MTN Worldwide TV Extends Channel Line-Up and Adds Foreign Language Programming

MIRAMAR, Fla., Feb. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- MTN Satellite Communications (MTN) announces it has expanded its MTN Worldwide TV (MTN TV) service to include three new live channels, as well as programming  in French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.  This line-up enhancement is a result of demand and growth among MTN customers in the cruise, yacht, commercial and government markets.  MTN TV marks its third year of service, delivering to more than 120 vessels in the cruise, yacht, commercial and government markets.  In addition to its regular line-up, MTN's Special Events Channel also has broadcast more than 760 live events, totaling more than 2,100 hours, including The Olympics, The World Cup and The Super Bowl.  

MTN TV is the only live, worldwide maritime television service for the enjoyment of passengers and crew on vessels around the world.  MTN TV is a turnkey solution, including equipment installation and service provisioning, even for vessel operators just using this particular MTN service. 

Today, MTN TV broadcasts 11 channels of news, sports, entertainment and special events, including FOX News Channel, BBC World News, MSNBC, CNBC, SkyNews and SkySports News.  In addition to its new programming in multiple languages, MTN is now adding to its line-up:

• Prime U.S. – A comprehensive line-up of current-in-production American programming, including TV dramas, comedies, reality shows, animation, award shows, concerts, feature films and major college sports, including football and basketball from the Pac-12, Big Ten and Big 12 conferences.  
• Prime Telly – Current British and Australian programming, including news, animation, live-action, feature films, sports matches, awards shows and concerts.
• Engage! – Entertainment, style, food and do-it-yourself (DIY) programming.

MTN also is making IMG Media's Sport 24 Channel available to non-passenger vessels, such as commercial, oil and gas ships, and yachts, which is a result of the channel's popularity among cruise operators.  Sport 24 is the first-ever 24/7 sports channel dedicated to the maritime market.  In 2013, the channel will broadcast Premier League Soccer, Formula 1™, U.S. Open Tennis, Wimbledon, the British and Irish Lions Rugby Tour, and Bundesliga Soccer.  In 2012, Sport 24 broadcast the Summer Olympic Games to 38 ships around the world through MTN.

The company has future plans to expand the service, with discussions underway with other major networks, as well as new antenna, compression technology and wireless streaming providers.  These plans complement the company's next-generation network plan – MTN Nexus™.  MTN Nexus will deliver a hybrid satellite and terrestrial platform, enabling even more sophisticated computing, caching and security infrastructure for at-sea communications and content delivery.

"The goal of cruise lines used to be getting passengers out of their cabins, but these days 'connection' to the world, even on vacation, is becoming more and more important to passengers and crew, including viewing their country's sports and news for morale purposes," said Brian Lunsford, managing partner, Across Oceans Group Inc. and former head of broadcast products for a global cruise line.  "This is an important investment for the operator.   Managing TV content like this used to be virtually impossible and a full time job, but what MTN has done is deliver a solution from a  single source with the right expanding line-up and rights to add an important benefit as part of the cruising experience.   Once again, MTN broke a cruise industry mold by delivering more than just news through MTN TV-- and mirroring the TV experience a passenger or crew member would have on land."

MTN TV was the industry's first fully digital, multi-channel maritime TV service.  Utilizing MTN's global satellite network, MTN TV integrates seamlessly with a vessel's existing Television Receive Only (TVRO) C-band antenna and onboard video distribution system.  MTN manages its own satellite network and content, ensuring viewers experience reliable, uninterrupted service.  All customers benefit from MTN's customer service and technical support 24x7x365. 

"The demand for additional content is a testament to the value MTN TV brings to the maritime market for both passengers and crew," said Bill Witiak, director of television and broadcast services at MTN.  "MTN can appreciate that the demand for broadcast services is akin to the at-home TV experience but, more importantly, for the consistent delivery and 24/7 service.  In addition, special sporting events give operators another reason to gather groups out at sea, and we give them the confidence that the broadcast will reach the ship.  MTN TV delivers need-to-know information, news, and entertainment on vessels in places at sea where, three years ago, TV wasn't an option.  MTN is once again fulfilling the connectivity needs of people and organizations no matter where they are in the world." 

About MTN

MTN Satellite Communications is the leading global provider of maritime communications, connectivity and content services to remote locations around the world. MTN was the first company to offer a stabilized, very small aperture terminal (VSAT) satellite solution for ships at sea, which has contributed to the evolution of the satellite industry over the past three decades. Through MTN's reliable global communications network and expertise, the company continues to deliver solutions across various markets while addressing the unique challenges and needs for each. Today, MTN offers services and solutions to cruise lines, ferries, commercial ships, mobile and fixed oil and gas vessels, mega yachts and government entities. MTN delivers and supports a broad array of integrated turnkey services, including remote access for Internet, VoIP, voice services, remote IT management, global vessel tracking, bandwidth optimization, real-time video capabilities, crew calling solutions and other enterprise solutions. The company has a major development program underway for its next-generation network, MTN Nexus^TM. MTN Nexus will revolutionize the way people communicate at sea by combining a maritime developed network, platform, and products. For more information, visit www.mtnsat.com.

Press Contacts:

Liz DeCastro
Sr. Corporate Communications Director
+1.954.672.4539 office
+1.954.675.1404 mobile
[email protected]

Gilcelia dos Santos
Marketing Communications Coordinator
+1.954.672.4522 office
+1.954.655.5059 mobile
[email protected]

SOURCE MTN Satellite Communications