Orange and BesTV New Media to collaborate on the development of multimedia content services

Orange and BesTV New Media to collaborate on the development of innovative multimedia content services for television, PC and mobile phones

PARIS — BesTV, a subsidiary of the Shanghai Media Group (SMG), and Orange (Paris & NYSE: FTE) signed an agreement today with a view to collaborating over three-screen convergence services. The cooperation agreement includes research into new technology, collaboration over new media, joint investment projects as well as the broadcasting of content from the Shanghai World Expo.

SMG’s new media business is currently undergoing a particularly important period in its development and has recently made over 30 intellectual property breakthroughs in the fields of IPTV, mobile TV and broadband TV. For its part, Orange has been working since 2005 on the development and implementation of three-screen convergence services. The considerable experience of both companies forms the basis of the partnership between BesTV and Orange. Indeed, both companies share the same ambitions in terms of technological innovation and have agreed to work together to develop convergent services for three-screens (TV, mobile phones and PCs). Both parties have invested significantly in the development of new IPTV technology and a new cutting-edge suite of services will soon be launched by both parties.

Both BesTV and Orange also agree to jointly explore the potential of “Connected TV” technology, which allows the latest TV-sets to include built-in internet video streaming features. As two of the largest IPTV operators in the world, BesTV and Orange will collaborate to integrate online video streaming, social networking services and TV user interfaces into a new “Connected TV” experience. It will not only enhance user’s experience but is also expected to generate new sources of revenue.

In addition, Orange will broadcast content from the Shanghai World Expo 2010 within its European footprint by working with BesTV, the exclusive IPTV and mobile TV partner of the Shanghai World Expo 2010.