ABC widens reach of its international TV service

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 20 December 2006 15:08

IT Industry - Market

Australia Network, the ABC's international television channel, will be able to reach viewers beyond its existing Asia-Pacific footprint to in the cable neighbourhoods of the South Asian region and new markets such as the Middle East and India under a new satellite access agreement with Intelsat.

Australia Network has added access to the PAS-10 satellite to its agreement with Intelsat. Intelsat will also provide Australia Network with turnaround services from its leased teleport facilities in Singapore. According to Intelsat, "Prior to this contract, Australia Network only had available a single time feed. Intelsat's enhanced fleet and teleport facilities now enable the broadcaster to transmit its programming in three prime time feeds covering the Pacific island nations, Asian land mass and South Asia region."

}"As Australia Network was seeking wider distribution in the region, we needed a service provider that would enable us to accomplish multiple business goals with one turnkey offering, and Intelsat provided that solution," said Ian Carroll, CEO of Australia Network.

Australia Network claims that its services are presently available in 15 million homes in 42 countries across the region and in more than 200,000 hotel rooms. Screening programs specifically produced for regional audiences, it "draws on the vast inventory of programming available from both the ABC and Australian commercial television networks and independent production houses from around the world."