Artist rendition of the Anik F1R. Photo: Airbus Defence & Space

[Via Satellite 02-05-2015] Telesat has signed an agreement with AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, a subsidiary of AMC Networks, the owner and operator of several cable brands. Under the deal, AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology will use C-band capacity on Telesat’s Anik F1R satellite. In addition, AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology and Telesat have agreed to jointly market AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology center and satellite transmission facilities in New York, N.Y. in combination with Telesat’s satellite capacity over Canada, as a cost-effective solution for cable distribution across Canada.

Under the agreement, Telesat capacity is now a core component in AMC Networks’ cable TV distribution across North America. Distribution originates from AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology center in New York, N.Y. where HD and SD programming are uplinked to Telesat’s Anik F1R. This satellite then broadcasts the content to Canadian Multi-System Operators (MSOs) via its broad C-band footprint. The solution is highly efficient and cost effective for both AMC Networks and Canadian MSOs given the large number of cable head-ends across Canada already receiving television programming via Telesat’s Anik F1R.

“Having AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology center in New York fixed on Telesat’s Anik F1R satellite creates opportunities for other U.S. content providers to make use of the same infrastructure for cost-effective distribution across Canada,” said Michele Beck, Telesat’s vice president North American sales.