESPN, SoapNet, Toon Disney and Buena Vista Television; become the preferred satellite television service provider for the ABC Television Network; and provide special event and occasional services for ABC and ESPN.
Under the new agreement, PanAmSat will provide required expansion capacity for The Walt Disney Company’s family of cable programming. PanAmSat currently transmits numerous full-time channels affiliated with The Walt Disney Company over its U.S. Galaxy and international PAS satellites.
‘PanAmSat has the unparalleled global satellite resources, long-term service commitment and cable television experience to meet The Walt Disney Company’s standard of excellence for satellite distribution and newsgathering services over the next 15 years,’ said R. Douglas Kahn, PanAmSat’s president and chief executive officer. ‘We are committed to working together with Disney to deliver its ever-expanding bouquet of programming to cable and broadcast television markets in the United States and around the world.’
‘We are excited to build upon our successful relationship with PanAmSat,’ said Vince Roberts, senior vice president, broadcast engineering, operations and technology, ABC Cable Networks Group. ‘This agreement ensures that our networks’ programming will be transmitted to our domestic and international audiences with superior service and the latest in technology.’
‘We look forward to a continued great partnership with PanAmSat,’ stated Chuck Pagano, ESPN’s senior vice president, technology, engineering and operations.
‘We are pleased to join our Disney and ESPN cable partners in this agreement,’ said Preston Davis, president, broadcast operations and engineering, ABC Television Network. ‘Establishing a relationship with PanAmSat is a strategic step that provides ready access to satellite channels in support of our existing and future business initiatives.’
In support of the Galaxy cable requirements, PanAmSat will provide thousands of Multi-Beam-Feed upgrade kits (which can be installed on existing Galaxy V or Galaxy IX antennas) or antennas free-of-charge to large and small cable affiliates. The antenna upgrades will allow cable systems to receive programming from PanAmSat’s orbital locations of 127, 125 and 123 degrees via a single antenna. In addition, Multi-Beam-Feed kits or antennas will be provided to affiliates to allow cable systems to receive PanAmSat’s 95-degree orbital location.
In addition to the cable distribution services, PanAmSat will become the preferred satellite service provider for the ABC Television Network following a transition process that will be completed by 2006. Buena Vista syndication services will transition to PanAmSat capacity by 2001. ABC will utilize both C-Band and Ku-band capacity on PanAmSat’s recently launched Galaxy IVR and Galaxy XI satellites for network distribution to affiliates, special events coverage and newsgathering transmission services. Likewise, Buena Vista will utilize Galaxy IVR to distribute its syndicated programming.
Internationally, all current agreements between PanAmSat, ABC Cable Networks Group, ESPN and ABC have been consolidated to provide extensive worldwide coverage for the distribution of Disney’s services as well as provide for expansion in other parts of the world.
For Further Information PLease Contact:
Don Meyer
Tel: +1 203 861 8324
Email: dmeyer@panamsat.com