NTL and
Telewest Broadband
Launch Video-on-Demand Services in United Kingdom with
SeaChange; SeaChange Anchors Commercial
VOD Roll-Outs in Europe
Two of Europe's largest broadband operators,
ntl Incorporated
and Telewest Broadband,
set a digital television milestone with the launch of video-on-demand services.
Based on SeaChange International's
VOD Systems and movies from its strategic partner On Demand Group, video-on-demand
will be made available to digital cable subscribers across the United Kingdom
during 2005.
"The commercial VOD launches of
ntl and
Telewest Broadband
reflect the growing worldwide trend in television and SeaChange is very proud
to support their new digital service," said Bill Styslinger, president & CEO,
SeaChange International.
"SeaChange is anchoring the major commercial on-demand roll-outs across Europe,
which reflects the advantages of our open platform, years of deployment and
integration experience and unparalleled support throughout the continent."
Telewest Broadband TV-on-Demand Goes Live in Bristol
Telewest Broadband's
first phase of on-demand service starts today in Bristol, England with extensive
movie selections available for pause/fast-forward/rewind convenience.
SeaChange VOD Systems continue to be deployed around England and Scotland
in support of
Telewest Broadband's year-end goal to reach over one million digital subscribers
with a growing slate of movies and other programming options.
"We're transforming television as we know it," said Eric Tveter,
Telewest Broadband's
president and COO. "Today is only the first step. We plan to ramp up our on-demand
services over the year with programs, music and niche content to appeal to all
of our one million digital customers."
"ntl On Demand" Begins in Glasgow
The "ntl On Demand"
service will roll out regionally to ntl DTV customers throughout the U.K. starting
today in Glasgow, Scotland. It will provide access to hundreds of hours of programming,
including movies, children's programs, a 'Pick of the Week' option showing a
selection of top shows from the previous seven days, a music video jukebox service,
and adult content. As the service goes live in each ntl region it will be available
to ntl digital television subscribers. ntl On Demand will appear within the
existing Electronic Programming Guide and subscribers will then be able to select
movies and television programs via remote control. Dedicated promotional channels
with "red button" enhanced television functionality will also be available.
"We invested over GBP 9 billion in our high speed fiber optic network so that
we could provide leading access services to our customers," said Simon Duffy,
Chief Executive Officer of ntl. "VOD is the latest example of this. ntl On Demand
gives our customers a wide choice of quality viewing at a time that suits them.
VOD is television the way it's meant to be."
Television Operators Choose SeaChange
Worldwide, SeaChange is responsible for
the majority of commercial on-demand television deployments, providing more
than 1.3 million on-demand streams in over 100 locations.
SeaChange's open VOD System - a comprehensive technology platform incorporating
its patented MediaCluster servers, proven IP technology and end-to-end automation
software - enables broadband operators to easily initiate and enhance on-demand
programming services.
This standards-based platform supports an array of third-party software and
network components, including ntl's and Telewest Broadband's digital set-top
boxes from Pace, Samsung and Scientific-Atlanta, as well as both operators'
Liberate middleware.
ntl and Telewest
are collaborating with content provider FilmFlex to support today's breakthrough
in European television service. Formerly known as MovieCo, FilmFlex is a joint
venture initiative between SeaChange's London-based content partner On Demand
Group, Sony Pictures Television International (a Sony Pictures Entertainment
company), and Walt Disney Television International (a division of The Walt Disney
Company Ltd.).
About ntl
ntl Inc. offers
a wide range of communications and entertainment services to residential and
business customers throughout the U.K. and Ireland.
ntl is the U.K.'s
largest cable company and leading broadband supplier with over one million broadband
customers and 3 million residential customers. ntl's fiber-optic broadband network
can service 7.8 million homes in the U.K. including London, Manchester, Nottingham,
Oxford, Cambridge, Cardiff, Glasgow and Belfast.
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 1.76 million residential customers. For further information go to
http://mediacentre.telewest.co.uk
About SeaChange
For more than a decade, SeaChange has
provided Europe's television companies with strategic digital video systems
spanning advertising, video streaming and on-air program delivery. In that time,
the Company has assembled a formidable staff of video storage, networking and
deployment experts operating from the Valbonne, France customer support center
and other locations throughout the continent.
SeaChange provides digital video systems that are changing television. Its powerful
server and software systems enable television operators to provide new on-demand
services and to gain greater efficiencies in advertising and content delivery.
With its Emmy-winning MediaCluster technology, thousands of SeaChange systems
are helping broadband, broadcast and satellite television companies to streamline
operations, expand services and increase revenues. SeaChange is headquartered
in Maynard, Massachusetts and has product development, support and sales offices
throughout the world. Visit www.schange.com
MediaCluster is a registered trademark of SeaChange International, Inc.
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