SES inks five content deals, adds 53 channels

SES Americom's satellite IPTV offering just got bigger: 53 channels bigger thanks to recent transport deals with Comcast Networks, Fox Cable Networks, NBC Universal, Showtime Networks and Turner Broadcasting System. The company's IP-PRIME service now has more than 350 channels, including 18 HD services. SES Americom's partner count now stands at more than 40, including A&E, Fox News, Hallmark, Lifetime, MTV, The Weather Channel and Anime Network. The biggest hole in the company's portfolio is the absence of ESPN, which has notoriously high licensing fees. SES Americom says its currently in negotiations with the sports network, and SVP of media partnerships Bill Squadron noted that "it would be erroneous to say we won't have ESPN."

For more on SES Americom's latest deals:
- see this report from MultiChannel News