Intelsat Keeps Spanish Football Fans Happy During EuroCup

Intelsat, Ltd. transmitted the three most watched programs in Spanish TV history to millions of viewers during the broadcast of Spain’s appearances in the final rounds of June’s Euro 2008 soccer championship. Viewership peaked at 17.89 million during the final match.
Intelsat, which has transmitted many of the most-watched events of the past decades, continued the tradition with the Euro 2008 soccer championship. Intelsat provided Spain’s Telefonica S.A.’s broadcast unit, Telefonica Servicios Audiovisuales, fully managed on-site uplink services using a pool of Intelsat managed equipment and personnel. These services included Multiple Channel Per Carrier (MCPC) support of simultaneous high definition and standard definition transmissions from the international broadcasting center in Vienna. In addition, Ku-band capacity on the Intelsat 905 satellite located at 335.5 degrees East was used for high definition and standard definition transmissions of the matches and programming originating live from the international broadcasting center throughout the duration of the event. Intelsat also provided backup C-band capacity on the Intelsat 7 satellite located at 68.5 degrees East for the pivotal knock-out matches of the championship.
“Intelsat provided us with the turnkey solution—from location uplink services and logistics, to ideal space segment capacity—that we needed to successfully deliver the Euro 2008 championship games,” said Soraya Kherfi, Head of Television Transmissions for Telef nica Servicios Audiovisuales. “Intelsat’s high-powered Ku-band offering on its 905 satellite was ideal for the HD services we needed for our Spanish broadcaster.”
“Demand for HD programming remains strong on the global landscape and large-scale sporting events such as the 2008 Euro championships continue to fuel the growth and proliferation of this important video format,” said Jean-Philippe Gillet, Intelsat’s Regional Vice President for Europe and the Middle East. “Our 905 satellite is strategically located providing high power Ku-band spotbeam coverage for Western Europe, making it an ideal choice for transmitting sought-after news, live events, entertainment and sports to the European audience.”