SeaChange is delivering the foundation for telecommunications giant KDDI's new on-demand television business. KDDI provides VoIP-phone, backbone Internet and other IT services to more than 60 cable television operators across Japan. Leveraging technologies and professional services from SeaChange through Panasonic, this summer KDDI's fully managed, end-to-end on-demand platform will empower cable operators across Japan to quickly launch their own on-demand services.

On-demand services will be centrally managed at KDDI network operations centers initially, with the ability for each cable operator to expand and enhance their service according to their regional coverage. Popular television and movie content will be provided by KDDI, and cable operators will have the ability to provide their own local content, which will also be managed through the KDDI central site.

SeaChange is providing its patented and widely deployed MediaCluster on-demand servers and Axiom Core management software, as well as the TV Backend System software for end-to-end management of promotions and business rules. Panasonic is providing the front-end interface solution for Japan's deployed cable television settop boxes. ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation is SeaChange's integration partner on the KDDI project.

"SeaChange has collaborated with Panasonic to serve the unique needs of operators in Japan's television community and we are very proud that our rollout with KDDI is the first and best possible proof of that commitment," Lincoln Owens, director of broadband, Asia Pacific, SeaChange.

KDDI completes its on-demand service offering with an extensive content library, initially rolling out with 3,000 titles and plans to grow to approximately 10,000 of the latest Japanese and Hollywood studio movies and local programs.