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Invitel Delivers Network PVR, TimeShift-TV &; VOD Services Using Espial MediaBase

^{Published on 2009-07-27 23:37:00, Last Modified on 2009-07-27 23:37:10 - Market Wire}
 

 OTTAWA, July 28 /CNW Telbec/ - Espial(R) Group Inc. (TSX:ESP), a leader in the delivery of digital TV software, today announced that Invitel ([ http://english.invitel.hu/ ]) Hungary (previously Vivendi Telecom) has successfully launched and is now expanding its on-demand services using Espial MediaBase ([ http://www.espial.com/products/media_base/ ]) VOD servers. Espial MediaBase provides Invitel's customers with on-demand TV services such as Video on Demand, Network-based Personal Video Recording (NPVR) and TimeshiftTV (TSTV). Invitel is the second largest service provider in Hungary and offers telephony, Internet and data services to residential and business customers. Invitel started offering its InviTV service several months ago to complement its core telephony, Internet, and data services. Invitel is using Espial MediaBase to drive Video On Demand, Network PVR and Timeshift TV services, sometimes known as Catch-up or Startover TV and Delayed or Replay TV. A single hardware and software infrastructure helps reduce hardware servers, storage, space requirements and costs, along with overall operating costs of the system. The system integrator for this deployment was Smart Com d.o.o., a key regional partner for Espial. "As we begin to scale our InviTV subscribers, we're pleased to have chosen Espial MediaBase. This platform meets our requirements for scalability, application performance and service continuity" said Aron Javorniczky, Head of TV Services at Invitel. "As well, Espial MediaBase is a key ingredient in our service differentiation strategy - it allows us to offer a leading edge number of Timeshift TV and Network PVR channels. With this service mix, we're confident we can build InviTV into a premium brand in the marketplace." "We are very pleased to be part of this deployment with Invitel, even more so, to see the rapid growth in customer demand so early in their deployment," noted Robert Hopkins, Vice President of Sales for Espial in EMEA. "The Invitel success builds on our tradition of building lucrative on-demand services for our customers using Espial MediaBase. With Network PVR (NPVR) & TimeShift-TV support, operators can now offer an even richer set of services using a unified video network infrastructure. In addition to movies-on-demand, subscribers can access recordings of their favourite shows and also pause, rewind and fast-forward live, broadcast TV. As content owners come to recognise the benefits and security of NPVR, we expect to see increasing demand for Network PVR and TimeshiftTV services." About Espial Espial provides intelligent and open digital TV software to service providers in the cable, telecommunications and hospitality industries. Its middleware, video-on-demand and browser solutions provide superior service delivery, advanced service innovation tools and the ability to serve a wide range of market segments - including over-the-top, IPTV, hybrid IP, multi-dwelling unit and enterprise. With over 3.5 million licenses of its patented TV software technology in use, Espial is a leading supplier of TV software. Espial is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada. For more information please call +1.613.230.4770 or visit [ www.espial.com ]. About Invitel (previously Vivendi Telecom Hungary) Founded in 1994, Invitel offers telephony, Internet, and data services to residential and business customers in Hungary. Invitel is the incumbent operator in 14 out of 54 primary service areas, where it has a stable cash generative core telephony business. In the rest of Hungary, which represents a significant growth opportunity following the liberalisation of the telecom market, Invitel is an alternative telecom operator with a national backbone, metropolitan networks and point-to-multi-point access system. 

For further information: Inquiries from press or analysts: Kirk Edwardson, Director, Marketing, Espial Group Inc., Email: [ kedwardson@espial.com ], Phone: (613) 230-4770 x1145