Photo: Nine Entertainment Co.

[Via Satellite 10-26-2016] Intelsat has signed a new contract with Nine Network Australia (NNA) to distribute programming to the company’s six domestic television stations. The operator will also provide global satellite and fiber connectivity using the IntelsatOne terrestrial network to bring news content and special events from around the world to Australia for its network affiliates.

NNA is one of the country’s top-rated commercial television networks, with local stations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin, along with a regional broadcaster, NBN. The network also has news bureaus in Canberra, London and Los Angeles. NNA is a subsidiary of Nine Entertainment Co., one of Australia’s leading media companies.

Intelsat initially is providing services via the Australia/New Zealand Ku-band beam on Intelsat 19 for the network’s broadcasting requirement. Under the agreement, Intelsat’s network support will extend well into the next decade.

NNA previously used Intelsat for its domestic and international occasional use requirements. Most recently, the company used Intelsat 29e for short-term services around the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.