European Broadcasting Union Successfully Executes on Streaming Strategy for Major Sports Events With Cisco Videoscape Media Processor

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS--(Marketwire - Sep 7, 2012) - IBC -- Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced that Eurovision -- the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) business, operations and network arm -- deployed Cisco's Media Processor, part of the Cisco Videoscape™ TV services delivery platform, to bring European viewers thousands of hours of live streamed coverage from the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Cisco® technology formed an integral part of the EBU's live streaming platform, www.eurovisionsports.tv. During the Games, more than 3,000 hours of EBU members' programming from live HD feeds were encoded in multiple bit rates for adaptive streaming on the site.

To support the growing demand for video streaming during the London 2012 Games, Eurovision deployed Cisco's Media Processor, a cornerstone of the Acquisition Suite, and an important part of the Videoscape™ platform.

The Cisco Media Processor family offers multiple streaming options from single- to multi-format, standard definition (SD) to high definition (HD), and streaming to any device; from set-top boxes, IP connected TVs, tablets, smartphones and PCs. It supports streaming to the latest platforms, including iPhone, iPad, feature phones, smartphones, Microsoft Smooth, and Adobe Dynamic streaming.

Cisco's technology enables EBU to quickly adapt the profiles to its broadcasters' requests and can automatically optimize the resolution, bit rate and metadata of video streams for the user's specific device characteristics and network conditions, helping to ensure a premium video experience over any IP network and on any device.

EBU Network Director Graham Warren said:
"Events such as the Olympic Games generate huge demand from consumers wanting to follow the action live, using whatever device is most convenient. This can represent a significant technological challenge as our systems need to adapt content to each endpoint and IP network to deliver a seamless, high-quality, live service. We have been very satisfied with Cisco's technology and look forward to developing our streaming services further."

Edwin Paalvast, senior vice president, Service Provider Group, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Russia, Cisco, commented:
"Demand for online video is growing incredibly quickly, with the latest Cisco Visual Networking Index predicting that video will make up as much as 54 per cent of all consumer Internet traffic by 2016. This growth, combined with the sheer variety of devices that will be used to consume video content, will mean that intelligent, adaptable technology platforms will become increasingly vital for the broadcast industry if it is to deliver a high-quality live experience. We look forward to continuing to work with the EBU and to build on the success of our initial deployment in the future."

Supporting Resources:

• Cisco Service Provider:
  http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns341/networking_solutions_service_provider_home.html
• Cisco Videoscape:
  http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns1043/networking_solutions_market_segment_solution.html
• Cisco Media Processor:
  http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/video/ps11488/ps11791/ps11806/overview.html
• Cisco Visual Networking Index: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns827/networking_solutions_sub_solution.html#~overview,
• EBU London 2012 Games Coverage:
  http://www3.ebu.ch/cms/en/sites/ebu/contents/frontpage-news/news-2012/european-public-service-broadcas.html 

Tags/Keywords:
Cisco, Service Provider, video, VOD, IPTV, ABR, Videoscape, Media Processor, EBU, Eurovision, broadcast, tablet, smartphone, live streaming, multiscreen

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About the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)

The EBU serves 74 Members in 56 countries in and around Europe. Services to Members range from legal advice, technical standardization and development to coproduction and exchange of quality European content. The Eurovision and Euroradio networks deliver news, sports, events and music to EBU Members and other media organizations.

For more information about the EBU: www.ebu.ch and www.eurovision.com

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