USA Video signs agreement with Civic Enterprises
USA Video Interactive Corp US
Shares issued 73,466,089 Sep 7 close $4.64
Fri 8 Sept 2000 News Release
Mr. Tony Castagno reports
USA Video has today launched its strategic international sales and
marketing initiative by entering 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
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 chief executive officer of USA
Video.
Civic has contracted USA Video 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 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,
PacAmTel LLC, 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 per cent of the world population. PacAmTel,
since its recent merger with the Asian communications group, 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," Mr. 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, PacAmTel Ltd., PacAmTel LLC, PacEuroSat
Corporation, the Civic Team Ltd., Q-East.com, and supporting savings and
loan and TV companies, provides pay TV and satellite services to many
countries. PacAmTel and Q-East facilities in One Wilshire, Los Angeles,
Calif., include ducting down through that 32-story building to the other
telcos and Internet companies. From there it administers its regional
teleport that provides a coverage area 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 per
cent 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 fibre 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 provide a unique position in the event of cable failure through
earthquake or other disaster in that it has two antennas on the rooftop and
leases the 30th floor radio room. The microwave and fibre 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 high-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.
WARNING: The company relies on litigation protection for "forward-looking"
statements.
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