Civic Enterprises Signs USA Video Interactive
To Bring Internet Video and Video-on-Demand
To 100,000 Homes in Australia and New Zealand
USA Video Interactive Launches International Initiative
MYSTIC, Connecticut, September 8, 2000 - USA Video Interactive (OTCBB: USVO;
CDNX: US; www.usvo.com) today launched its strategic international sales and
marketing initiative by announcing an agreement to bring Internet video to
Australia and New Zealand. Civic Enterprises Ltd. of New Zealand and its
associated companies have signed a joint venture agreement with USA Video
Interactive, a
leading international designer and supplier of high-tech Internet streaming
video systems and services, to solve the region's lack of infrastructure and
make it possible to bring streaming Internet video and video-on-demand to
customers in Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere in the Pacific Rim. The
dollar value of the contract and the nature of any revenue-sharing
arrangements will be finalized when the technical scope and requirements of
the project, including infrastructure costs, are defined and negotiated.
"Our plans to strategically expand our sales and marketing initiatives
globally have been developed over the past several months and now are ready
for implementation. Over the next few weeks, we will be detailing more of
these plans with announcements of sales and partnerships in all corners of
the world," said Edwin Molina, President and CEO of USA Video Interactive.
Civic has contracted USA Video Interactive to deploy Internet TV via its
state-of-the-art video servers and set-top boxes to at least 100,000 people
in these regions, capitalizing on Civic's plan to resolve the infrastructure
barriers that beset other companies trying to bring streaming video to these
regions. The companies have agreed to share technologies and work together,
focusing on developing a wireless solution in Australia and New Zealand that
can be a model worldwide for delivering high quality Internet video in areas
where the infrastructure is poorly developed. Additionally, Civic has
invited USA Video Interactive to locate offices in its facility in Sydney,
Australia.
"The USA Video Interactive solution is the best I've seen and their technical
team is top-flight," said John Rutherford, Chairman of Civic and holder of
several patents on certain wireless transmission systems for the delivery of
TV and similar services. "It is one thing to say you will bring video on
demand into a region; it's quite another to build the infrastructure to make
it possible to deliver on the promise. Particularly as we incorporate
wireless and satellite components into the overall system we are designing,
we should be able to overcome infrastructure limitations and greatly broaden
the broadcast offerings available to our customers in the Pacific Rim."
Civic's associated companies include Pacific Satellite Communications Ltd,
PacAmTel LLC (www.pacamtel.com), PacAmTel Ltd, PacEuroSat Corporation, and
other companies operating in the United States and Pacific Rim countries in
the field of satellite and Pay TV services. PacAmTel has satellite earth
stations, which provide up- and down-linking for a range of communications
services, but in particular Internet data, which it distributes via,
satellite to countries, which comprise approximately 85% of world population.
PacAmTel, since its recent merger with the Asian communications group,
Q-East.com (www.q-east.com), is increasing this coverage with the
installation of additional teleports, either directly or through associated
companies.
"This is an excellent partnership that has developed over many months and now
is being formalized so our technical teams will start working together to
bring the world of Internet TV to the Pacific Rim," Molina said. "With
Civic's and John Rutherford's experience and knowledge, we now share a
tremendous advantage in making these plans a reality and creating some very
innovative solutions incorporating the latest in video technology with the
latest in wireless and satellite delivery for application here and throughout
the world. This is further confirmation that not only is true convergence of
tomorrow's technologies here today, but also that USA Video Interactive is at
the forefront of these revolutionary developments, working with leading
companies throughout the world to bring Internet video and Internet TV to
their customers and to develop new and prosperous markets worldwide."
About Civic Enterprises
Civic Enterprises Ltd, a New Zealand corporation with associated companies
Pacific Satellite Communications Ltd, PacAmTel Ltd, PacAmTel LLC, PacEuroSat
Corporation, The Civic Team Ltd, Q-East.com, and supporting savings and loan
and TV companies, provide pay TV and satellite services to many countries.
PacAmTel and Q-East facilities in One Wilshire, Los Angeles, include ducting
down through that 32-story building to the other telcos and Internet
companies. From there they administer their regional teleport that provides
a coverage arc reaching all domestic U.S. and many Pacific and Atlantic
satellites. With these capabilities, PacAmTel can transmit and receive voice,
data and video to and from approximately 85% of the world's population. The
teleport (believed to be the largest in the region) is located on 60 acres in
the Nuevo California desert and is directly connected by fiber to One
Wilshire, the major communications hub in the western United States with over
50 communications companies. It also owns a 70-mile microwave link to the
teleport and associated POPs, which provides a unique position in the event
of cable failure through earthquake or other disaster in that it has two
antennas on the roof tower and leases the 30th floor radio room. The
microwave and fiber links provide fully redundant circuits between the
teleport and One Wilshire. The PacAmTel facility has multiple backup power
supply alternatives, ensuring traffic is never interrupted. Its highly
experienced personnel and consultants, coupled with PacAmTel's hi-tech
equipment, enable the company to provide its clients with a reliable and cost
effective telecommunication service. Civic is setting up facilities similar
to One Wilshire in Australia and New Zealand in association with other
telecommunications companies, broadcasters and Internet companies.
Civic Enterprises Ltd Headquarters Office in New Zealand: IBIS House 183
Hereford Street, Christchurch 8000, New Zealand, Phone: +64 3 366 2661 Fax:
+64 3 366 2660. John Rutherford, Chairman: +64 3 384 1059 jr@pacsat.co.nz
PacAmTel and Q-East U.S. offices in One Wilshire: 624 South Grand Avenue,
Suite 29500, Los Angeles 90017. U.S. General Manager: Damon Rutherford 213
426 6599 Fax: 213 426 6592 damon@pacamtel.com
About USA Video Interactive
USA Video Interactive is an international designer and supplier of high-tech
Internet streaming video and video-on-demand systems, services and innovative
end-to-end solutions. The USA Video Interactive patented video technology
gives users full-motion video; the flexibility of standard, VCR-like
controls; and the convenience of a standard internet-browser format for
access. It provides video images significantly faster and at a higher degree
of resolution than with previously available methods; significantly overcomes
bandwidth restrictions; and eliminates the blockiness and slowness of current
technologies -- all at a lower cost and at or near broadcast quality. USA
Video Interactive is nearing completion of a patented Wavelet compression
technology that will further enhance the company's ability to deliver
Internet video to home modem users and reduce storage and download-time
requirements for all users, including those with broadband connections. For
more information on USA Video Interactive, visit usvo.com
USA Video Interactive Corporate Headquarters Office: 70 Essex Street; Mystic,
CT 06355; (800) 625-2200; (860) 572-1560. Canada Office: 837 West Hastings
Street; Suite #507; Vancouver, B.C. V6C 3N6. Trading symbol on the US NBQ:
USVO; Trading symbol on The Canadian Venture Exchange: US. Standard & Poors
Listed. CUSIP 902924208; USA Video, USA Video Interactive, Video-On-Demand
and Video Yellow Pages are trademarks of USA Video Interactive. The
Canadian Venture Exchange (CDNX) has not reviewed and does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For more
information contact: Tony Castagno, Media Relations, 860-572-1560; Kevin
Yorio, Investor Relations, 800-625-2200; info@usvo.com
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Actual results
may differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement.
Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risk and
uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ from those described.
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