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OVER 20 NETWORKS ALREADY ON BOARD COMCAST MEDIA CENTER AND SES AMERICOM’S TOTAL DIGITAL SOLUTION
LINEUP OF BASIC AND EXPANDED BASIC CHANNELS COMBINES WITH CMC’S HITS SERVICE TO SUPPORT ALL-DIGITAL
NCTA National Show, Atlanta, GA, – April 10, 2006 – Television network groups representing 20 plus basic and expanded basic programming service feeds have signed up for network transport aboard the Comcast Media Center (CMC) and SES AMERICOM Total Digital Solution, the two companies announced today. The Total Digital Solution, which is available via SES AMERICOM’s 50-state AMC-4 satellite, provides networks with greater potential for additional penetration in cable systems deploying digital simulcast or all digital service. Features of the service include secured authorization, optimized DPI triggers and high-quality video and audio.
The 20 plus feeds now available include east coast and certain west coast feeds from the following participating networks: Comcast’s content networks and investments (E! Entertainment Television, G4, The Golf Channel, Outdoor Life Network, PBS KIDS Sprout, The Style Network, TV One), and channels operated by C-SPAN (C-SPAN, C-SPAN 2), EWTN Global Catholic Network, The Inspiration Network, Lifetime Networks (Lifetime Television, LMN), Scripps Networks (HGTV, Food Network and Great American Country “GAC”), and TBN – Trinity Broadcasting Network.
When fully deployed, the basic and expanded basic channels aboard the CMC/SES AMERICOM Total Digital Solution will combine with more than 150 digital video and audio services offered via the CMC’s HITS (Headend In The Sky) digital overlay platform to provide a choice of over 200 video and audio services encompassing the majority of programming services currently offered by cable system operators.
“The Total Digital Solution represents a cost effective and complementary method for television networks to increase the access alternatives available to their affiliates,” said Gary Traver, COO of Comcast Media Center. “In addition, the CMC/SES AMERICOM offering enhances the CMC’s Total Content Solution, which includes providing HDTV and SD channel origination services to companies looking for an outsourcing alternative.”
”All digital benefits programmers tremendously, by providing their affiliates additional bandwidth to launch new and advanced services, such as HD, to meet growing consumer demand,” said Bryan McGuirk, president of media solutions for SES AMERICOM. “We are thrilled to be a part of an exciting solution designed to help cable make the important transition to all digital.”
As part of its Total Content Solution, the CMC currently originates 79 full-time TV networks in standard definition or high definition and provides live event origination services, also in HDTV and SD formats.
ABOUT COMCAST MEDIA CENTER
Denver-based Comcast Media Center (CMC), a business unit of Comcast Cable, continues a 12- year-tradition of developing and launching digital content services for the industry. CMC currently serves more than 400 MSOs operating over 3,000 regional and standalone cable headends, originates 79 TV channels and provides video transmission for 445 full-time services. The CMC’s Total Content Solution includes a Total Digital Solution (TDS) that combines digital feeds of basic and expanded basic programming services with its Headend In The Sky (HITS) lineup of over 150 digital video and audio channels; a national Video On Demand (VOD) platform; an Advertising Distribution Network (ADN) for centrally managing cross channel promotions and advertising; and a rich media streaming service for delivering IP video to PC’s and portable media devices. The CMC’s content management capabilities include channel and live event origination services in HD and standard definition; studio and post-production; encoding; and content hosting and storage services. More information is available at http://www.comcastmediacenter.com/
ABOUT COMCAST
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (http://www.comcast.com/) is the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 21.4 million cable customers, 8.5 million high-speed Internet customers, and 1.3 million voice 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, OLN, G4, AZN Television, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One and four regional 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. Comcast Class A common stock and Class A Special common stock trade on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbols CMCSA and CMCSK, respectively.
About SES AMERICOM
The largest supplier of satellite services in the U.S., SES AMERICOM, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges: SESG), 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 40 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.
Media Contacts:
Comcast Media Center:
Andy Holdgate
303-791-3422
holdgatepr@comcast.net
SES AMERICOM:
Paul Sims
678-576-6126
paul.sims@ses-americom.com






