Intelsat General Awarded Contract Extension for Delivering American Forces Radio and TV Service

Intelsat General Corp., an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Intelsat S.A., the world’s leading provider of satellite services, has been awarded a complete one-year contract renewal to deliver radio and television programing to U.S. military forces serving around the world. The original one-year contact was signed in 2011 and had six, one-year renewal options.

Under the contract with the American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS), Intelsat General provides a global distribution network that delivers multi-channel, broadcast-quality radio and television programs to military forces and their families stationed outside of the United States as well as to military personnel aboard United States Navy ships at sea. The service, which incorporates both on-and off-network capacity, reaches more than 200,000 people using 307 MHz of bandwidth carried over 9 satellites, 6 teleports, and the IntelsatOne SM terrestrial network.

“AFRTS is a lifeline for U.S. service members and their families stationed around the globe,” said Skot Butler, Vice President, Satellite Networks and Space Services. “In many cases, it is the only American media broadcast content available to them while they are deployed overseas for long stretches of time. It is a great privilege to be able to provide the connectivity and content that helps support the morale of the U.S. military.”

In addition to a wide range of American news, entertainment and sporting events, the service carries the Department of Defense (DoD) News channel, which broadcasts DoD news briefings, military news, interviews with top defense officials, and stories about military activities and exercises.