UPC's EuroHITS Chooses SeaChange Broadcast Video Server

Systems for Advanced Digital Television Services Amsterdam (ots-PRNewswire) - UPC Extends European Digital TV Platform with $700,000 Purchase of Broadcast MediaClusters. NAB 99, Booth L10746. In support of United Pan-Europe Communications' (UPC) (Nasdaq: UPCOY) innovative array of new digital broadband television services of movies and other programming, SeaChange International, Inc. (Nasdaq: SEAC) has received a $700,000 contract for two Broadcast MediaCluster video servers. The new services, UPC EuroHITS and UPC tv, capitalizing on UPC's digital platform, extensive terrestrial fiber optic and satellite networks, will be launched next month. Completely video server-based, EuroHITS will initially rely on two SeaChange Broadcast MediaCluster systems in its Amsterdam "UPC Digital Media Center" for the storage and playout of high quality digital streams. UPC's Broadcast MediaClusters are the first in the history of the television industry to include 36GB disk drives and SeaChange's advanced decoders, which support uncompressed audio on 16 channels. In the near future, additional Broadcast MediaClusters, combined with the implementation of SeaChange's Movie Systems in cable affiliate locations throughout Europe, will be implemented to support EuroHITS expanded digital video service of more than 100 entertainment channels in the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, and Austria by next year. The network of SeaChange video server systems will enable UPC to leverage the advantages of digital video to streamline the management of its state-of-the-art television facility and offer its customers, subscribers and affiliates unparalleled new services. "UPC has been using SeaChange video servers for over two years and our experience gives us significant confidence as we move forward with EuroHITS," said Craig D. Bury, Director of Engineering and Technology, UPC. "UPC has intelligently invested in its capabilities and EuroHITS further validates our commitment to high quality advanced services as the foundation of our "triple play" strategy throughout Europe." Initially, UPC will implement two Broadcast MediaClusters, complete video server systems with integrated digital encoders/decoders that deliver multiple channels of MPEG-2 4:2:2/MP video quality. Using 36GB disk drives, each Broadcast MediaCluster is comprised of multiple computers, or nodes, which act as one fault-resilient video server capable of storing more than 300 hours of video. A third-generation video server system, the Broadcast MediaCluster is designed for the high-quality demands of broadcasters and network providers. It is renown for its MediaCluster architecture, which provides unparalleled economy and scalability for television's fast-emerging digital requirements. In addition, SeaChange Movie Systems, also based on SeaChange's patented MediaCluster technology, will subsequently be added to serve multiple channels of near video-on-demand DVB (Europe's Digital Video Broadcast standard) video. The Movie System is used extensively for on-demand applications by top television operators around the world. "A prominent SeaChange customer, UPC has chosen our Broadcast MediaCluster based on its confidence in our technology, and I expect, its experience with SeaChange's focus on meeting the needs of its television customers," said Bill Styslinger, president and CEO, SeaChange International. "We're very proud to be serving EuroHITS and a world leader in broadband services like UPC." Headquartered in Amsterdam, UPC is one of the most innovative broadband communications companies in Europe and owns and operates the largest pan- European group of broadband communication networks. UPC provides cable television, telephony, high speed Internet access and programming services in ten countries across Europe and in Israel. As of Feb. 28, 1999 UPC's systems passed approximately 4.8 million homes with 3.5 million basic cable subscribers, of which approximately 500,000 take an expanded tier service. In addition, UPC had 92,600 telephone access lines and 20,500 carrier select customers, as well as 32,335 broadband Internet access subscribers. UPC completed an IPO in February 1999 and its shares are listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange ("UPC") and NASDAQ ("UPCOY"). UPC is a consolidated subsidiary of United International Holdings Inc. (UIH)(Nasdaq: UIHIA). Microsoft Corporation has an interest of approximately 7.8 percent in UPC. SeaChange's EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) sales operation, headquartered in Genoa, Italy, is managed by Marcello Dellepiane (Tel. +390105530177; Fax +39010 5459778). The company's EMEA customer service and support facility is located in Valbonne, France. Serving approximately 20,000 television channels for broadcast and cable television leaders worldwide, SeaChange International, Inc. (www.schange.com) is the leading provider of MPEG-2 digital video systems. SeaChange's products, incorporating the Company's patented software and hardware technologies, automate the management and distribution of video streams including advertisements, movies, news updates and other broadcast-quality video programming requiring precise execution. Founded in 1993, SeaChange is headquartered in Maynard, Massachusetts. SeaChange will demonstrate the Broadcast MediaCluster product family at NAB 99, booth L10746. MediaCluster is a registered trademark of SeaChange International, EuroHITS is a registered trademark of United Pan- Europe Communications, n.v. ots Original Text Service: SeaChange International, Inc. Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: John Coulbourn of SeaChange International (USA) 978-897-0100, ext. 3098, johnc@schange.com or Henrietta Hirst of United Pan- Europe Communications 44-171-518-7890, hhirst@upc.nl Web site: http://www.schange.com Subscribers please note that material bearing the slug "PROTEXT" is not part of CTK's news service and is not to be published under the "CTK" slug. Protext is a commercial service providing distribution of press releases from clients, who are identified in the text of Protext reports and who bear full responsibility for their contents. PROTEXT