Concurrent, a worldwide leader of on-demand technology that is shaping the future of television, today announced that Cox Communications has chosen Concurrent's MediaHawk 4000 On-Demand platform for the launch of VOD service in the cable operator's Cleveland, Ohio division.

"Now Cox Digital Cable subscribers in Cleveland can enjoy a customizable, interactive television viewing experience boasting a robust offering of on-demand content," said Michael Pasquinilli, director, interactive services engineering, Cox Communications. "Thanks to the flexibility of Concurrent's MediaHawk system, we can easily upgrade and scale our VOD offerings without massive plant expenditures." Cox Cleveland serves approximately 73,000 basic subscribers.

Due to increasing digital penetration and VOD usage in Hampton Roads and Las Vegas, Concurrent is upgrading existing MediaHawk 3000 platforms to the MediaHawk 4000 in each system. In each system, Concurrent will deploy a centralized library server with distributed edge servers - based on Concurrent Real Time Linux operating software. Cox serves over 400,000 basic subscribers in Las Vegas and Hampton Roads.

"Concurrent's latest deployment in Cox's Cleveland division is a reflection of the success we've achieved time and again in Cox systems like Hampton Roads and Las Vegas," said Gary Trimm, CEO of Concurrent. "As these systems continue to grow their digital offerings, we aim to grow with them through constant improvement of our software and unparalleled technical responsiveness, ensuring Cox subscribers enjoy a quality VOD experience with every use."

Concurrent's VOD platform leverages the proven MediaHawk 4000 suite of on-demand software applications to provide unequalled system stability and uptime. The first and most widely deployed VOD solution to utilize commercial off-the-shelf hardware, the MediaHawk delivers independent scalability of content ingest, storage and streaming across both HFC and IP networks worldwide. To date, Concurrent has deployed over 950,000 video streams in 24 countries.

As the on-demand business model evolves, service providers continue to investigate and deploy advanced technologies that will refine and improve the consumer experience. Concurrent recently acquired Everstream, a leader in business intelligence software and a noted vendor in the cable industry, to complement the company's commitment to improving operational reliability and business performance capabilities in its worldwide MediaHawk deployments.