Intelsat to Transmit HD Olympics Across Europe for the European Broadcasting Union

12 June 2008

Intelsat, Ltd., announced that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has signed a multi-transponder deal for the video carriage of the 2008 Summer Games to Europe. 

The EBU will use C-/Ku-band cross-strap capacity on the Intelsat 706 satellite, located at 50.2 degrees East, to distribute the all high-definition event to its members. The EBU, of which a large proportion of the major European broadcasters are members, provides a full range of network services, including but not limited to HD transmissions to broadband video carriage.  

“By using Intelsat to deliver the Summer Games, we are confident that our members will benefit from the reliable service Intelsat offers when it comes to large scale events,” said Stefan Kürten, Director of the Eurovision Operations Department. 

“We are the only satellite operator able to offer cross-strapped C-band uplink and Ku-band downlink capacity from Beijing, enabling direct Ku-band reception into Europe for the EBU,” said Jean-Philippe Gillet, Intelsat’s Regional Vice President, Europe & Middle East. “The 2008 Summer Games provides another milestone in Intelsat’s unsurpassed track record in successfully supporting live, global HD transmissions.”