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RCN Launches First Phase of Exciting New Global Passport Tier; Company Expects to Expand to More Than 200 International Channel

^{Published on 2008-12-01 15:42:57 - Market Wire}
 

HERNDON, Va.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--RCN Corporation (NASDAQ: RCNI), a leading provider of all-digital television, high-capacity data, and voice services to residential, business customers and service providers, announced that it has launched RCN Global Passport, a new exciting digital tier of international programs. Today's announcement and the addition of five new international premium networks marks the first phase of a dramatic expansion of RCN's international programming and Video ON DEMAND content.

The first new launches, in Boston, MA, Chicago, IL, Washington, DC Metro Area, Philadelphia, PA, and New York, NY, include three popular Indian television channels, STAR India PLUS, STAR India GOLD, and STAR ONE, produced by STAR, a wholly owned subsidiary of News Corporation and Asia's leading media and entertainment company.

In addition, Setanta Sports, the 24-hour television station providing access to the best live European sporting events, including top flight soccer and world class rugby was also launched today in those markets.

The fifth new international network is Antenna Satellite, which broadcasts the best Greek-language programming from Athens 24-hours-a-day. Antenna Satellite's programming includes live news bulletins, top-rated comedies and dramas from ANT1, the leading TV station in Greece, as well as live and exclusive soccer games, special productions for Greeks and Cypriots living in the U.S. and much more.

As part of its Analog Crush (SM) project, RCN is reclaiming its analog spectrum and converting it to all-digital in its markets. This move enables RCN to significantly expand its international programming, improve the picture quality, make the network easier to maintain, and notably increase the number of Standard Definition (SD) and High Definition (HD) channels it can offer to subscribers.

"One unique characteristic of our big cities is that they're multicultural. And according to our analysis, there is significant demand for foreign films and language news and entertainment in our service area," said RCN President & CEO, Peter Aquino. "The introduction of RCN Global Passport provides a very robust international tier that rivals the best offerings available, including satellite. We are dedicating 150 linear channels and VOD capacity freed up by our conversion to all-digital."

RCN Global Passport networks will be available in all of RCN's service areas that have been converted to the company's all-digital network. It will ultimately offer international programs in English, Croatian, Turkish, Arabic, Mandarin, Hindi and other regional Indian languages, Polish, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, Israeli, Italian, French, German, Greek, Ukrainian, Russian, Portuguese and Tagalog.

"Our goal is to be the leader in bringing the most choices and the best in international sports, entertainment and news programs to our customers," said Senior Vice President, Strategic External Affairs & Programming, Richard Ramlall. "We understand the appeal by our multicultural subscribers to tune into international networks. This is only the first step in our remarkable expansion of international programming,"

To subscribe to the Global Passport channels on RCN, customers can call 1-800-RING-RCN (1-800-746-4726).

About RCN Corporation

RCN Corporation, [ http://www.rcn.com ], is a facilities-based, competitive broadband telecommunications services provider delivering video, high-speed data and voice services to residential and small-medium business customers under the brand names of RCN and RCN Business Services, respectively. In addition, through the RCN Metro Optical Networks business unit, RCN delivers fiber-based high-capacity data transport services to large commercial customers, primarily large enterprises and carriers, targeting the metropolitan central business districts in the company's geographic markets. RCN's primary service areas include Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley (PA), New York City, Boston and Chicago. (RCNI-G)