- Intelsat by IMAGE MEDIA Farm Inc. will be providing mobile satellite connectivity services for The 2010 Torch Relay for this year's Olympics in Vancouver.
- The Relay, the longest ever to take place in a single country, kicked off on October 30 in Victoria, BC, and concludes at the Opening Ceremony for the Winter Games on February 12, 2010. IMF, provider of complete contract HD video production services, is the official chronicler of the Winter Games.
- SIS LIVE is supplying a Yukon SUV equipped with the Company’s Intelsat uPod, a fully integrated broadcasting solution that allows the execution of real-time broadcasting services more efficiently. This service blends Intelsat’s space and ground infrastructure with SIS LIVE’s uPod TM to support web-based scheduling and transmission of live standard and high definition video, as well as voice and Internet communications. The uPod is uplinking SD, HD and data feeds via dedicated Intelsat satellite capacity for the majority of the 106-day Torch Relay. The tour is visiting 1,037 communities during its 28,000-mile journey as it parallels the path of the northern lights. Video feeds are being downlinked by broadcasters throughout North America, including Canadian Television (CTV) - the host broadcaster, The Canadian Tourist Board, and local TV stations.
- In addition to uplinking traditional TV feeds, SIS LIVE’s Intelsat uPod is providing a high-speed data connection to transmit massive quantities of high quality still images for access by the global print media community. At press time, over 3200 media outlets, from Russia to Australia, were subscribed to ServerDam (www.serverdam.com), resulting in over three times the number of expected downloads.
- “We needed to insure that the world travels with the Torch – every day and every step of the way”, said Roger Williams, President of IMF and Executive Producer of its Torch Relay coverage. “Edited stills and produced video packages of the Torch Relay are sent to SIS LIVE’s uPod TM, which transmits the HD and SD video and data feeds to Intelsat’s dedicated satellite for live download to North American broadcasters, as well as to ServerDam, from which Torch photos and video packages are distributed to accredited media outlets and registered journalists worldwide.”
- The Torch Relay has been a significant part of the Games since 1938 and reflects the culture of its host country. The 2010 tour is visiting every Canadian province and territory, including some of the most pristine and stunning landscapes on the planet, Alert, Nunavut - the northernmost permanently inhabited community in the world, and119 Aboriginal communities.12,000 Torchbearers will help carry the flame to its final destination at the BC Place Station in Vancouver, BC.
- The Games will be held from February 12 to 28 in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C.
