PanAmSat, AOL Units in Transmission Deal

Satellite-based video and data broadcaster PanAmSat Corp. said it signed a $250-million deal with three AOL Time Warner Inc. units to transmit television programs. The company said it signed a 10-year deal with HBO and Turner Broadcasting System Inc. to continue to deliver programming on its next-generation satellites beginning in 2005. HBO and TBS are already customers for PanAmSat’s current satellite services. The latest deal ensures that HBO and TBS will continue to use PanAmSat in future digital service offerings such as high-definition television (HDTV) and video-on-demand. PanAmSat said it also signed a deal with Warner Bros. to deliver programming digitally for the WB Television Network and Warner Bros. domestic television distribution services.