• Live delivery to more than 100 million households
• New Los Angeles facilities used as primary distribution point for entire event
• End-to-end service including transatlantic fiber and European uplinking

Washington, DC.   On 22 November 2007 Arqiva supported the Armenia Fund's 10th International Telethon, providing over 12 hours of continuous content distribution during the American Thanksgiving holiday. Arqiva provided the Telethon's connection to the world from its new West Coast teleport outside Los Angeles, delivering the live event to more than 100 million households in the United States and internationally.

The Telethon unites Armenians worldwide to help rebuild Armenia and this year featured more than 40 Armenian performers, along with documentary segments and special guests. The Foreign Affairs Minister of Armenia, Vartan Oskanian, was also present at the Telethon. Since Armenia's independence, the event has become a Thanksgiving Day tradition and this year the International Telethon raised an unprecedented $15.2 million - an all time high for Armenia Fund telethons.

The performances and other content were generated from the studios of the Los Angeles affiliate of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and sent to Arqiva's teleport. From there Arqiva sent the content for onward delivery to Europe and North America using Galaxy 25 1C Analog for the US, and Eutelsat W2 for Europe.  Arqiva also provided end-to-end services, including domestic uplink, transatlantic fiber, conversion and space on Eutelsat W2. In addition to the space segment, Arqiva also provided live inserts from a Paris studio through Arqiva's Paris facility. The connection was made to KCET Hollywood Studios via transatlantic fibre through Arqiva's Los Angeles hub. From London, Arqiva in the UK provided the uplink to the W2 space, where the programming was broadcast throughout Europe and then inputted to H1-Armenian Public Television (Armenia) on a DTH mux platform. 

"Arqiva is very proud of its expanded role in this extraordinary event," says Simon Thrush, Senior Vice President of Arqiva in the US.  "Arqiva has supported the Telethon in the past by offering distribution throughout Europe, but with the new, state-of-the-art facilities in Los Angeles, we have become the primary distribution point for the entire telethon. It's a much more all-encompassing role," continues Thrush.  Arqiva's solution was a fully managed service which included delivery to a main internet gateway/POP on the West Coast; the uplink and satellite capacity from the US to Europe; Europe-onward distribution of the content throughout Eastern Europe and to the Middle East; as well as playout services.

Greg Boyrazian, Development Director of Armenia Fund says, "We've worked with Arqiva for years and their European infrastructure and service provision are unparalleled."  Boyrazian explains, "Thanks to Arqiva, we have the technology down to a science and it's very reassuring to now have Arqiva taking the content from the point of distribution directly to the world. The emotional attachment for the Armenian people globally is huge, and having Arqiva in this role highlights our trust in their excellence."   

Proceeds from the Telethon this year will go to the Village Development Program, a multi-level regional development plan to help revitalize Armenia's rural villages by building new schools, drinking water systems, new health care facilities and agricultural development programs. The Armenia Fund coordinates its work with the US Government's Millennium Challenge Corporation, the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank.

The 10th International Armenia Fund Telethon aired in all major Armenian-American communities in the US, as well as internationally on H1-Armenian Public Television across all continents. It was also streamed on the Internet at http://www.armeniafund.org/. 

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