Cisco and SES AMERICOM are working together to enable rural local exchange carriers in North America to offer IPTV to their subscribers using a solution that combines the Cisco IP Next-Generation Networks with SES AMERICOM's IP-PRIME IPTV service. The end-to-end offering processes content and television programming and distributes it via satellite to telecommunications companies and their IPTV consumers nationwide. Systems integration from both companies and their respective partners is an integral part of the offering.

In rural areas of the United States, telecommunications companies will offer IP-PRIME through the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) in partnership with the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA).

Sky Angel, a U.S. direct broadcast satellite (DBS) provider, has agreed to provide more than 30 TV and radio channels of Christian and family programming to ShifTV for delivery via a high-speed Internet connection to Canadians' televisions using a set-top box provided by ShifTV. Among the advantages is the ability to watch programming through the TV and surf the Internet on the computer simultaneously using the same high-speed connection.

SES AMERICOM, an SES GLOBAL company, announced MTV Networks, Scripps Networks, The Weather Channel, Fox News Channel and a host of popular TV and music networks have signed IP-PRIME transport agreements, taking SES AMERICOM's IPTV lineup to 290 channels.

SES AMERICOM's IPTV content originates from the IP-PRIME IPTV Broadcast Center based in Vernon Valley, New Jersey, where video and audio programming is received, processed, and then securely transported nationwide over the AMC-9 satellite to authorized video hubs and consumer set top boxes.

Amino has announced a multi-year set top box agreement to support SES AMERICOM's IP-PRIME service. As part of the agreement, Amino will provide its AmiNET130 set top box, a fully flexible standard and high definition, MPEG-2/4 AVC/H.264 capable device, to enable SES AMERICOM's end-to-end delivery of its IP-PRIME IPTV service to consumer homes throughout the U.S.

Rural telephone companies in three cities are already in advanced trials of IP-PRIME, which enables telcos and broadband service providers to greatly cut deployment costs and accelerate time to market.

SES AMERICOM and International Datacasting Corporation have integrated IDC's next-generation DVB-S2 satellite receivers aboard the IP-PRIME IPTV service. As part of a newly-signed agreement, IDC is the exclusive provider of satellite receivers over the initial year of IP-PRIME service rollouts.

SES AMERICOM has integrated Harmonic's latest video encryption technology with SES AMERICOM's IP-PRIME IPTV distribution service. The new Harmonic ProStream 1000 with ProCipher AES scrambling and bulk descrambling technology is a key component of IP-PRIME, which enables large and small telephone company operators and broadband service providers across the U.S. to securely, easily and cost-effectively deliver a full lineup of top quality programming to consumers.

Officials with Eagle Broadband, Inc., a national provider of broadband, Internet protocol (IP) and communications technology and services, announced the company began construction of its super head-end and satellite farm at NewCom International in Miami, Florida.

The new super head-end being constructed at NewCom International's Miami teleport will allow Eagle to collect and digitize IPTV content gathered from the more than 30 satellites across North America.

With decades of reliable and trusted programming delivery under its belt, SES AMERICOM, an SES GLOBAL company, announced more than 30 leading television programmers and networks representing 120 channels have signed IPTV transport agreements with SES AMERICOM and its IP-PRIME IPTV Television Broadcast Center. Starz!/Encore, A&E Television Networks, Hallmark Channels, and Lifetime Networks headline a growing lineup, which is expected to surpass the 200 channel mark by the time IP-PRIME makes its commercial debut later this year.