PanAmSat Corporation, which claims to be the premier provider of global video and data broadcasting services via satellite, has reported total revenues of $870.1 million for 2001.
Earnings before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were $580.1 million, or 67 per cent of revenues; and earnings per share (EPS) were $0.20. The total revenue was $1.024 billion for the year ended 31 December, 2000. The decrease in revenue has been attributed to the $219.2 million of new outright sales and sales-type lease revenues recorded during the year ended 31 December, 2000 compared to $45.5 million of new sales-type lease revenues recorded during the same period in 2001. Operating lease revenues for 2001 were $802.2 million, a 2.8 per cent increase over operating lease revenues of $780.3 million in 2000.

Total revenues for the fourth quarter ended 31 December, 2001 were $203.7 million compared to revenues of $202.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2000; EBITDA was $139.3 million compared to $136.2 million for the same period in 2000. The increase in EBITDA was principally due to a decrease in direct operating costs and selling, general and administrative costs, partially offset by severance expenses. Operating lease revenues increased by 0.5 per cent to $197.7 million or 97 per cent of total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2001, compared to $196.7 million for the same period in 2000.

As of December 31, 2001, PanAmSat had contracts for satellite services representing future payments (backlog) of approximately $5.84 billion, compared to approximately $5.85 billion, as of September 30, 2001.

Speaking on this president and CEO Panamsat Joe Wright said, ?Operating lease revenues for 2001 were the highest in the company?s history, and they increased during a tough growth year in our industry. The higher operating revenues were primarily due to increases in our direct-to-home and network services, and we continued to see strong demand for our domestic video neighborhood among premier entertainment and media customers."

Forecast for 2002
The company expects total revenues for the first quarter of 2002 to range from $200 to $205 million, with no new sales or sales-type leases; EBITDA margins would continue to increase and be above 70 per cent and EPS would range between $0.08 and $0.11 per share. The company said that in 2002 total revenues would range between $790 and $825 million, with no new sales or sales-type leases, and EBITDA margins would be above the 70 per cent level.

Some significant achievements in 2001:

1. The signing of new 10-year, multi-transponder contracts with HBO and Turner Broadcasting System. The long-term arrangements, signed in January 2001, ensure the delivery of CNN, TNT, HBO and Cinemax through 2015.

2. Warner Bros. selected PanAmSat?s Galaxy IVR spacecraft as the new vehicle for the digital distribution of The WB Television Network and Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution services.

3. The signing of new long-term sales agreements with Viacom?s Showtime and Black Entertainment Television (BET) in late November for follow-on service on a Galaxy V replacement spacecraft in 2005. The agreements renewed Viacom?s position on the Galaxy system through 2017.

With this agreement, PanAmSat continues providing long-term program distribution to all three major U.S.-based global entertainment companies.

For more detailed information about the company‘s financial guidance and trends visit

Intelsat LLC has announced that it has signed two launch services contracts - one with Boeing Launch Services for a Sea Launch Zenit-3SL vehicle and the second with International Launch Services (ILS) for its Proton M/Breeze M vehicle - for the launch of the two Intelsat X series satellites 10-01 and 10-02.
The 10-01 and 10-02 satellites, manufactured by Astrium, are scheduled for launch during the second and third quarters of 2003. These spacecraft have a design life span of 13 years each and will be deployed over the Atlantic Ocean region. The X series are the first Intelsat satellites to use plasma propulsion for in-orbit station keeping. This more propellant-efficient design allows for an increase in the useful mass of the spacecraft by 50 per cent over the Intelsat IX generation; this mass can be used for providing more transponders or more power per transponder. Both satellites will provide Internet, broadcast, corporate network and carrier solutions to Intelsat customers.

The 10-01 is scheduled to be deployed at 310?E and has been designed to provide 23 Ku-band and 56 C-band transponders (measured in 36 MHz equivalent units). The 10-02 is planned for the 359?E location with 36 Ku-band and 70 C-band transponders (measured in 36 MHZ equivalent units).

MTV Networks International has announced that next month US secretary of state Colin Powell will participate in an international global forum through the channel. The 60-minute forum will have young people from America, India, the Middle East, Italy, UK/Ireland, Brazil and Russia grilling Powell on the war on terrorism.
MTV Networks International has announced that next month US secretary of state Colin Powell will participate in an international global forum through the channel. The 60-minute forum will have young people from America, India, the Middle East, Italy, UK/Ireland, Brazil and Russia grilling Powell on the war on terrorism.