NAB2006 Session 'Advanced Video Services: from Broadband to Wireless' Features Key Executives on Frontline of Next Generation Networks in Joint MPEGIF - ISMA Forum on IPTV, Mobile Broadcasting

Business Wire, April 11, 2006

LAS VEGAS -- "Advanced Video Services: From Broadband to Wireless," a full-day forum at NAB2006 in Las Vegas, will explore how IP based on MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) can enhance the range of revenue-generating services by providing a radically different viewing experience with feature-rich TV and mobile broadcasting. NAB joins with the MPEG Industry Forum and ISMA (Internet Streaming Media Alliance) in presenting this special event April 23 based on the experiences of business and technology leaders at the vanguard of next-generation networks.

Senior executives from Alcatel, AT&T Operations Inc., IBM Digital Media, Motorola, Nagravision, Nokia, PBS and Video Networks Ltd. are all featured half-hour speakers who will examine the state of advanced video services and the role of open standards in the ecosystem. The full-day forum includes a morning session on technology and integration, an afternoon session on business and content issues, interactive roundtable panels with all the speakers, and breakfast and lunch networking opportunities. Both MPEGIF and ISMA also will present an update of their work in developing and promoting open standards for IPTV and other areas of advanced network services.

The morning technology session, moderated by author and consultant Peggy Miles, president of Intervox Communications, examines:

--Transport issues with Tiaan Schutte, vice president, information, Alcatel Communication and Entertainment (ICE) Business Unit, Fixed Solutions Division

--Set-top box development with Dr. Ajay Luthra, sr. director, Advanced Technology Group at Connected Home Solutions, Motorola Inc.

--A look at the IPTV Application Layer with Peter Guglielmino, IBM Digital Media chief technical officer

--Content protection capabilities with Robin Wilson, Nagravision vice president of business development

--Customer-endpoint equipment with Mark Selby, Nokia vice president, multimedia

--A roundtable panel with the morning speakers, including questions from the audience

The afternoon business session, moderated by Digital Tech Consulting (DTC) Chief Analyst Myra Moore, features:

--Content Owner: Andre V. Mendes, Public Broadcasting Service chief technology integration officer

--Content Aggregator: Roger Lynch, Video Networks Ltd. chairman and CEO

--Service Provider: Jeff Weber, AT&T Operations Inc. vice president, product and strategy

--An interactive roundtable with the afternoon speakers

"Advanced Video Services: From Broadband to Wireless" will be held in conjunction with NAB2006 in Las Vegas on April 23 in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Room S221 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Attendees can register online at http://www.nabshow.com/Conferences/sessiondetail.asp?id=1204175 by April 19 for $245 for members and $295 for non-members. Tickets will be available at the registration as space allows.

Both MPEGIF and ISMA also are sponsors of the AVC Alliance booth (Booth # SL1976 South Hall 2) at NAB2006 where companies will demonstrate products using MPEG-4 AVC (H.264). The two organizations are hosts of the Multimedia World Reception the opening evening of NAB, April 24, from 5:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Room S221 after the forum.

About NAB2006

NAB2006 will take place April 22-27, 2006 in Las Vegas (exhibits open April 24). It is the world's largest electronic media show covering the development, delivery and management of professional video and audio content across all media. Complete NAB2006 details are available at www.nabshow.com.

The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association that advocates on behalf of more than 8,300 free, local radio and television stations and also broadcast networks before Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Courts. Information about NAB can be found at www.nab.org.

About MPEGIF

The MPEG Industry Forum (www.MPEGIF.org) represents around 100 international companies and organizations from diverse industries and promotes the adoption of MPEG standards, including MPEG-4 AVC (H.264). MPEGIF serves as a single point of information on technology, products and services for these standards, offers interoperability testing, a conformance program, marketing activities and is present at international trade shows and conferences.

About ISMA

Founded in 2000, ISMA (Internet Streaming Media Alliance) is a global alliance of industry leaders dedicated to the adoption and deployment of open standards for streaming rich media such as video, audio, and associated data over Internet protocols. The goal of its members is to promote standards-based solutions that offer greater choice, flexibility, extensive cost efficiencies and higher quality of service. ISMA achieves this by providing the industry with technical specifications based on nonproprietary and existing standards, testing solutions that enable multi-vendor, multi-platform interoperability, and a product conformance program. ISMA collaborates with industry analysts to track standards adoption, as well as with other trade associations and standards bodies to promote interoperable solutions across the entire content delivery spectrum. (www.ISMA.tv)