[Satellite TODAY Insider 10-13-11] Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) has signed capacity renewal agreements with SES for nearly seven transponders on four satellites for distribution of news and entertainment programs throughout North America and Europe, SES announced Oct. 12.

   The multi-year, multi-satellite deal will see TBS use five transponders of Ku-band capacity aboard SES’ AMC-3 satellite, four of which will be used for CNN satellite news gathering (SNG) across the United States and Canada and one which will be used for distribution of CNN Newsource to more than 800 domestic affiliates.

   TBS now relies on more than 10 transponders on SES satellites for global coverage. “The SNG coverage will seamlessly migrate to the new SES-2 satellite once the spacecraft initiates service in the 87 degrees West orbital slot next month. An additional 8 MHz of capacity is being used to provide voice communications between remote SNG news trucks and CNN in Atlanta,” SES said in a company statement.

   Turner also is delivering breaking news from North America via CNN Newsource to European affiliates using 9 MHz of Ku-band capacity on SES’ NSS-7 satellite located at 338 degrees East. The service is scheduled to transition to the new SES-4 spacecraft once the satellite becomes operational next year. Direct-to-Home (DTH) viewers across the United Kingdom and Germany receive a variety of programming from TBS over Ku-band capacity on two of SES’ Astra satellites located at 19.2 degrees East and 28.2 degrees East.

   “SES has the satellites, personnel and expertise that Turner Broadcasting System needs in order to reach audiences around the world. Our long-term distribution partnership with SES is an important component of our global content delivery strategy,” TBS Vice President of International Distribution Technology John Ball said in a statement. Financial details of the contract were not disclosed.