Astro Selects omson Video Networks Video Proceing Solutions to Drive New Multi-Screen Unified Compreion Platform

Astro Selects Thomson Video Networks Video Processing Solutions to Drive New Multi-Screen Unified Compression Platform

State-of-the-Art Platform for DTH, IPTV, and OTT Delivery Powered by Thomson Video Networks

RENNES, France - March 24, 2015 - Southeast Asia's largest pay-TV operator, Astro, has chosen a suite of Thomson Video Networks encoding and video processing solutions to drive its new Multi-screen Unified Compression System (MUCS), a compression platform that will enable Astro to deliver additional channels for its future business expansion. Thomson Video Networks' solutions deployed for MUCS include the award-winning ViBE EM4000 premium HD/SD broadcast encoder, NetProcessor multiplexer/video processor, Amethyst III high-density redundancy switch, and XMS network management system. The Thomson Video Networks solutions enable a native multi-screen platform that provides an easy-to-manage capability for Astro to deliver content via DTH (VBR MPEG-2 and H.264), IPTV (CBR H.264), and OTT.

We chose the Thomson Video Networks solutions after a very comprehensive and intensive tender process in which we evaluated a number of compression technology vendors. The Thomson solutions were an ideal match to our requirements, especially with regard to the ability to deliver content on multiple platforms, said Poh Kee Seng, vice president of platform technology, Astro.

With a base of more than 4.3 million residential customers representing approximately 62 percent of Malaysian TV households, Astro offers more than 184 TV channels - including 48 HD channels - delivered via DTH satellite TV, IPTV, and OTT platforms. Over the past six years, Astro has deployed 18 DTH transponders with Thomson Video Networks solutions and now uses the NetProcessor multiplexer/video processor for all IPTV streaming services. Also, with the new solutions installed in Astros main DTH broadcast center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the MUCS platform extends an existing Thomson Video Networks deployment for the OTT service - Astro on the Go - that includes the industry-leading ViBE VS7000 multi-screen and HEVC video system.

Through its partnership with Thomson Video Networks, Astro Malaysia is truly at the forefront of leveraging the industry's most advanced compression technologies to deliver advanced pay-TV services through DTH, IPTV and OTT resources, said Tony Berthaud, vice president, Asia-Pacific sales and services, Thomson Video Networks. We look forward to working with Astro as it continues to provide leading-edge services to its customers.

Further information about Thomson Video Networks products is available at www.thomson-networks.com.

About Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad

Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad is a leading integrated consumer media entertainment group in Malaysia and Southeast Asia with operations in four key businesses: pay-TV, radio, content, and digital. Astro today has a 62% penetration of TV homes in Malaysia or 4.3 million residential customers. Astro broadcasts 184 channels including 48 HD channels, delivered via DTH satellite TV, IPTV, and OTT platforms. Fulfilling its promise to bridge the digital divide for all of Malaysia, Astro has introduced NJOI as the country's first non-subscription-based satellite TV service. It is the leading aggregator, creator, and distributor of original multi-language content of various genres across multi-channels. Astro Radio includes Malaysia's highest rated stations across key languages and is available on both terrestrial and digital channels, reaching approximately 12.9 million weekly listeners. Its digital arm is involved in digital publishing and publication of entertainment and lifestyle magazines locally. For details, log on to www.astro.com.my.

About Thomson Video Networks

A global leader in advanced video compression solutions, Thomson Video Networks empowers media companies, video service providers, and broadcasters to deliver superior video quality at the highest density and lowest bandwidth for contribution, terrestrial, satellite, cable, IPTV, and OTT services. Through its innovative Behind Every Screen approach, Thomson Video Networks combines both on-premises and cloud-based resources to create an all-encompassing video infrastructure for its advanced ingest/playout, branding, ad insertion, encoding/transcoding, and packaging technologies. Media enterprises now have every key capability they need to raise video quality and reduce cost of ownership not just for broadcast, but also for multi-screen services on every device and platform. Behind Every Screen you'll find Thomson Video Networks. Visit www.thomson-networks.com.

Agency Contact:

Laila Bishay

Wall Street Communications

Tel: +44 1332 865 332

Email: laila@wallstcom.com

Thomson Video Networks Contact:

Cryst le Trevisan

Corporate Communications Director

Tel: +33 2 99 28 52 05

Email: crystele.trevisan@thomson-networks.com

LINK:	https://www.thomson-networks.com/en/news/astro-selects-thomson-video-n...
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