Telewest Global (NASDAQ:TLWT)
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Harmonic Inc. (Nasdaq: HLIT), the recognized leader in
scalable IP-enabled video-on-demand (VOD) delivery solutions, today
announced that Telewest (Nasdaq: TLWT)--a leading provider of the
video, voice and broadband internet triple play in the UK--is using
Harmonic's Narrowcast Services Gateway(TM) (NSG) to deliver its new
TV-on-demand service, Teleport. The recently introduced service is
currently available in the South West of the U.K. and is being rolled
out incrementally across Telewest's entire network. The award winning
NSG is the world's most widely deployed IP-enabled on-demand service
edge solution, supporting more and larger-scale deployments than any
other device in its class.
Telewest serves more than 1.8 million of the 4.7 million homes its
network passes. The digital television service, received by
approximately 90 percent of the company's TV subscribers, positions
Telewest to benefit from the reduced churn and new revenue associated
with on-demand television services. The subscriber base is expected to
be fully digital by the end of 2006. Telewest has been adept at
packaging video, voice and data services--with triple play penetration
of more than 30 percent, which is one of the highest in the world--and
on-demand services are expected to play a key role in ensuring
competitiveness and driving triple-play penetration moving forward.
"Consumer feedback to Teleport Replay, which offers free,
on-demand access to programs broadcast over the preceding seven days,
suggests that our consumers want more control over their viewing
experience," said Howard Watson, Chief Technology Officer at Telewest.
"Harmonic's proven solutions and expertise have helped us reduce the
cost and complexity of launching on-demand services by taking full
advantage of our existing infrastructure. While the initial
application of Harmonic's Narrowcast Services Gateway is to support
on-demand services, its longer term purpose is to be a platform for
introducing new types of targeted services that will keep Telewest at
the competitive forefront."
To support the initial launch and future expansion of on-demand
services, Telewest is deploying Harmonic's versatile Narrowcast
Service Gateway systems in headends and hub sites throughout the
network. Harmonic's standards-based solution enables on-demand streams
to be efficiently transported from remote video servers using
Telewest's existing IP backbone network. At the network's edge, NSG
systems extract and reconstitute the MPEG streams from the IP packets,
and then provide a seamless interface with the existing HFC cable
network. As take-rates increase, Telewest can add more NSG capacity to
meet the demand and support new services. The NSG also uniquely
supports both the real time and pre- encryption of video content to
provide the highest levels of content protection and flexibility in
service provisioning.
"Telewest is a superb example of how cable operators can
effectively package the triple play to enhance retention and revenue
in an increasingly competitive world," said Patrick Harshman,
President of the Convergent Systems Division of Harmonic Inc. "The
introduction of VOD and replay TV services are an important step in
realizing the all high definition on-demand future, a key
differentiator for cable operators. Aggressive marketing of
video-on-demand services by our customers worldwide is increasing
viewer awareness and is expected to quickly drive demand for billions
of narrowcast streams annually. As the platform of choice for
on-demand service delivery, the Narrowcast Services Gateway is well
positioned to distribute the vast majority of the on-demand content."
A pioneer in bringing the efficiencies, flexibilities and
economics of IP to the cable video backbone network, Harmonic was
awarded "biggest contributor to the future of content delivery" by a
respected industry publication. With the launch of Telewest's service,
the NSG is powering services throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia,
making it the industry's most widely deployed IP-enabled on-demand
edge device. The breadth of deployments--by operators of all sizes in
communities of all sizes--has made the NSG the industry's most
versatile and proven solution as well as given Harmonic unparalleled
expertise in enabling narrowcast video services.
About Telewest
Telewest, the broadband communications and media group, currently
passes and markets to 4.7 million homes and provides multi-channel
television, telephone and internet services to 1.8 million residential
customers. Its content division, Flextech, is the BBC's partner in
UKTV. Together they are the largest supplier of basic channels to the
UK pay-TV market with a portfolio that combines wholly owned and
managed channels, including the ten joint venture channels with the
BBC. For further information go to mediacentre.telewest.co.uk.
About Harmonic Inc.
Harmonic Inc. is a leading provider of digital video, broadband
optical networking and IP delivery systems to cable, satellite,
telecom and broadcast network operators. Harmonic's open
standards-based solutions for the headend through the last mile enable
customers to develop new revenue sources and a competitive advantage
by offering powerful interactive video, voice and data services such
as video-on-demand, high definition digital television, telephony and
Internet access.
Harmonic (Nasdaq: HLIT) is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California
with R&D, sales and system integration centers worldwide. The
Company's customers, including many of the world's largest
communications providers, deliver services in virtually every country.
Visit www.harmonicinc.com for more information.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27(A) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section
21(E) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements
related to: the benefit from the reduced churn and new revenue
associated with on-demand television services, the expectation that
the subscriber base will be fully digital by the end of 2006, the
expectation that on-demand services will play a key role in ensuring
competitiveness and driving triple-play penetration, the NSG platform
keeping Telewest at the competitive forefront, the ability to add more
capacity as take-rates increase, the expectation that video-on-demand
services will quickly drive demand for billions of narrowcast streams
annually, and the NSG's positioning to distribute the vast majority of
the on-demand content.
Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not
materialize, and actual results could differ materially from those
projected. The forward-looking statements contained in this press
release area also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including
those more fully described in Harmonic's filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission including its recent Reports filed on Form
10-K and Form 10-Q. Harmonic does not undertake to update any
forward-looking statements.
EDITOR'S NOTE - Product and company names used herein are
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.