News.
Tuesday November 21, 7:08 am Eastern Time
Press Release
Concurrent's Personal Video Channel
Technology Enables Industry's First
Time-Shifted PPV Events at Time
Warner's Oceanic Cable Division
Another Technological Milestone for Concurrent and Time Warner's
Oceanic Cable
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 21, 2000-- Concurrent Computer Corporation
(Nasdaq:CCUR - news), the leading provider of Video-On-Demand (VOD) systems, announced
today the industry's first time-shifted PPV events, using Concurrent's Personal Video Channel
(PVC) technology.
Concurrent's PVC technology recently enabled Time Warner's Hawaii-based Oceanic Cable
subscribers to tune in - at their convenience - to two championship boxing fights - Mike
Tyson/Andrew Golota on Oct. 20 and Lennox Lewis/Mike Tua on Nov. 11.
The two fights were available to subscribers as VOD time-shifted PPV events, stored in
Concurrent's MediaHawk(TM) video servers so subscribers could watch the PPV events
whenever they wanted, and have complete VCR functionality - pause, rewind, fast forward, and
resume play. In addition, PVC technology allowed subscribers to enjoy the benefits of a
personalized ``instant replay.''
``Because we are in a different time zone in Hawaii, our customers weren't going to have the
opportunity to watch either PPV fight at a convenient time, and naturally, we would have lost PPV
revenue as well. Concurrent's Personal Video Channel technology enabled us to offer the fight as a
VOD time-shifted PPV event, with pause, fast forward, and rewind capabilities,'' said Norman P.
Santos, Vice President of Operations for Oceanic Cable. ``Everything worked incredibly well, and
our customers couldn't have been happier. I can see many new and exciting uses for Concurrent's
PVC technology to bring our customers new on-demand programming.''
The Personal Video Channel technology is based on Concurrent's MediaHawk Broadband VOD
System - which is comprised of the MediaHawk video server technology and the MediaHawk
BackOffice Business Management System - to offer subscribers real-time, on-demand access to
programming with personal video recorder functionality, and the ability to bill for the service
properly.
Allan Akamine, Oceanic Cable's Director of Sales & Marketing, explained, ``Concurrent's PVC
technology not only enabled our subscribers to watch a PPV event that they would have otherwise
not been able to watch, PVC technology enabled subscribers to fast-forward through breaks,
between rounds, and to `catch up' with the fight in-progress in real-time. Concurrent's PVC
technology delayed the real-time event by only three seconds.''
``Technological leadership is not new for the Concurrent/Oceanic Cable partnership,'' said
Concurrent President and CEO Jack Bryant. ``Together we have a history of technological
milestones - including the industry's first system-wide commercial deployment of
Video-On-Demand at Oceanic Cable, and now the industry's first time-shifted PPV events.''
Concurrent's Personal Video Channel is being demonstrated at Concurrent's Booth #945 at the
Western Cable Show.
About the Companies
Oceanic Cable, headquartered in Mililani, Hawaii, is a leading cable company that has contributed
to Hawaii's status as the most cabled state in the country -- nearly every household and business
statewide now has access to cable service. Thousands of Oahu homes are connected to the Internet
with high-speed cable modems and Oceanic's hybrid fiber coax (HFC) broadband network. The
company provides a diverse selection of entertainment and information services to nearly 300,000
households, schools and businesses on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. Oceanic Cable has been in
operation for over 25 years. First in the nation to develop and commit to innovative technologies,
Oceanic is known throughout the industry for its advanced level of efficiency and service. Oceanic is
a kama'aina Hawaii company, a division of Time Warner Cable, and a subsidiary of Time Warner
Entertainment.
Concurrent Computer Corporation (http://www.ccur.com) is a leading provider of
high-performance computer systems, software, and servers. Concurrent Computer Corporation's
XSTREME Division is a leading supplier in the emerging digital video server marketplace. This
market includes the broadband/cable, corporate training, education, hospitality, and in-flight
entertainment industries. Operating worldwide, Concurrent provides sales and support from offices
throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Concurrent brings over 30 years of real-time experience to the broadband industry, and in a very
short time has become the undisputed leader in broadband VOD. As the newcomer to the industry,
Concurrent's VOD performance speaks for itself. Concurrent is uniquely positioned to meet the
pent-up demand for interactive television services - movies-on-demand and e-commerce over the
television. In a July 2000 report, Forrester Research predicted that by 2005, the overall interactive
television market is expected to generate revenues of more than $48.2 billion. Current VOD and
e-commerce trials and launches include: Beijing Fengtai Cable - China; Cox - Phoenix; Cox - San
Diego; Horizon.com - Singapore; Shanghai Telecom - China; Time Warner Cable - Oceanic
Cable; Time Warner Cable - Tampa Bay; and Comcast Cable - trial in undisclosed location.
Note to Editors: For additional company or product information from Concurrent Computer
Corporation, please contact Concurrent Computer Corporation, 4375 River Green Parkway,
Duluth, GA 30096. Call toll free in the U.S. and Canada at (877) 978-7363, fax (678) 258-4199.
Readers can also access information through the company's Web site at ccur.com.
Concurrent Computer Corporation and its logo are registered trademarks and MediaHawk is a
trademark of Concurrent Computer Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners. |
