Alticast Selected by Korean Satellite Broadcaster Skylife to Provide Korea's First DVB-MHP Based Interactive TV Services

Alticast was selected as the primary DVB-MHP (Digital Video Broadcasting-Multimedia Home Platform) interactive television technology provider for Korea Digital Satellite Broadcasting (SkyLife), Korea's premier satellite broadcaster. The selection of Alticast's open standard solution will represent the largest deployment of DVB-MHP services worldwide and is a significant watershed event for the widespread adoption of the DVB-MHP standard. SkyLife services will expand from 76 video channels, 60 audio channels and 10 pay-per-view channels to accommodate an estimated two million subscribers by 2005. Initial deployments are scheduled for the middle of next year.

Companies that will join Alticast in fulfilling SkyLife's iTV requirements include Samsung, Lysis, and Imagine Broadband as well as Sun Microsystems, BBC Technology, Deutsche Telekom and AGENCY.COM.

SkyLife decided on Alticast's open standard DVB-MHP technology over proprietary systems like OpenTV and Canal+ Technologies because of its core advantages in scope of business plan, technical competence and pricing. Alticast's end-to-end solution was proven during benchmark evaluation tests performed late in October with exceptional results.

"It is definitely a heavy responsibility to launch the first digital satellite data broadcasting services in DVB-MHP, however it proves that Alticast is a industry-leading company, and we will do our best with SkyLife to show that DVB-MHP is a successful model for interactive digital broadcasting" says Alticast's President & CEO, Seung Lim Jee.

Another key factor in the decision was the low price of MHP set-top boxes (USD 155/unit). Alticast's high-performance middleware for the set-top box is the fastest on the market, reducing set-top box memory requirements in comparison to competitors' offerings. This will contribute to the proliferation of interactive television services in Korea and elsewhere by providing subscribers with greater access to better programming and services, while SkyLife, as the first satellite operator to deploy DVB-MHP technology, can export their know-how to other world markets.

Contract formalities with SkyLife will be completed by November 7, immediately followed by systems integration and setup. System installation is scheduled to be complete in time for preliminary field trials in mid-May 2002.

About Alticast Alticast is a pioneer in the field of interactive digital TV software development, providing end-to-end software solutions for the creation, delivery and reception of DVB-MHP interactive television content. Alticast's business areas include technology licenses, data broadcast server solutions, middleware for digital set-top boxes, and authoring tools. A privately owned company, Alticast has R&D facilities in Seoul, South Korea and a marketing center in Austin, Texas, USA, with offices in Beijing, China and Frankfurt, Germany. For more information on Alticast products and services, visit Alticast at www.alticast.com.

About SkyLife
SkyLife (www.skylife.co.kr) is Korea's exclusive satellite broadcasting corporation, delivering high-quality definition sound and data directly to viewers. SkyLife plans to invest 1.8 billion (USD) in digital broadcasting over the next five years. Major stockholders include Korea Telecom, KBS, MBC and Samsung Electronics, among others.

Alticast, Inc., 3001 Bee Caves Road, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78746. Tel: 512-225-6665; Fax: 512-225-6770.