Press Releases

Seven Local Stations Available via Satellite for the First Time Throughout the Market Area

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's No. 1 satellite TV service, now offers local programming, including three networks in HD, to customers in the Marquette, Mich., market area.

The channels, available to Marquette customers for the first time via DIRECTV digital satellite, will include WBUP/ABC, WJMN/CBS and WLUC/NBC - all in HD, and FOX, WBKP/CW, WNMU/PBS, WNMU2/PBS and WZMQ/MNT in standard-definition.

With the launch of locals in Marquette, DIRECTV is rolling out a special offer for customers who need to upgrade their equipment: the first receiver is free and all additional receivers are only $49 along with free standard professional installation. To upgrade, customers should call 1-800-DIRECTV or visit directv.com.

With the launch of the Marquette market, DIRECTV will offer local broadcast channels (both HD and standard-definition) in 155 markets, representing more than 94 percent of U.S. TV households. Including Marquette, DIRECTV will offer local HD channels in 136 markets or more than 92 percent of U.S. TV households.

"We appreciate the leadership and support of Congressman Bart Stupak in our effort to launch local channels in the Marquette market," said Larry Hunter, DIRECTV president and CEO. "Local channels carry essential programming and consumers depend on them for critical news and weather information along with entertainment, and now for the first time, they're available via DIRECTV with three networks in crystal-clear HD."

To receive DIRECTV's local HD programming, customers must have an H20, H21 or H23 receiver, or an HR20, HR21 or HR23 DIRECTV Plus HD-DVR, and a Ka/Ku band dish. More information on programming package pricing and receiving equipment is available at directv.com.

About DIRECTV

DIRECTV, Inc. (NASDAQ:DTV), the nation's No. 1 satellite television service, presents the finest television experience available to more than 18.4 million customers in the United States and is leading the HD revolution with more than 130 HD channels - more quality HD channels than any other television provider. Each day, DIRECTV subscribers enjoy access to over 265 channels of 100% digital picture and sound, exclusive programming, industry-leading customer satisfaction (which has surpassed all national cable companies for nine years running) and superior technologies that include advanced DVR and HD-DVR services and the most state-of-the-art interactive sports packages available anywhere. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit directv.com.

    Source: DIRECTV, Inc.

ORLANDO, FL -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 11/11/09 -- TelcoTV 09 -- Avail-TVN, the largest independent digital media services company in North America, today announced its 100th IPTV customer. Integra Telecom joins service providers across North America, including 38 former IP-Prime affiliates, in partnering with Avail-TVN to deliver linear IPTV services to their subscribers. Integra's digital television services will initially be limited to its incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) business, which services over 14,000 primarily residential customers in select areas of the suburban Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. Avail-TVN will work with its integration partner, Dascom, to plan and execute Integra's video services launch, scheduled for the first quarter of 2010.

"Avail-TVN and Dascom are making it easy for us to bring digital video services to market quickly," said Dave Kunde, senior vice president and general manager at Integra Telecom. "Their integrated approach and future-looking service roadmap were key factors for us in our search for partners who could help us provide this key revenue-generating service."

As part of a company focus on IPTV deployments, Avail-TVN transitioned more than 75 percent of the former SES Americom IP-Prime customer base to the Avail-TVN platform over the last year. Integra Telecom joins these former IP-Prime customers, and other innovative telecom providers who are working with Avail-TVN to drive IPTV deployments across North America.

"2009 has been an exciting year for the IPTV market, which is reaching critical mass in terms of real deployments," said Ramu Potarazu, CEO of Avail-TVN. "Consumer appetite for TV everywhere, at anytime, is driving service provider need for sophisticated digital media solutions that take care of the heavy lifting, allowing carriers to do what they do best -- service the customer. We're pleased to be adding Integra Telecom to our list of IPTV affiliates and look forward to taking them live in early 2010."

Potarazu discussed the role of IPTV in the future of digital media services during a keynote address at TelcoTV this morning, entitled, "The Future of Digital Media Services: Don't let it pass you by."

Avail-TVN provides programming from more than 200 content owners to over 250 cable, satellite, FTTH and telecom service providers and is the only company today to deliver a complete suite of video services for the IPTV market that includes MPEG-4 linear IPTV and Video On Demand (VOD). The Avail-TVN solution includes a full line-up of live television programming with hundreds of channels, combined with thousands of hours VOD content including movies from every major studio, cable and broadcast networks, premium cable networks and adult content.

Avail-TVN partners with best-in-class members of the IPTV ecosystem including equipment providers, resellers, and content owners in order to deliver value to its customers. The company's partners include sales channel partners, resellers, and systems integrators such as Dascom, Cisco, BBT, CSI Digital, Evolution Broadband, Falcon IP/Complete, Fidelity Communications, Motorola, and Nortel; and business consulting groups, such as Jason Anderson Consulting. The company works with its ecosystem partners to develop customized solutions, ensuring minimal infrastructure changes and reasonable fees to support both existing and future affiliates.

About Integra Telecom

Integra Telecom, Inc. provides voice, data and Internet communications to thousands of business and carrier customers in eight Western states, including: Arizona, California, Idaho, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah and Washington. The company owns and operates a best-in-class fiber-optic network comprised of eight metropolitan access networks, a nationally acclaimed Internet and data network and a 4,700-mile high-speed long haul network. The company enjoys some of the highest customer loyalty and customer satisfaction ratings in the telecommunications industry. For more information, visit www.integratelecom.com.

About Avail-TVN

Avail-TVN is the largest independent digital media services company in North America. Working with every major studio and television network, the company offers a full content line up of MPEG-4 encoded live programming as well as video on demand content in MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 to multichannel video providers throughout the US, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico. The Avail-TVN platform is an open, advanced technology, offering the most comprehensive, end-to-end solution for licensing, managing, distributing and marketing linear and on-demand content to virtually any platform today and is extensible to support the new services of tomorrow.

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 11, 2009) - Paying tribute to Canadian homeless Veterans and drawing attention to their plight took the spotlight at the first-ever Remembrance Day ceremony at the Scott Mission in Toronto today. Patrick B. Stogran, Canada's first Veterans Ombudsman, said "Few Canadians know of the Veterans who gather each day at homeless shelters."

During his speech at the ceremony, Stogran stated that Canada is starting to become more aware of our homeless Veterans and that we are seing progress being made by Veterans Affairs Canada. "We want to ensure that progress continues to be made," emphasized Stogran. "We will be monitoring the issue of homeless Veterans through our public consultation process, and via outreach and events throughout the country."

The Office of the Veterans Ombudsman is the rallying point for all Veterans issues. Its role is to serve as an advocate for fairness on behalf of all Canadian Veterans and their families. "Today's ceremony is something that is not only very special, but also very timely," remarked Stogran.

Mr. Stogran wishes to thank Mr. David Smith, CEO and Executive Director of the Scott Mission and Mr. Joseph Sweeney, a member of the Korean Veterans Association, for their initiative in organizing this ceremony.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
        Office of the Veterans Ombudsman
        Brian M. Gallant (Ottawa)
        613-943-7867 (office)
        613-668-0045 (cell)
        brian.gallant@ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca
        www.ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca

Source: Office of the Veterans Ombudsman

TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 11/11/09 -- Paying tribute to Canadian homeless Veterans and drawing attention to their plight took the spotlight at the first-ever Remembrance Day ceremony at the Scott Mission in Toronto today. Patrick B. Stogran, Canada's first Veterans Ombudsman, said "Few Canadians know of the Veterans who gather each day at homeless shelters."

During his speech at the ceremony, Stogran stated that Canada is starting to become more aware of our homeless Veterans and that we are seing progress being made by Veterans Affairs Canada. "We want to ensure that progress continues to be made," emphasized Stogran. "We will be monitoring the issue of homeless Veterans through our public consultation process, and via outreach and events throughout the country."

The Office of the Veterans Ombudsman is the rallying point for all Veterans issues. Its role is to serve as an advocate for fairness on behalf of all Canadian Veterans and their families. "Today's ceremony is something that is not only very special, but also very timely," remarked Stogran.

Mr. Stogran wishes to thank Mr. David Smith, CEO and Executive Director of the Scott Mission and Mr. Joseph Sweeney, a member of the Korean Veterans Association, for their initiative in organizing this ceremony.

Contacts:
Office of the Veterans Ombudsman
Brian M. Gallant (Ottawa)
613-943-7867 (office)
613-668-0045 (cell)
brian.gallant@ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca
www.ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca

Monte Carlo platform offers OEMs quick path to 10GBASE-T switch solutions

CALABASAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fulcrum Microsystems and Teranetics today announced the availability of a new 10-Gigabit Ethernet switch that packs 24 ports into a 1U chassis. This new reference design, named Monte Carlo, offers 20 10GBase-T ports and four SFP+ ports, giving networking OEMs a market-ready solution that combines high density and performance with the cost advantage of 10GBase-T over standard copper infrastructure.

Monte Carlo leverages the combination of Fulcrum's ultra low-latency FocalPoint FM4224 10-Gigabit Ethernet switch chip with Teranetics' dual-port, triple-rate TN2022 10GBase-T physical layer device, which leads the industry in density and offers latency four to five times lower than that of legacy copper Gigabit Ethernet solutions.

"As enterprise data centers continue to demand increased bandwidth for multimedia applications, the new Monte Carlo platform addresses those needs by offering an efficient method for aggregating bandwidth over the existing enterprise cabling infrastructure," said Gary Lee, director of product marketing for Fulcrum Microsystems. "Our collaboration with Teranetics has produced a reference design that is tailored to data centers and enterprise infrastructures where the primary concern is cost-effective bandwidth."

"10GBASE-T is quickly emerging as the physical medium of choice for 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, because of its ease of use and cost effectiveness," said Kamal Dalmia, vice president of product marketing at Teranetics. "Partnering with Fulcrum has allowed us to produce the optimum reference design solution for the OEMs and accelerate the adoption of base-T."

The FocalPoint FM4224 features 24 XAUI ports, utilizing a high performance, low latency Ethernet switch architecture that includes comprehensive Layer 3 functionality along with advanced classification, congestion management and system management capabilities. These switches contain all the features necessary to enable Ethernet as the single, converged data center fabric, transporting and preserving inter-processor, storage and networking traffic.

Teranetics TN2022 is the company's second-generation PHY, based on 65 nm process technology. TN2022 consumes only 5.7 watts per port and is the only dual-port 10GBASE-T PHY shipping in high volume today. The device features multi-rate capabilities, which allow auto-negotiation with existing RJ-45 ports running at 1 Gigabit or 100 Megabits per second. In addition, it provides enhanced cable monitoring and diagnostics capabilities which help OEMs lower the cost of field support.

The Monte Carlo platform is available now to OEMs at a price of $900 per port.

About Fulcrum Microsystems

Fulcrum Microsystems Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company that has developed the FocalPoint family of 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) switch/router chips for next-generation data center fabric designs. FocalPoint devices offer the industry's lowest latency combined with the fine-grained flow control and high throughput required for converged data center fabrics. With its ControlPoint network OS, Fulcrum offers a complete solution along with a worldwide ecosystem of partners from which storage and clustering system designers can drive adoption of 10GE as the fabric of choice for a fully converged data center. More information can be found at www.fulcrummicro.com.

FocalPoint, TestPoint, VantagePoint and ControlPoint are marks of Fulcrum Microsystems.

All other trademarks are owned by their respective companies.

About Teranetics

Teranetics is a leading provider of silicon solutions that enable significantly higher data rates over structured copper cabling than are currently available in today's Ethernet network environments. Led by a team with exceptional expertise and experience in the development and application of mixed-signal semiconductor solutions and digital communication technologies, Teranetics is the first company to ship a production-ready 10GBASE-T semiconductor designed for next generation network applications. Teranetics is backed by a strong consortium of venture investors with in-depth experience and success in the semiconductor and data networking markets. For more information, go to www.teranetics.com.

    Source: Fulcrum Microsystems