MUMBAI: Intelsat, a leading satellite services provider, has signed a multi-year agreement with Time Warner Cable Sports for a turnkey solution that combines the IntelsatOneSM terrestrial network with capacity on Galaxy 17 for the distribution of two new sports-themed channels.

Intelsat will add Time Warner Cable SportsNet and Time Warner Cable Deportes to its video neighbourhood at 91° West, the premier orbital location for sports programming delivery in the United States. The agreement will enable reliable and broad distribution of the new 24/7, high-definition regional channels to viewers in the continental United States and Hawaii.
Through partnerships with the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Galaxy, Los Angeles Sparks and the California Interscholastic Federation, the networks will feature more than 150 live events, extensive team coverage and unparalleled behind-the-scenes access. In addition, Time Warner Cable Deportes will be the first U.S. regional sports network to broadcast entirely in Spanish.

Intelsat will provide on-site encoding and multiplexing at Time Warner Cable’s facility in El Segundo, California, as well as fiber connectivity and uplinking via IntelsatOne. The agreement allows Time Warner Cable Sports to scale its network easily and access Intelsat’s other solutions, such as occasional use services, to provide coverage of live games from across the country.

“With nearly 100 percent penetration of the U.S. cable market, Intelsat’s video neighborhoods are the leading choice for sports programmers, such as Time Warner Cable Sports, seeking maximum viewership in the United States,” said Intelsat Regional Vice President of North America Sales Mark Rasmussen. “This agreement on Galaxy 17 reinforces our long tradition of providing effective delivery solutions to the top content providers in North America and across the globe.”