Using Intelsat’s satellite capacity and Japan Telecom’s antenna facilities, Japanese broadcaster NHK is delivering programming from the Showa base in Antarctica to households in Japan. NHK has set up its high-definition TV broadcasting center in the Antarctic and is using the Intelsat 904 satellite at 60 degrees East Longitude to carry environmentally- themed programs aimed at increasing public awareness of the global environment.

Japan Telecom is using a series of short-term video leases from Intelsat, receiving the content at its Kamiyamaguchi earth station in Japan and forwarding it to NHK’s studios in Tokyo. The Japanese conglomerate also supplied a flyaway antenna suitable for operation in harsh environments and secured over 100 hours of transmission time on the 904 satellite.