Switch to IP to Make Savings, Easynet Urges Broadcasters as it Launches New Suite of Specialist Global Solutions

Broadcasters Embracing Internet Protocol (IP) Will Benefit From Major Cost Savings Compared to Traditional Transmission Methods

ZAVENTEM, Belgium, March 14, 2011 - Broadcasters must embrace IP networks to save money and stay ahead of
their competitors, Easynet Global Services
warns today. IP can give broadcasters material savings compared to
traditional transmission methods, and provides vast bandwidth that is perfect
for High Definition (HD) and 3D content. The gap between those broadcasters
transmitting content across IP networks and those using legacy SDH/ATM
networks or satellite technology will widen, as viewers' expectations become
increasingly sophisticated with real time streaming, content over mobile
devices, transmissions in HD and 3D as well as video on demand.

To help broadcasters make the move to IP, Easynet is launching three new
solutions aimed specifically at the broadcast sector: IP Contribution, IP
Distribution and IP Adaptation. Customers including MTV, Sky News HD and
Perform Media are already benefitting from these new solutions.

IP Contribution enables broadcasters to use Easynet's fully managed
network for the delivery of feeds from both permanent and "ad hoc"
locations, so that broadcasters can receive contribution feeds regardless
of location. IP Distribution allows the transmission of post-production
video from the broadcaster to uplink facilities such as a satellite earth
station for onward transmission to end users. IP Adaptation enables the
transmission of interactive rich media content from the Digital Interactive
service's (Red Button) to the broadcaster.

MTV needed to distribute two new HD channels - Comedy Central HD and
Nickelodeon HD - to Sky in the UK, without the viewer experiencing any drop
in quality of service. Easynet's IP Distribution solution was chosen. Easynet
implemented a managed network between MTV UK's London Media Centre and Sky,
utilising leading edge JPEG2000 compression over IP. This enabled channels to
be launched and operated at a greatly reduced cost, whilst allowing these
services to reach wider audiences and help maximise revenues.

Sky News selected Easynet's IP Contribution solution. It launched its
High Definition (HD) news channel in May 2010. Sky needed a technology that
could support HD from any number of locations and would be fast, reliable,
and capable of transmitting high quality content. To make its vision of
Outside Broadcast in HD a reality, Sky needed HD Paths that could run from
the location of a news story to Sky News' headquarters.

Sky needed a technology that could not only support HD from any number of
locations, but would be fast, reliable, and capable of transmitting high
quality content. The most suitable solution was be an underlying
Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) IP network, allowing the use of SD or HD
video along with data links and internet access from the street location,
when required. An additional benefit of the solution was that it would
support a full bi-directional service, allowing "two-way" communication
between the journalist on location and the studio, and ultimately improving
Sky's live coverage of major news events.

Sky News can now scale up its network quickly by adding extra interface
cards, which allow more devices to be connected to the wide area network.
This means that Sky only pays for the bandwidth it uses, making the solution
quicker and cheaper. Cards can be deployed in different locations across the
globe, so Sky can have its foreign reporters on air as soon as a story
breaks, removing the need to transport large amounts of expensive satellite
broadcast equipment. The network is also more resilient: MPLS ensures that
glitches and outages in the network do not affect the integrity of
transmissions - the network has multiple paths, and all traffic that would
otherwise have been blocked can be re-routed from that path onto another.

PERFORM delivers premium sports content to millions of fans around the
world. The organisation decided that the scalability and flexibility of an
Easynet IP-based MPLS network, as opposed to the satellite technology used by
traditional broadcasters, would be the approach best suited to its
rapidly-growing international business. This IP-based technology would offer
the scalable, cost effective, reliable solution required to suit the growing
digital content needs of the broadcast sector.

"Some broadcasters are hesitant to switch to IP because it involves
previously unexplored ways of sending content, and therefore new working
practises," says Andy Sumner, Easynet's global sales and marketing director,
"but letting Easynet manage their IP network leaves them free to focus on
their core business of creating content. IP could not be more perfectly
suited to this industry with its cost savings, vast room for content and its
reliability". He continues, "We've spent a lot of time consulting with our
broadcast customers and understanding their needs. We make it simple for them
to make the switch to IP".

Notes to Editors

About Easynet's Broadcast Division

Easynet cuts through the complexity of broadcast services and combines
its skills in global networking with its deep understanding of the broadcast
market. This enables broadcasters to concentrate on their core business of
producing great content with Easynet managing the underlying networking and
video technology used to transmit the programs.

Transmission of broadcast video using IP networks can provide the
broadcaster with considerable cost savings over traditional terrestrial
broadcast networks using SDH and ATM or expensive satellite connections,
particularly relevant for the high bandwidths needed for HD and 3D
broadcasts.

Easynet's Broadcast customers include Sky News HD, MTV and Perform Media.

About Easynet

Easynet Global Services is a worldwide provider of managed network,
managed hosting and value added services such as Telepresence. The
company has customers in 50 countries and 900 staff in 18 global offices.

Through a consultative approach, it engages with its customers to fully
understand their business challenges. The company combines global reach with
local expertise, providing a personalised customer experience wherever its
customers are in the world. Easynet Global Services' customers include Via
Michelin, FOX, Brinks, Transport for London, EDF, SAGE, Q Park and
Bridgestone.

Together with the management team Easynet is owned by LDC (Lloyds TSB
Development Capital). LDC is the leading mid-market private equity arm of
Lloyds Banking Group. For more information visit www.easynet.com

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Easynet Global Services

Laurence Van Doosselaere, Laurence.VanDoosselaere at easynet.com, +3224023758