Entone Technologies, a leading provider of personal video content delivery solutions, announced that PCCW, operator of the world’s largest deployment of IPTV services, has selected Entone to support its deployment of on demand service.

PCCW is globally recognized for its deployment of the world’s largest IPTV service, now Broadband TV, which has attracted over 441,000 subscribers since its launch approximately two years ago. now Broadband TV provides 24-hour, DVD-quality broadcast of 73 television channels and 15 subscription-based audio channels. The service has been a global innovator in several aspects, including 22 channels of premium and local content that are exclusively available on the now Broadband TV service. The service also offers a là carte programming that allows consumers to select from a menu of channel options.

Looking to extend its leadership position with other innovative services, PCCW has also launched on demand service. This service enables viewers to enjoy television viewing on their own schedule but without requiring the replacement of existing settop boxes as required by DVR services.

To support its on demand deployment, PCCW has selected Entone’s full suite of IPTV solutions for creating, managing, and delivering digital assets. These solutions include:

• StreamLiner network video recorder (NVR)^TM
• An open, highly scalable software architecture that transforms standard server and storage hardware from HP and IBM into specialized, high-performance video servers that ingest, store and stream on-demand video programming without the costs, risks, and inflexibility that comes with competing proprietary solutions.
• Encoding Studio ^TM content ingest system – Market-leading solution for managing the process of capturing, encoding, quality assuring, and staging digital assets through comprehensive workflow management.
• Armada ^TM intelligent asset manager – Dynamic runtime system for distributing and cost-optimizing the placement of digital assets across a network of video servers based on actual subscriber consumption patterns and operator defined rules.

Adding to its already strong presence in the North American and European IPTV markets, this selection clearly confirms Entone’s global leadership position in IPTV. According to a recent IPTV Market Leader Report from Multimedia Research Group: "Entone jumped out as a strong participant in the Video On Demand server market at the end of 2004 with several wins in Europe and North America. Entone’s most significant win so far has been at PCCW in Hong Kong. Serving PCCW's more than 400,000 subscribers has moved Entone into the leading position in the IPTV Video On Demand market."

"The now Broadband TV service is a major growth driver for PCCW, with 92% of our new broadband data users also opting to subscribe to our television service," said Paul Berriman, Head of Strategic Market Development for PCCW. "The Entone solution allows us to expand our service offering to include personal television services such as time-shifted TV and movies on demand. We are pleased to be working with Entone in supporting our ambitious plans."

"We are thrilled to be working with PCCW and to have been selected to support the world’s largest IPTV service deployment," said Steve McKay, CEO of Entone Technologies. "PCCW represents one of the most exciting success stories in the global IPTV market and serves as a great role model for other operators that are considering IPTV services."