MLB Network Plays Ball With Intelsat for Delivery

The MLB Network has inked a
multi-year contract for capacity on Intelsat’s Galaxy 17 satellite, a leading
cable distribution platform within Intelsat’s global fleet, located at 91º
West. The capacity will be used to transmit standard and high definition
programming for MLB Network, which
will launch in approximately 50 million cable and satellite homes in the U.S. on January 1, 2009.
The Galaxy 17 satellite is a
part of Intelsat’s North American Galaxy fleet, comprised of 16 other
satellites that operate within the cable and broadcast communities in North
America, Central America and the Caribbean.
“It’s very important to us
that MLB Network reach as many
baseball fans as possible,” says Mark Haden, vice president, Engineering &
IT, MLB Network. “We chose
Intelsat for our launch based on its heritage of resilient service and
strategic market presence. Through this partnership, our fans will receive the
ultimate in baseball coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
“MLB
Network is one of the most exciting sports programming introductions in
recent
history, and Intelsat is proud to be part of the service launch,” says Ron
Rosenthal, Intelsat’s Regional Vice President, Broadcast Solutions. “MLB
Network joins a list of anchor tenants such as FOX, ESPN and the NHL
Network that rely on Intelsat’s Galaxy fleet to seamlessly transmit
programming
into the most in-demand cable neighborhoods throughout the Americas.”
Intelsat announced in
September that Major League Baseball International signed a contract for
international distribution of its season’s games and highlights to its
broadcast rights-holders in Asia, Europe and Latin America.
With the launch of the MLB Network
via the Intelsat system, Intelsat’s platform will be transmitting baseball
programming into four continents.