[Satellite Today 11-21-08] Intelsat Ltd. signed a multi-year contract to broadcast the MLB Network using capacity on the Galaxy 17 satellite, Intelsat announced Nov. 20.
    The network, a 24-hour cable network devoted to Major League Baseball and other baseball programming, will have standard and high definition programming and will launch Jan. 1 in about 50 million cable and satellite homes in the United States.
    “It’s very important to us that MLB Network reach as many baseball fans as possible,” Mark Haden, vice president, engineering & information technology, MLB Network, said in a statement. “We chose Intelsat for our launch based on its heritage of resilient service and strategic market presence.”
    Intelsat announced in September that Major League Baseball International signed a contract for international distribution of its season’s games and highlights to broadcast rights-holders in Asia, Europe and Latin America.