Entone Technologies a leading provider of personal video content delivery solutions, announced today that Consolidated Communications is deploying Entone's Hydra IP video gateway to support the telco's IP television (IPTV) service launch.

By using the Hydra IP video gateway, Consolidated is able to eliminate set-top boxes, therefore dramatically reducing the installation costs and complexities associated with IP video deployment.

The America Channel (TAC) announced its fifth telco deal -- a digital IP carriage agreement with Optical Entertainment Network (OEN). The America Channel will launch in 2006 on OEN's FISION fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service in Houston, Texas. The America Channel previously reported deals with Verizon FiOS and other telcos, for nationwide deployment in 2006. The America Channel has now secured carriage with companies representing approximately 80% of the projected telco video market.

Optical Solutions Inc. announced Cal-Ore Telephone is using its FiberPath Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) system to deliver voice, video and data services to a new residential development in Klamath Falls, Oregon. The development is located in the picturesque Upper Klamath Lake area, an area renowned for its rugged natural beauty and environmental diversity.

Siemens Communications Inc. announced the addition of a new regional broadband customer, Oxford Networks. With the Siemens SURPASS Home Entertainment portfolio of IPTV solutions, Oxford Networks is providing advanced IP television services - via fiber to the home (FTTH) - to customers in Central and Western Maine.

Many of Oxford Networks' customers, Gunderson noted, are already enjoying new interactive services such as on-demand entertainment, long distance learning from the home and video conferencing. Oxford Networks is now equipped to provide IPTV services to more than 7,000 of its customers.

KyLinTV announced the premier of more than 700 hours of new educational programming for students of all ages. The spotlight, called Geo and Why, is dedicated to science, nature and other educational programming for students of all ages and with varied interests.

GEO Explorer is a series that will profile topics such as the creation of the universe, molecular motion, child development, environmental protection, biological engineering and even robotics. Examples include "Simulation and Invention" "Advanced Bionics" "Indian Herbal Medicine" "Little Difference in the Brain" and "Chandigarh, A Model of City Planning." Other titles will discover interesting people and places from around the world, from urban centers in "Rebuilding Beirut" and "Brasilia the Miraculous" to wild habitats in "To Save Gorilla."

CloverLeaf Digital LLC, a leading provider of interactive television applications and services, announced that Consolidated Communications, a family of companies offering voice and data communications services to both business and residential customers, has deployed CloverLeaf's localized interactive TV walled garden network to its subscribers. CloverLeaf's localized walled garden network allows Consolidated to offer on demand local news and information, to more than 50,000 local service subscribers in 20 central Illinois cities.

CloverLeaf's localized interactive TV walled garden service provides national, international, business, and entertainment news from Associated Press, local weather, local cinema guides, horoscopes, and local information such as school lunch menus and community events calendars to digital video subscribers.

Verimatrix, the leading developer of IPTV content protection and security solutions, today announced further deployments of its Verimatrix Content Authority System (VCAS) with two independent telecommunications carriers: CC Communications and ETEX Communications. Both innovative independent carriers are offering new triple-play services and compelling bundled packages for their customers.

Digeo, Inc., and Comporium have successfully trialed three in-home IPTV firsts: 1) multi-stream HD DVR on a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network, 2) multi-stream SD DVR over DSL, and 3) multi-room distribution of both live and recorded content from an IPTV provider. The trial is being conducted on Comporium's live commercial IPTV system, using Digeo's Moxi™ Media Center, which has already been deployed to more than 250,000 homes nationwide on traditional cable TV systems.

KyLinTV, Inc. today announced the addition of Sun TV to its growing list of broadcast content offering. Sun TV broadcasts out of Hong Kong 24 hours a day to Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and other areas of Asia. KyLinTV will be the first to make Sun TV programs available in North America.

The channel is a showcase of Chinese culture and heritage, offering programs on a variety of topics including history, antiquity and the arts, painting, literature, fashion and the lives of extraordinary Chinese personalities. Programs are both documentaries and dramatic presentations.

Tut Systems Inc. announced it's first commercial deployment of an all-IP digital TV headend by a traditional Cable TV operator. Citizens Cable Communications, of Mammoth, PA, deployed the Tut Systems Astria content processor (CP) platform to capitalize on the operational and economic benefits of IP-based networks for the delivery of video, voice and data services.

KyLinTV, Inc. announced the addition of the popular historical drama "A Jewel in the Palace," starring Lee Young-ae, to its growing list of Chinese content. The IPTV service will be the first to offer all 70 episodes of the romantic drama as Video-On-Demand (VOD) to viewers in North America.

Extreme Networks, Inc. has been selected to provide the network foundation for triple play services including video, voice and data by Farmers Telephone Cooperative (FTC). By supplying the Metro Ethernet network infrastructure for 17 FTC central offices, Extreme Networks will be delivering the critical availability and performance features that are essential to telecom services.

Cisco Systems today announced that SaskTel is driving expansion of advanced services, including its MAX IP TV offering, by furthering development of its Cisco Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) featuring the Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System routing platform and Cisco IOS XR software.

"As we continue development and rapid deployment of advanced services to our growing customer base, we look for technologies that will not only facilitate, but actually help us drive that growth," said Kym Wittal, CTO, SaskTel. "The Cisco CRS-1 brings us carrier-class functionality, including the scalability, continuous system operation and service flexibility we need to develop and deploy new services now and well into the future."

Optibase, Ltd. announced that Visions West, LLC has selected the company's MGW 5100 carrier grade IPTV streaming platform for an upgrade to their Lexington, NC headend. This upgrade includes the addition of 70 video and 38 music channels and will enable Visions West to expand delivery of advanced TV services to its subscribers.

KyLin TV, Inc. announced that the company will bring the first Chinese Television via the Internet to WJ Bookstores in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Boston over the coming weeks. There will be demonstrations of the Magic of KyLinTV and free promotional giveaways.

KyLinTV recently celebrated the successful launch of its service, which offers subscribers over 15,000 hours of Chinese broadcast TV and Video on Demand (VOD). Subscribers to KyLinTV receive more than 300 hours of new content every week including Top 10 movies and TV dramas from China, and will soon see the addition of Cantonese programs.