SkyStream Networks and NBC Complete National Field Trials to Deliver Broadband and Streaming Media Content to Consumers' PCs

Business Wire, May 2, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 2001

Recently Completed Field Test Demonstrates Vast Opportunities for

Rich Content Delivery for TV Broadcasters

Leading the charge to bring new revenue-generating digital services over converged broadband and broadcast networks to millions of consumers, SkyStream Networks, a leading provider of networking solutions for broadband media delivery, today announced it has successfully completed a series of field trials with NBC, Granite Broadcasting, and Telocity, Inc. to deliver web and streaming media content to Telocity's broadband customers using digital broadcast airwaves. The recently completed field trial has proven that content networks using SkyStream's datacasting solutions, which tap broadcasters' digital spectrum to deliver all content, including audio, video and text, can seamlessly transmit broadband media successfully over a combination of traditional satellite and digital terrestrial television networks. These tests illustrate significant opportunities for consumers to experience a new breed of TV-quality video and CD-audio content on their PCs.

The first-of-its kind national end-to-end digital spectrum test trial involved sending web and video content from the NBC Data Center in New York to NBC's San Diego operator-owned station, KNSD, and Granite Broadcasting's San Jose television station, KNTV, via a satellite transmission. Once the content was received at the local station, it was rebroadcast over the digital terrestrial television spectrum to a PC equipped with a digital TV receiver card.

"NBC's and SkyStream's successful field test represents an incredible milestone in the convergence of consumer digital media and broadcasting," said Jim Olson, president and chief executive officer, SkyStream Networks. "Consumers are clamoring for high-quality content, while the broadcasting industry and service providers are looking for ways to expand their capabilities to deliver that content, and SkyStream is in the exciting position to connect all of these entities."

SkyStream's complete family of products provided the unique content-delivery networking "backbone" for the field test. SkyStream's Source Media(TM) router (SMR) was installed at NBC's Data Center in New York for transmitting the content over satellite to the TV stations. SkyStream's Edge Media(TM) router (EMR), placed at each television station, received and routed the content, while additional SMRs placed at each station were used to retransmit the content from the stations over the digital terrestrial television spectrum to the end-user PCs located in San Diego. SkyStream's zBand(TM) Advanced Content Management system enabled the content to be scheduled and managed at each point in the network, including the end-user's PC, and guaranteed all content would be delivered reliably to the stations and the end-user's PC.

With SkyStream's solution, broadcasters can deliver packaged broadband media portals and streaming media content using their existing video properties to affiliates. Local stations will have the ability to include local content and offer an entire content package to their customers by transmitting the content package over their digital terrestrial television spectrum. SkyStream's content-delivery networking products enable television stations to cost-effectively make their networks "Internet-ready," offering customers Internet content services, in addition to their current video broadcasts.

About SkyStream's Technology

SkyStream's end-to-end content-delivery-networking solution includes the SMR and EMR hardware product families and the zBand software. SkyStream's technology enables service providers and broadcasters to leverage the inherent qualities of broadband and broadcast networks to offer digital content like streaming video and broadband portals with predictable levels of performance to anyone at anytime.

About SkyStream Networks

SkyStream Networks is an international networking infrastructure company whose products enable service providers and broadcasters to deliver digital services like TV-quality Internet video, CD-quality audio and enhanced television over converged broadband networks. SkyStream's media routers and content management software allow service providers to deliver media-rich content with a consistently high level of performance and quality to millions of people or multiple locations closer to the user, leveraging the global reach of digital television, satellite and cable networks. SkyStream's customers are satellite, content distribution, Internet and cable companies around the world, including Clear Channel, DotCast, EchoStar Communications Corp., Europe On-Line, iBEAM Broadcasting, iBlast, Granite Broadcasting, Pacific Convergence Corp. and Telefonica. SkyStream Networks' Website can be found on the Internet at www.skystream.com.

Note to Editors: SkyStream, Source Media Router, Edge Media Router and zBand are trademarks of SkyStream Networks, Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the individual companies and are respectfully acknowledged.