Intelsat's Transformative Satellite Solutions Revolutionize Global Media Landscape

Pascale Fromont, Intelsat's VP/GM Media, reveals in an exclusive interview with Advanced-Television how the company's comprehensive satellite services are empowering global media customers to seamlessly reach wider audiences across diverse distribution platforms. From enabling multi-language content delivery to powering innovative FAST channels and supporting major sporting events, Intelsat's innovative solutions are reshaping the future of the media and entertainment industry.

Intelsat's Satellite Expertise Unlocks Boundless Opportunities for Global Media Customers

Seamless Satellite-to-IP Connectivity for Comprehensive Content Distribution

Intelsat's VP/GM Media, Pascale Fromont, explains how the company's satellite expertise is addressing the evolving needs of global media customers. "Customers like A+E Networks are seeking a single operator that can provide seamless connections from satellite to ground-based Internet Protocol distribution networks. Intelsat's visibility across the full distribution network, even when it spans multiple technologies, enables our customers to reach more end users across direct-to-home (DTH), cable, and IPTV, ensuring their content reaches the widest possible audience."

Maximizing Reach and Multilingual Content Delivery for Hearst Networks

Fromont highlights Intelsat's work with Hearst Networks, a leading media conglomerate. "Hearst Networks needed to maximize the reach of its flagship channels, History HD and History 2 HD, across pay-TV households in Central and Eastern Europe. This included the ability to deliver the content in over eight languages, with audio and subtitles, to as large an audience as possible. Intelsat's satellite solutions enabled Hearst to achieve this seamless multilingual content distribution, ensuring their channels were accessible to a diverse viewership."

Powering the Growth of FAST Channels with Intelsat's 'WeDo Big Stories' Service

Fromont emphasizes the rising prominence of FAST (Free Advertising Supported Television) channels, stating that they are "one of the fastest growing segments in the media and entertainment industry." She cites recent reports indicating that the US alone has nearly 2,000 unique FAST channels, with one in three Americans regularly watching content from these platforms. "Intelsat has recently won a contract from EuroNews to broadcast FAST versions in English and Spanish as part of our 'WeDo Big Stories' service, and we are in discussions with other European news broadcasters to further expand our FAST channel offerings."

Intelsat's IntelsatOne IP Service Supports Live Broadcast of Major Sporting Events

Fromont highlights Intelsat's role in supporting the live broadcast of the 2024 Paris Olympics. "This year's Paris Olympics proved valuable for our 'IntelsatOne IP' service, which was used by a major Brazilian broadcaster (believed to be TV Globo) to showcase live video feeds from the Games. The broadcaster utilized IntelsatOne IP as a disaster recovery service for the contribution of the live feeds from Paris to Rio de Janeiro, demonstrating the versatility and reliability of our satellite-based solutions."

Intelsat's Acquisition by SES and Ongoing Satellite Innovations

While Intelsat is in the process of being acquired by SES, Fromont emphasizes that the company continues to operate independently, including ongoing satellite building and the valuable space tug service missions to rescue and extend the life of operational satellites. "Pending the closing of the deal, likely in H2/2025, Intelsat remains focused on delivering innovative satellite solutions to our customers, unencumbered by the acquisition process."

Intelsat's Transformative Inflight Connectivity Solutions

One of Intelsat's key growth areas is the airline business, where it is now supplying just over 3,000 aircraft, with a backlog of more than 800. Fromont highlights Intelsat's excitement about its ability to deliver multi-orbit services, stating, "Intelsat is the first InFlight Communications provider to offer multi-orbit connectivity to airlines and customers alike." The company's acquisition of Gogo's commercial (non-business aviation) InFlight assets in 2020, coupled with its use of OneWeb for low Earth orbiting connections and the upcoming integration with SES's "complementary" O3b mid-Earth fleet, positions Intelsat as a leading provider of comprehensive inflight connectivity solutions.

Expanding Satellite-Powered Automation Solutions for the Agriculture Sector

Intelsat's growth story extends beyond the media and airline industries, with the company's FlexMove satellite terminal for automating tractors and farm machinery being supplied to firms such as New Holland, Case IH, and Steyr. "This innovative solution is transforming the agriculture sector, enabling seamless connectivity and automation for a wide range of farming equipment and machinery."