Company Strikes Long-Term Agreements with Fox Entertainment Group for U.S.
Cable, Broadcast and International Program Distribution
WILTON, Conn., Feb. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PanAmSat Corporation
(Nasdaq: SPOT) today announced one of the largest deals in the Company's
20-year history with a multi-year, multi-satellite, multi-transponder
agreement with Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. Under the terms of the
agreement, Fox will consolidate its entire suite of U.S. programming onto
PanAmSat's global fleet for 15 years and move a significant portion of its
international traffic onto the fleet for the next decade. Fox will now be one
of PanAmSat's largest media customers and one of its top five global
customers.
"This agreement with PanAmSat will provide Fox with unparalleled global
coverage. By consolidating its distribution on our fleet, Fox is utilizing
our satellites in every region of the world to broadcast its programming,"
said Joe Wright, president and CEO, PanAmSat. "Expansion of our core video
market is also key to our growth strategy. This contract strengthens our
cable and broadcast neighborhoods worldwide. By providing flexibility,
redundancy, connectivity and service, PanAmSat continues to attract the
world's top programmers to our global network."
Because of this agreement, PanAmSat will be responsible for the
distribution of some of the most popular programs in the U.S. including: 24,
American Idol, The Bernie Mac Show, Malcolm in the Middle, My Big Fat
Obnoxious Fiance, The O.C., The Simpsons, and That '70s Show. Internationally,
PanAmSat will carry Fox's news, sports and entertainment channels. PanAmSat
will support Fox using 17 transponders located across seven satellites on its
global fleet. Specifically, the domestic agreement calls for a 15-year cable
contract for 10 transponders and a 15-year broadcast agreement for four
transponders. Internationally, Fox has signed a 10-year agreement for three
transponders. In addition, PanAmSat is now the provider of choice for Fox's
domestic and international satellite requirements.
Fox's cable group currently has six channels on Galaxy 11 at 91 degrees
west longitude and will migrate four additional channels to the satellite in
the second and third quarter of 2004. The 10-channel programming bouquet
includes its regional sports networks, news, movies and general entertainment
programming, and will anchor and solidify the cable neighborhood at this prime
orbital slot. Additionally, FOX Broadcasting will move in July to Galaxy 4R at
99 degrees west longitude and Galaxy 3C at 95 degrees west longitude, joining
ABC, Buena Vista, NPR, Televisa and WB among others. Fox international
channels will consolidate its programming on the PAS-2 and PAS-8 Pacific Ocean
Region satellites and the PAS-3R and PAS-9 Atlantic Ocean Region satellites.
"PanAmSat has successfully offered us a comprehensive solution for our
cable, broadcast and international program distribution," said Andrew G.
Setos, President of Engineering, Fox Group. "By concentrating our traffic on
one constellation the efficiency of scale enabled PanAmSat to deliver a
superior restoration plan that is essential to safeguarding FOX's current
operations and its future growth."
About Fox Entertainment Group
Fox Entertainment Group, Inc., 82% owned by The News Corporation Limited
(NYSE: NWS, NWS.A), is principally engaged in the development, production and
worldwide distribution of feature films and television programs, television
broadcasting and cable network programming. The Company's studios, production
facilities and film and television library provide high-quality creative
content, and the Company's broadcasting and cable networks provide extensive
distribution platforms for the Company's programs. For more information on the
Fox Entertainment Group visit http://www.Fox.com.
About PanAmSat
PanAmSat Corporation (Nasdaq: SPOT) is one of the world's top three
satellite operators managing a global fleet of 30 satellites, 25 of which are
wholly-owned by the Company, for the delivery of news, sports and other
television programming. In total, this fleet is capable of reaching more than
98 percent of the world's population through cable television systems,
broadcast affiliates, direct-to-home operators, Internet service providers and
telecommunications companies. In addition, PanAmSat supports the largest
concentration of satellite-based business networks in the US, as well as
specialized communications services in remote areas throughout the world.
PanAmSat is 81 percent owned by HUGHES Electronics Corporation. For more
information, visit the company's web site at http://www.panamsat.com.
About HUGHES
Hughes Electronics Corporation is a world-leading provider of digital
multichannel television entertainment, broadband satellite networks and
services, and global video and data broadcasting. Hughes is 34 percent owned
by Fox Entertainment Group, which is approximately 82 percent owned by News
Corporation Ltd.
SOURCE PanAmSat Corporation
Web Site: http://www.panamsat.com http://www.Fox.com
Cable, Broadcast and International Program Distribution
WILTON, Conn., Feb. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PanAmSat Corporation
(Nasdaq: SPOT) today announced one of the largest deals in the Company's
20-year history with a multi-year, multi-satellite, multi-transponder
agreement with Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. Under the terms of the
agreement, Fox will consolidate its entire suite of U.S. programming onto
PanAmSat's global fleet for 15 years and move a significant portion of its
international traffic onto the fleet for the next decade. Fox will now be one
of PanAmSat's largest media customers and one of its top five global
customers.
"This agreement with PanAmSat will provide Fox with unparalleled global
coverage. By consolidating its distribution on our fleet, Fox is utilizing
our satellites in every region of the world to broadcast its programming,"
said Joe Wright, president and CEO, PanAmSat. "Expansion of our core video
market is also key to our growth strategy. This contract strengthens our
cable and broadcast neighborhoods worldwide. By providing flexibility,
redundancy, connectivity and service, PanAmSat continues to attract the
world's top programmers to our global network."
Because of this agreement, PanAmSat will be responsible for the
distribution of some of the most popular programs in the U.S. including: 24,
American Idol, The Bernie Mac Show, Malcolm in the Middle, My Big Fat
Obnoxious Fiance, The O.C., The Simpsons, and That '70s Show. Internationally,
PanAmSat will carry Fox's news, sports and entertainment channels. PanAmSat
will support Fox using 17 transponders located across seven satellites on its
global fleet. Specifically, the domestic agreement calls for a 15-year cable
contract for 10 transponders and a 15-year broadcast agreement for four
transponders. Internationally, Fox has signed a 10-year agreement for three
transponders. In addition, PanAmSat is now the provider of choice for Fox's
domestic and international satellite requirements.
Fox's cable group currently has six channels on Galaxy 11 at 91 degrees
west longitude and will migrate four additional channels to the satellite in
the second and third quarter of 2004. The 10-channel programming bouquet
includes its regional sports networks, news, movies and general entertainment
programming, and will anchor and solidify the cable neighborhood at this prime
orbital slot. Additionally, FOX Broadcasting will move in July to Galaxy 4R at
99 degrees west longitude and Galaxy 3C at 95 degrees west longitude, joining
ABC, Buena Vista, NPR, Televisa and WB among others. Fox international
channels will consolidate its programming on the PAS-2 and PAS-8 Pacific Ocean
Region satellites and the PAS-3R and PAS-9 Atlantic Ocean Region satellites.
"PanAmSat has successfully offered us a comprehensive solution for our
cable, broadcast and international program distribution," said Andrew G.
Setos, President of Engineering, Fox Group. "By concentrating our traffic on
one constellation the efficiency of scale enabled PanAmSat to deliver a
superior restoration plan that is essential to safeguarding FOX's current
operations and its future growth."
About Fox Entertainment Group
Fox Entertainment Group, Inc., 82% owned by The News Corporation Limited
(NYSE: NWS, NWS.A), is principally engaged in the development, production and
worldwide distribution of feature films and television programs, television
broadcasting and cable network programming. The Company's studios, production
facilities and film and television library provide high-quality creative
content, and the Company's broadcasting and cable networks provide extensive
distribution platforms for the Company's programs. For more information on the
Fox Entertainment Group visit http://www.Fox.com.
About PanAmSat
PanAmSat Corporation (Nasdaq: SPOT) is one of the world's top three
satellite operators managing a global fleet of 30 satellites, 25 of which are
wholly-owned by the Company, for the delivery of news, sports and other
television programming. In total, this fleet is capable of reaching more than
98 percent of the world's population through cable television systems,
broadcast affiliates, direct-to-home operators, Internet service providers and
telecommunications companies. In addition, PanAmSat supports the largest
concentration of satellite-based business networks in the US, as well as
specialized communications services in remote areas throughout the world.
PanAmSat is 81 percent owned by HUGHES Electronics Corporation. For more
information, visit the company's web site at http://www.panamsat.com.
About HUGHES
Hughes Electronics Corporation is a world-leading provider of digital
multichannel television entertainment, broadband satellite networks and
services, and global video and data broadcasting. Hughes is 34 percent owned
by Fox Entertainment Group, which is approximately 82 percent owned by News
Corporation Ltd.
SOURCE PanAmSat Corporation
Web Site: http://www.panamsat.com http://www.Fox.com
