Aastra helps NFL Network to deliver new programming
in high definition for the 2005 season CONCORD, ONTARIO, CANADA - (October 4, 2005) - Aastra Technologies Limited (TSX - AAH) today announced their high definition encoding product has enabled NFL Network to broadcast its weekly Wednesday and Thursday night programs "Game of the Week" and "Six Days to Sunday" in high definition. NFL Network has deployed Aastra's WaveStar® encoding platform in their NFL Films Mt. Laurel, NJ facility for compression and transport of original native programming to the Network's production and uplink facility in Stamford, CT. Distribution of the programming will be over digital cable and satellite outlets.
WaveStar has enabled NFL Network to bring high definition NFL Films game imagery to its viewers, while reducing the time between production and air.
"Our HD programming is completed shortly before they air. We needed a reliable and tested platform," said Peter Brickman, Senior Director of Operations and Technology at the NFL. "WaveStar offers a stable, high quality and cost-effective solution for deploying high-definition programming. We continue to be impressed with Aastra's product architecture and performance, image quality, and overall commitment to customer service."
WaveStar is a flexible, modular, real time MPEG-2 video encoding, decoding and multiplexing platform. WaveStar's architecture is based on a unique high-speed (155 Mbps) mid-plane data multiplexing bus, contributing to the system's flexibility and ease of operation.
"Aastra continues to demonstrate strong leadership in the North American high definition marketplace," said Tony Shen, President at Aastra Technologies. "Aastra products are the essential balance between cost effectiveness, return on investment and exceptional performance. As with all Aastra products, WaveStar leverages the broadcasters current investment in existing legacy networks, while allowing the flexibility to migrate seamlessly to emerging technologies."
Aastra also supplies NFL Network with its VideoRunner™ codec equipment to feed live standard definition game feeds and other production content between NFL Films and the NFL Network production facility in Culver City, CA. Up to 12 SDI channels of programming content is 4:2:2 compressed, multiplexed, and transported as ASI over a terrestrial IP MPLS network.
About Aastra Technologies Limited
Aastra Technologies Limited (TSX - AAH), headquartered in Concord, Ontario, Canada, develops and markets products and systems for accessing communication networks over the PSTN and the Internet. Aastra serves clients across North America and Western Europe. For more information on Aastra or its products, please visit the website at www.aastra.com/digitalvideo .
About NFL Network
NFL Network provides millions of fans of the great sport of football and the National Football League with a network to call their own. It takes 85 years of NFL history and combines it with the latest technology to bring television viewers sports entertainment at its highest level. To learn more, please log onto www.nfl.com/nflnetwork .
WaveStar, a registered trademark of Lucent Technologies Inc., is under license to Aastra Technologies Limited.
For further information contact:
Kim Kiley
Holus Bolus PR
401.816.0447
kkiley@cox.net
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