SES Americom, an SES Global company, Thursday announced a strategic, multi-year agreement with Atlanta-based Crawford Communications designed to deliver a one-stop solution for innovative program production and broad distribution within its advanced HD-PRIME cable neighborhood.
By launching its digital distribution platform aboard SES Americom’s state-of-the-art AMC-10 satellite, Crawford Communications, one of the largest independent post production and broadcast facilities in the country, can now provide unparalleled reach to virtually every U.S. cable household – and to even the smallest of networks.
As a result, Crawford is enabling start-up and independent channels to seamlessly tap the most advanced program delivery platform together with a broad range of cutting-edge a la carte or turn-key capabilities, including master control, play-out, ad and live feed insertion, domestic and international teleport services, C- and Ku-band transportable earth stations, studio and remote video production, video editing, audio mixing, design, animation, and other post production services.
Customers of Crawford’s new, innovative solution will have their programming distributed over HD-PRIME, America’s cable neighborhood, which is already the chosen distribution home for a growing list of top programmers, including Viacom, Discovery Communications, E! Networks, A&E Television Networks, Hallmark Channel, iN DEMAND, Lifetime Entertainment, NBC, QVC, Scripps Networks, and The Weather Channel.
Crawford originates 32 full-time television channels and produces some of the most watched programming distributed in the U.S. and around the world for many prominent programmers. Their new digital platform will offer high-end production combined with unrivaled cable house-hold penetration to start-ups committed to delivering new content to niche and broad audiences.
“There are a lot of creative independent programmers and producers around the world and throughout the U.S. who have wonderful ideas and concepts that simply need the proven production and distribution infrastructure to reach their target audiences across America,” explained Bryan McGuirk, senior vice president of domestic satellite services for SES Americom.
“By providing a turn-key origination, production and studio services solution aboard SES Americom’s advanced HD-PRIME program delivery platform, Crawford is allowing small, independent channels to unleash their tailored programming to U.S. viewers.”
“Crawford Communications is already providing network origination and other satellite, production and post production services to some of the largest, most innovative programmers in the world,” said Jesse Crawford, president and founder of Crawford Communications.
“By launching our new satellite distribution platform for new digital networks on SES Americom’s AMC-10 satellite, Crawford Communications is now able to deliver top notch independent programming to virtually every cable household in the country.”
