• Three-year contract to provide channel package of fibre, uplink and satellite space for the government-funded channel
• Also includes distribution links to the SDN multiplex for Freeview

NTL's Broadcast division has today announced it has won a three-and-a-half year contract to provide a channel package to Teachers' TV, the new digital channel for the education community.  When the channel launches in early 2005, NTL will provide backhaul from the London playout centre, fibre connectivity to the company's Winchester teleport, uplinking and space segment on the Astra 2A direct-to-home satellite.  The package also includes fibre connectivity to the SDN multiplex for a position on the UK digital terrestrial platform's free-to-air service, Freeview.

Funded by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) but editorially independent, Teachers' TV is aimed at helping busy teachers by sharing ideas and practical experience.  Programming will cover training and development, education news and current affairs, classroom observation and analysis, and resource reviews.  Curriculum-based programmes for use in the classroom will also form part of the schedule.  The channel will be on-air 24 hours a day on Sky, cable and overnight on Freeview and will be supported by an extensive website.

Simon Thrush, head of satellite and playout in NTL's Media Solutions group, said: "We're delighted to be able to support this ground breaking channel.  It's a great example of the sort of package that we are able to offer new channels wanting to broadcast to multiple platforms.  In this case we are providing transmission onto the Sky Platform using Astra capacity and to Freeview using our own fibre network."

Clare Healy, Director of Channel Management, Education Digital Management Ltd, said:" The combination of its own fibre and access to several TV platforms meant that NTL could accommodate our needs for widespread distribution.  NTL has an impressive track record in providing broadcast services and a reputation for reliability and excellent customer service. This, combined with its understanding of what we needed as a new channel, were important factors in our choice of technical partner."

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