Scientific-Atlanta and SkyConnect Collaborate to Provide End-to-EndVideo-On-Demand Solution to MSOs Using Scientific-Atlanta's Explorer(R)Set-Top and Digital Interactive Network
SkyConnect joins Scientific-Atlanta's CreativEdge(TM) Developer's program
ATLANTA, May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientific Atlanta, Inc. (NYSE: SFA) and SkyConnect, Inc. today announced the two companies will work together to develop an end-to-end, video-on-demand (VOD) solution for cable operators. The solution will use Scientific-Atlanta's Explorer(R) 2000 set-top and digital interactive network, SkyConnect's video server application platform and video servers from nCUBE.
SkyConnect is being acquired by nCUBE, and nCUBE will assume the agreement with Scientific-Atlanta upon the close of the acquisition. As part of the agreement, SkyConnect is joining Scientific-Atlanta's CreativEdge(TM) Developer's program which assists third-party developers in creating new interactive services for the Explorer platform, thus fostering the next generation of interactive television.
SkyConnect and nCUBE are developing a total VOD solution that includes nCUBE's highly scalable MediaCUBE video servers, SkyConnect's SkyVOD management software, browser-based client software, MPEG encoding services and content licensing provided by strategic partners. SkyConnect will integrate its solution into Scientific-Atlanta's digital interactive platform using Scientific Atlanta's Digital Network Control System (DNCS).
With more than 17,000 VOD streams and 100 VOD servers shipped, nCUBE is a world leader in VOD servers. The Company's MediaCUBE servers are capable of delivering more than 20,000 simultaneous VOD streams, while using only a single copy of each file and guaranteeing access to all files by all users. SkyConnect is a leading vendor of digital advertising insertion and near- video-on-demand systems, with approximately 370 systems and 6,500 MPEG-2 channels installed. Together, nCUBE and SkyConnect will possess the largest installed base of broadband MPEG systems in the world.
"SkyConnect is making it convenient for cable operators to obtain a high- quality VOD application and begin generating revenues from subscribers. Video-on-demand is a lucrative, and yet untapped, revenue generator for MSOs," said Michael P. Harney, Scientific-Atlanta's corporate vice president and general manager of Digital Subscriber Networks. "We're pleased to add SkyConnect's VOD solution to the broad range of interactive applications supported by the Explorer 2000 set-top."
"Scientific Atlanta's CreativEdge program gives us the opportunity to certify our application for Scientific-Atlanta's proven digital interactive network," said Michael J. Pohl, SkyConnect's CEO and president. "We are delighted to be working with Scientific-Atlanta's technology and people."
About SkyConnect
SkyConnect develops software-based, mission-critical video server solutions for multi-channel television operators. The Company's customers include Telecommunications, Inc., Time Warner Cable, MediaOne, Charter Communications, Adelphia Communications, Intermedia Partners and Jones Intercable. The Company's deployments include several of the largest distributed networks of video servers in the world, including: Adlink in Los Angeles, which manages 76 servers, and Bay Cable Advertising in San Francisco, which manages 35 servers. SkyConnect operates a 24 x 7 customer service facility at its headquarters in Louisville, Colorado.
About nCUBE
With 16 years' experience building supercomputers and 6 years' experience building video servers, nCUBE is the world leader in highly scalable, available video server technology. nCUBE servers have been used in 7 of the 10 largest VOD trials worldwide, and are currently in use throughout the world in cable, telephone and enterprise environments for VOD applications.
nCUBE is the only vendor to have demonstrated 5,000 simultaneous 3 Mb/s streams from a single server, which it performed in November 1998. nCUBE maintains corporate headquarters in Foster City, Calif. and a hardware engineering and manufacturing facility in Beaverton Oregon. nCUBE maintains sales and support offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. nCUBE is 100% focused on delivering interactive media solutions.
About Scientific-Atlanta
Scientific-Atlanta is changing the way consumers interact with their televisions through its award-winning Explorer 2000 set-top and end-to-end digital interactive network. As the gateway to a whole new generation of interactive TV, the Explorer set-top is expected to be a powerful new revenue- generating platform for network operators with such exciting interactive applications as video-on-demand, e-commerce, e-mail, enhanced broadcasting, targeted advertising, Web browsing and home networking. With Scientific- Atlanta's system, cable operators will offer individual subscribers any or all of these choices by quickly downloading applications "on the fly."
Scientific-Atlanta's CreativEdge(TM) Developers program assists third- party developers in creating new interactive services for Scientific-Atlanta's Explorer 2000 set-top and digital network. Participants in the CreativEdge program receive extensive support materials and ongoing certification services to insure reliable operation on Scientific-Atlanta's digital interactive network. Through supporting and certifying application developers, the CreativEdge program facilitates the launch of a wide assortment of digital interactive services for the Explorer 2000 set-top. For more information about CreativEdge, visit sciatl.com .
Development of new two-way interactive applications and content is further facilitated by the PowerTV(R) operating system -- the current software platform inside the Explorer 2000 set-top. Through PowerTV's Developer Support Program, cable operators, OEMs and application/content developers can begin writing code in C, C++, HTML, JavaScript and PersonalJava. PowerTV also assists developers by freely distributing its application program interface (API) documentation on its Web site at powertv.com .
To date, 17 cable operators in the U.S. and Canada have committed to deploy Scientific-Atlanta's digital interactive system. One hundred systems have been shipped to date, seventy-nine to customer sites and an additional 21 systems to partners and developers. Sixty-four systems have been fully installed at customer sites. Twenty-nine systems have commercially launched to paying customers compared to eight systems at the end of the last quarter. Among those systems that have paying customers are some of the major sites in the United States and Canada, including Adelphia Communications in Buffalo, New York and Toms River, New Jersey; Charter Communications in Glendale, California; Cox Communications in San Diego, California; Las Vegas, Nevada and Phoenix, Arizona; Time Warner in Austin, Texas and Tampa, Florida; and Videotron in Montreal.
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. (http://www.sciatl.com ) is a leading supplier of broadband communications systems, satellite-based video, voice and data communications networks, and worldwide customer service and support.
"Forward-looking statements," as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, may be included in this news release. A variety of factors could cause Scientific-Atlanta's actual results to differ from the anticipated results expressed in such forward-looking statements. Investors are referred to Scientific-Atlanta's Cautionary Statements (Exhibit 99 to the Company's most recent Form 10-Q), which statements are incorporated into this news release by reference.
Explorer is a registered trademark and CreativEdge is a trademark of Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. PowerTV is a registered trademark of PowerTV, Inc. All other products or brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
CO: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.; SkyConnect, Inc.; nCUBE
ST: Georgia, Colorado, California
IN: CPR MLM
SU:
05/10/99 15:43 EDT prnewswire.com
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