News Broadcasting
Panamsat sets record with World Cup coverage
PanAmSat Corporation today announced that more than 24 top broadcasters, programmers and news agencies in over two-dozen countries are using the company global satellite network for delivery of the World Cup.
With more than 17,000 hours of video transmission time booked to date, it is the largest special events offering in PanAmSat history, a company release states. Through its coverage of the event, PanAmSat offers customers unparalleled global reach, state-of-the-art production and transmissions facilities, as well as the ability to uplink live directly from remote locations throughout Korea and Japan via mobile transmission units.
“Our global resources, in conjunction with the collective expertise of our onsite special events staff, ensures that millions of viewers around the world experience the excitement of the World Cup,” said Joseph R Wright, PanAmSat president and CEO.
According to Catherine A Palaia, PanAmSat vice-president of special events and occasional use broadcast services, the company is serving more than 24 countries during the world’s most-watched sporting event including: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, France, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Korea, Spain, the United States and the United Kingdom. PanAmSat, acting as a third-party provider for rights holders at the International Broadcast Center (IBC), is offering comprehensive services such as compression, transmission hardware and an encryption system, providing conditional access to the World Cup. In addition, PanAmSat is working closely with local Korean and Japanese satellite carriers and broadcasters to provide services such as Onse Telecom, DaCom, Japan Telecom and KDDI.
PanAmSat’s special events team has been on site since April to ensure seamless service for its customers. The company is employing over 60 satellite paths and 30 transponders across 11 spacecrafts to transmit the games. PanAmSat, a Type One (T-1) carrier since November 1995, was the first US company awarded this license by the Japanese Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. The license enables PanAmSat, one of the only non-government entities in Japan to hold a T-1 classification, to offer international satellite-based services directly to customers in Japan. Under the umbrella of PanAmSat’s license, customers will be able to obtain a temporary operating license in Japan so as to receive and then broadcast the games on their own network.
Official rights holders have the option of uplinking to the PanAmSat spacecraft directly from the IBC in Seoul, Korea. PanAmSat has coordinated with local production and transmission facilities so that non-rights holders and occasional-use customers can also uplink to a satellite in PanAmSat’s fleet of 21 spacecraft for distribution.
In addition, PanAmSat Napa, Fillmore, Ellenwood and Homestead teleport facilities will serve as critical retransmission points for the onward delivery of live coverage from Korea and Japan to sites throughout the Americas and around the world.
In addition to this year’s World Cup, PanAmSat Broadcast Services Department has teamed with dozens of leading broadcasters and programmers to deliver hundreds of thousands of hours of live coverage of the worlds premier sporting and special events, as well as breaking news to audiences around the world. Past events include the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia; the 1998 World Cup tournament in Paris, France; the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada; and the 2000 Millennium celebrations.
News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. AICC’s Praveen Chakravarty weighs ‘Power Sharing vs Principles’, while former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan joins the fray. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
