Widevine Technologies(R) 'Goes Live' by Securing One of the Largest Libraries of Premium VOD Content in North America

Widevine Technologies(R) 'Goes Live' by Securing One of the Largest Libraries of Premium VOD Content in North America

Three Major Studios Providing Premium Content to Saskatchewan Telecommunications VOD Service

SEATTLE, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The video content security solution provided by Widevine Technologies(R), the largest provider of content security solutions to the interactive TV (iTV) market, and implemented by SaskTel, Saskatchewan's leading full service communications provider, has now "gone live" with content from Hollywood. All of SaskTel's Max Front Row(TM) video-on-demand (VOD) service content is now being secured by the Widevine Virtual SmartCard(TM) solution. Based upon SaskTel's implementation of Widevine, they have acquired one of the largest premium content libraries in North America.

Among the content being secured are movies provided by top Hollywood studios Warner Bros. International Television Distribution, Twentieth Century Fox and Sony Pictures Television International. SaskTel recently announced multi-year Video-on-Demand distribution agreements with all three studios that allow SaskTel to provide its Max Front Row customers with access to impressive line-ups of current releases and existing film libraries.

SaskTel launched its Internet Protocol (IP) broadcast service in 2002 over its existing digital subscriber line (DSL) network, the first ever installed in North America, and launched its video-on-demand service in 2003. The VOD service is available to subscribers in all nine cities where SaskTel's video service is offered

The Widevine Virtual SmartCard solution significantly lowers the costs of securing content over video networks while dramatically raising the bar on piracy. Today, the Virtual SmartCard is being deployed in broadband video projects throughout the world.

"To acquire the highest quality, most current content available for our VOD service, we had to provide full protection of that content throughout distribution," said Bob Turner, SaskTel's Director of Technology. "The primary reason we chose Widevine to secure our service is that their technology has been accepted by Hollywood around the world and provides a fully integrated, end-to-end, video security solution."

"Widevine stands by its content guarantee, and SaskTel is living proof of our ability to protect Hollywood assets," said Brian Baker, President and CEO of Widevine Technologies. "We are extremely pleased that one of the most recognized Pay TV over IP service providers in the world today -- SaskTel -- would choose us to solve their security challenges."

"In the past piracy only meant theft of service," said John Hoskins, Widevine's Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales. "In the digital age, that piracy now represents the theft and mass redistribution of content. That strikes directly in the studio's pockets. For new services to offer more valuable digital content, better security technology is mandatory. As SaskTel has clearly indicated, Widevine's technology is the answer to that need."

For the SaskTel video over DSL deployment, Widevine interfaces with Media Manager from Alcatel, the video delivery platform provided by Kasenna and set-top-boxes from Pace Micro Technology.

About Saskatchewan Telecommunications

SaskTel is the leading full service communications company in Saskatchewan, offering complete wireline, wireless, Internet and e-business solutions over a state-of-the-art, digital network. SaskTel maintains investments in companies that provide a variety of products and services. Visit SaskTel at www.sasktel.com.

About Virtual SmartCard

Widevine offers the Cypher(TM) Suite based upon the Virtual SmartCard(TM) enabling the operator to obtain premium on-demand titles. Cypher Suite contains patented technologies for VOD (Cypher VOD(TM)), digital broadcast (Cypher Broadcast(TM)), conditional access/digital rights management (Cypher CA(TM)) and Digital Copy Protection(TM) (Cypher DCP(TM)). For more information see Widevine Technologies at www.widevine.com.

About Widevine Technologies, Inc.

Widevine supplies a comprehensive suite of conditional access and digital rights enforcement products to Telco, Cable, and Satellite Operators enabling the deployment of Interactive Television services such as Digital Broadcast, VOD and PVR.

Widevine insures that the content that is watched is paid for and that it is only used for its intended purpose. Widevine's products secure video services (VOD, digital broadcast channels, etc.) over cable, satellite, xDSL (Telco), and Fiber optic networks. Comprised of world-class engineers and experts in security and encryption, and headquartered in Seattle, Widevine is the inventor of the Virtual SmartCard, a cost-effective method of securing high value content, including that produced by Hollywood. Widevine has one patent issued and 22 pending.

Widevine offers the Cypher(TM) Suite and implementation services enabling the operator to obtain premium On-Demand titles. Cypher Suite contains Patent pending technologies for VOD (Cypher VOD(TM)), digital broadcast (Cypher Broadcast(TM)), conditional access/digital rights management (Cypher CA(TM)) and Digital Copy Protection(TM) (Cypher DCP(TM)). For more information see Widevine Technologies at www.widevine.com.

Media Contacts:

Jim Carlson President Carlson & Co. Public Relations 303.221.8133 (o), 720.220.7753 (c), jim@carlsoncopr.com

Michelle Englot Corporate Affairs Director Saskatchewan Telecommunications Tel: 306-777-4476 michelle.englot@sasktel.sk.ca

Source: Widevine Technologies

CONTACT: Jim Carlson, President of Carlson & Co. Public Relations, +1-303-221-8133 (o), or +1-720-220-7753 (c), or jim@carlsoncopr.com, for Widevine Technologies; or Michelle Englot, Corporate Affairs Director, of Saskatchewan Telecommunications, +1-306-777-4476, or michelle.englot@sasktel.sk.ca

Web site: http://www.sasktel.com/

Web site: http://www.widevine.com/

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