SES AMERICOM cancels IPTV service

Satellite TV operator SES AMERICOM has announced plans to pull the plug on its North American IPTV service by July 2009.

America’s leading provider of satellite services said it is terminating the IP-PRIME service because small and medium sized telecoms operators have been slow to adopt IPTV, and because the service has a difficult market outlook.

“With a subscriber base of less than ten thousand at the end of November and after more than 2 years of service, the consumer uptake is insufficient to justify continuing operations,” said Rob Bednarek, President and CEO of SES AMERICOM-NEW SKIES.

IP-PRIME will remain in operation until 31st July 2009, giving its customers time to find alternative services.

SES AMERICOM does not expect the termination of IP-PRIME to affect financial projections for 2008 and 2009.

The company provides communications and content distribution services to broadcasters, cable programmers, aeronautical and maritime communications integrators, internet service providers, mobile communications networks, government agencies, educational institutions, carriers, and secure global data networks.