Intelsat has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase of a next-generation broadband satellite system as a key component of the organisation‘s initiative to address growing IP market demands worldwide, Ramu Potarazu, chief technology officer, announced on Monday, according to a company news release.

The RFP includes one geostationary Ku/Ka-band satellite operating in a bent pipe configuration, with options for up to four more spacecraft. The system is expected to support last-mile access for small and affordable user terminals as well as customers who target small and medium enterprises and small office-home office users. The organisation‘s goal is for the contract to be awarded by the fall, with deployment expected to occur in 2004.

Along with the RFP, Intelsat is looking at other opportunities to address broadband business issues. Included are current and upcoming services on its existing satellite fleet, as well as a continuing investigation of new system alternatives, Potarazu says.

"Responses to the RFP will help us to further solidify our strategy for acquiring next-generation broadband infrastructure, so this is an important step in Intelsat‘s plan to build on our communications industry experience to meet evolving market needs," says Potarazu. "The combination of the next-generation equipment and the new services being developed on our existing fleet is expected to ensure the company‘s long-term ability to not only meet those needs, but also do it in ways that will give users a leg up on the competition."

Intelsat already has 10 satellites on order, representing a total investment of more than $3.2 billion for launches planned from this year through 2003.

Intelsat presently offers Internet, broadcast, telephony and corporate network solutions around the globe through a fleet of 19 satellites.

Further to a preliminary agreement reached in December 2000 with Philips Royal Electronics, Thomson multimedia has recently announced the acquisition of the Professional Broadcast businesses of Philips.

The five businesses of the Philips Professional Broadcast group include cameras, film imaging, signal processing (digital production switchers), media networking & control (routing & switchers), and the Philips broadcast Systems Group.

This acquisition will strengthen Thomson Digital Media Solutions (DMS) division, the fifth business segment focused on business-to-business solutions for broadcasters, content providers, network operators and advertisers aiming at deploying full digital video content solutions, a company press release says.

Thomson multimedia Broadcast Solutions had a turnover of over 400 million Euros of sales in 2000. The new entity is now leader in its market in Europe and number two worldwide.

Further to this acquisition, the new entity, including the previous professional broadcast activities from Thomson broadcast systems, Philips Professional Broadcast will be called Thomson multimedia Broadcast Solutions. Together with Nextream, a joint venture between Thomson and Alcatel dedicated to the highly growing Interactive Video market, Thomson multimedia Broadcast Solutions will address end-to-end needs of the businesses which operate in the digital media chain.

The Hallmark Channel is making a thrust into expanding its programming library. The network has appointed Kirstine Layfield to the newly-created position of senior vice president, programming.Layfield joins the Hallmark Channel from the Toronto-based cable and satellite channel Trio Television, where for the last four years she served as its general manager and vice president of programming. The announcement was made today by Russ Givens, president and chief executive officer of Crown Media International.
Layfield‘s prime responsibility will be to strategically identify and acquire top programming on an international basis for the Hallmark Channel. She will be based in the Hallmark Channel‘s Denver headquarters, will report directly to Givens and work closely with the managing directors of the Hallmark Channel‘s Asian, European and Latin American and operations on program acquisitions.

Givens also disclosed that the Hallmark Channel has acquired a number of high-profile series for many of its territories to further diversify its lineups worldwide. The award-winning family drama Touched by an Angel, with Roma Downey and Della Reese, has been acquired for the Hallmark Channel‘s Asia channels while producer Steven Bochco‘s police series Brooklyn South has been acquired to air on the Hallmark Channel in Spain, Portugal, Israel, Russia, the Middle East and Asia.

In Israel, Russia and the Middle East, the channel‘s subscribers will be able to watch the Gerald McRaney drama Promised Land, which has also been acquired to air in Australia. For its Spain and Portugal feeds, the Hallmark Channel has acquired the new critically acclaimed drama Judging Amy, starring Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly, and City of Angels, the medical drama featuring Blair Underwood and Michael Warren.