In anticipation of SES Americom’s nationwide commercial IPTV launch, Comcast Networks, Fox Cable Networks, NBC Universal, Showtime Networks, and Turner Broadcasting System have joined the IP-Prime IPTV digital dial, increasing its offerings to more than 350 channels, SES Americom announced April 16.

The companies have signed IP-Prime transport agreements, enabling SES Americom to process popular programming for IPTV distribution over its AMC-9 satellite to authorized video hubs and consumers’ IPTV set-top boxes.

IP-Prime will offer seven Comcast channels; 10 Fox Cable channels; 13 NBC Universal channels; 13 Showtime Channels; and 10 Turner channels, including CNN.

“SES Americom is very close to the historic commercial launch of IP-Prime, we have field trials underway and in the works with Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 telcos, and a growing number in the queue anxious to offer top-notch television to their customers,” said Bill Squadron, senior vice president of media partnerships for SES Americom.