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Kasenna and ViewNow Deliver Industry's First Turnkey VOD Service and Content Solution

Posted on: Monday, 19 April 2004, 06:00 CDT

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Kasenna, the leader in broadband video network systems and ViewNow(TM), a leading video on demand programming, management and marketing services company for cable and telco providers nationwide, today announced that they have joined forces to offer the industry's first new turnkey video on demand (VOD) solution for telephone company operators. In addition, Kasenna and ViewNow have already sold the new solution to twelve independent telcos, including Broadband Visions LLC, an alliance of 15 independent telephone operating companies throughout Minnesota. This is the first time telephone providers have been able to buy a complete, end-to-end package of VOD infrastructure, applications, and video content from a single provider, and telco operators are already hailing the breakthrough.

"Our focus is on delivering quality services to our customers, and we really can't afford the cost or resources of integrating hardware, application software, and middleware from several different vendors to roll out VOD," said Thomas M. Dahl, Vice Chairman of Broadband Visions, LLC. "Kasenna and ViewNow have the only solution that gives us all the pieces in one package so we can deploy, custom-brand, deliver, and efficiently manage a VOD service with a business model that makes sense. It's years ahead of what anybody else has on the market right now."

Comprised of Kasenna's infrastructure software and hardware and new LivingRoom(TM) application along with ViewNow's VOD programming and unique marketing services, the new solution makes it easier than ever for telco operators to quickly deploy VOD services and profit from them. Requiring no custom application development or multi-vendor integration, the new Kasenna/ViewNow solution offers everything providers need -- from the video head-end to the set-top box. Kasenna's part of the solution includes the LivingRoom application, video servers, the company's vFusion(TM) video network configuration and management software and vForge(TM) application development and customization framework, which make it easy for operators to create custom-branded screen interfaces or to add new services such as interactive gaming.

"The three key pieces of the VOD puzzle are infrastructure, applications and content. With the recent releases of vFusion and vForge completing Kasenna's turnkey video network infrastructure offering and LivingRoom VOD applications, partnering with ViewNow to provide the content side of the VOD equation was the next logical step," said Mark Gray, president and CEO of Kasenna. "By working together, we have the only solution in the world that takes all the worries and guesswork out of deploying VOD services for our telco customers and allows them to quickly return a profit, whether they're serving a few hundred or a few million customers."

ViewNow offers VOD content from major motion picture studios and other content providers; programming acquisition, encoding, encryption, management, and transport to customer head-ends via satellite; and a full array of marketing services and programs to drive customer acceptance. In addition, the company's ViewTrak(TM) application allows carrier customers to track content orders and activations in real time.

"By deploying VOD using the Kasenna/ViewNow combination, Broadband Visions continues to show its industry leadership in offering advanced video services to its subscriber base," said Steve Curran, vice president of sales at ViewNow. "Broadband Visions recognizes the accelerating consumer demand for VOD services and is positioning its member companies for success with unparalleled video services."

About Kasenna

Kasenna is video with vision. Since 1993, the Kasenna team has led the broadband video industry with a focus on open standards and an intelligent management infrastructure. Kasenna's software supports multiple content formats and viewer devices, allowing service providers, enterprises, and other organizations to build commercial-grade IP video networks that support new and emerging video services. Kasenna's patented software technology has been proven with thousands of successful and profitable telecom, cable, hospitality, enterprise, education, and government deployments worldwide. Kasenna is headquartered in Mountain View, California and is privately held. For more information, please visit http://www.kasenna.com/.

About ViewNow

ViewNow is a leading video on demand programming, management and marketing services company serving both cable TV and telco markets nationwide. ViewNow has long-term, full output agreements with the major motion picture studios and other programming providers. ViewNow's on demand customers can order movies and other programming whenever they want, and can pause, fast-forward and reverse, and replay movies for up to 24 hours from the comfort of their homes.

ViewNow offers a turnkey solution for delivery of the programming for VOD, including programming acquisition, encoding, encryption, programming management, and transport via satellite to ViewNow affiliates. ViewNow offers its affiliates the most extensive library of marketing support materials for VOD, customer acquisition, and VOD functionality. Using its proprietary software suite ViewTrak(TM), ViewNow offers its affiliates the capability to track programming activations on a "real time" basis. ViewNow has offices in Santa Monica, CA and Bend, OR. For more information visit http://www.viewnow.tv/.

Kasenna

CONTACT: Susan Lehman of Story Communications, +1-510-832-6006, orsusan@story.com, for Kasenna

Web site: http://www.viewnow.tv/

Web site: http://www.kasenna.com/

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