SeaChange Strikes Exclusive Agreement with Canadian Cable Systems Alliance
On-demand leader's software and servers selected for 88 cable operators; First rollouts underway
ACTON, Mass. and QUISPAMSIS, N.B.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Canada's independent cable television companies have chosen SeaChange International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SEAC) as their exclusive provider for on-demand platforms. Representing 88 operators from coast to coast, the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) has signed a purchase agreement for SeaChange's industry leading Axiom on-demand management software, video servers, and service, as well as SeaChange's widely proven solutions for time-shifted TV, on-demand advertising and set-top box applications.
"We're ensuring the independent cable community's power to compete and thrive especially as consumer access to other video programming choices widens rapidly," said Alyson Townsend, CEO of CCSA. "Video-on-demand is absolutely part of the picture of complete subscriber satisfaction regardless of the size of a cable operation. Our partnership with SeaChange puts the industry's best platform within reach of all of our members, and exciting on-demand services within reach of cable homes across the country."
A programming, hardware and services buying group, the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance member companies serve nearly one million television subscribers in communities from British Columbia to Newfoundland. Its collective buying power ensures cost savings through partnerships with strategic technology providers like SeaChange.
CCSA's comprehensive assistance to independent operators eases access to network television programming through group negotiation and contract management and delivers vital marketing expertise and programs locally and nationally.
"Operators of all sizes around the world are running on-demand services with SeaChange. Our customers are increasing their revenues and enjoying the performance advantages that we are bringing to the market," said SeaChange president and CEO Bill Styslinger. "We're very proud to have been selected to provide service for the CCSA members."
In the last year, pay television in Canada saw its greatest revenue growth in five years, according to a recent report by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. Total revenues rose by 12.4 percent in one year to $2.5 billion, with pay, pay-per-view and on-demand services accounting for $482 million.
Alliance members rolling out on-demand services
SeaChange and the CCSA also announced the first three alliance members to begin SeaChange deployments. Mountain Cablevision, which serves 40,000 customers in the greater Hamilton, Ontario area, and Westman Communications Group, which provides service for customers throughout Western Manitoba, have already implemented SeaChange's Axiom on-demand management software and video servers.
A long-time SeaChange ad insertion customer, Mountain Cablevision deployed the SeaChange MediaServer MDS 201, a hybrid Memory Disk Streamer that's designed to meet the varying demands of video-on-demand usage patterns and emerging applications such as time-shifted TV and network PVR. The MediaServer MDS 201 leverages SeaChange's patented MediaCluster technology for fault-resilience and single-copy economy.
Later this summer, Nova Scotia-based Seaside Communications will introduce "Digital Cable Video on Demand" to its 14,000 customers on Canada's east coast. SeaChange will supply Axiom software and MDS 201 servers, as well as its QuickSilver Input Workstation for on-demand content preparation.
"As an independent cable operator, it was clear that video-on-demand services and interactive applications represented a significant opportunity for us to remain competitive. It was also clear that we needed to be certain that our VOD provider represented both full value for our investment and offered top-of-the-line services and support necessary to exceed our subscribers' expectations," said John Piercy, president of Mountain Cablevision. "With SeaChange, we were able to efficiently execute exciting VOD services."
More than 100 television operations worldwide run on-demand services on SeaChange software and servers to the tune of billions of streams delivered annually.
About Canadian Cable Systems Alliance
CCSA is a purchasing group formed by independent cable companies across Canada. CCSA operates on a not-for-profit basis to represent its members' interests and to perform volume purchasing of television programming, hardware and services on their behalf. CCSA's membership includes many small cable systems that serve Canada's North, aboriginal communities and rural centres in all provinces and territories. Visit http://www.ccsa.cable.ca/.
About SeaChange
SeaChange International, Inc. is the leading provider of end-to-end and best-of-breed solutions for the world's television industry. Its powerful video-on-demand and advertising software and scalable hardware enable broadband and broadcast television operators to provide new on-demand services and to gain greater efficiencies in advertising and content delivery. SeaChange customers are increasing their revenues and reducing churn based on the value-added video services from SeaChange's Emmy Award-winning and patented technology. Headquartered in Acton, Massachusetts, SeaChange has product development, support and sales offices around the world. Visit www.schange.com.
Source: SeaChange International, Inc.
Released May 24, 2007