SEPTEMBER 8, 2006 – IPTV advertising specialist, Packet Vision, has announced that the first trial site for its PV1000 delivery platform is Matanuska Telephone Association (MTA): a community-focused telecommunications cooperative in Alaska, US. MTA will use the platform to provide local IPTV ad insertion and it is planned for the system to go live at the end of the year.

MTA chose Packet Vision after finding cable-oriented equipment for local ad insertion uneconomical in terms of size, cost and support.

“We are excited about the opportunity to deploy a truly innovative advertising solution,” says MTA’s Keith Southard. “Our company is committed to delivering high-value solutions to our customers. With the advanced capabilities of our IP delivery platform it did not seem prudent to deploy essentially the same system with its limited capabilities as our competitors. We required much more: a solution that could deliver insertion capabilities to match the interactive nature of our IP delivery system. Packet Vision stands out as a vendor that understands ad insertion in the IPTV space."

“Unlike equipment developed for cable companies, where even a small organisation will have around 50,000 subscribers, our platform has been designed specifically for IPTV and to be viable for all sizes of network – from the largest to those of just a few thousand subscribers,” says Patrick Christian from Packet Vision.

“The cost to set up and maintain a cable-type solution is too high to allow smaller IPTV networks to make any money from ad sales. Our delivery platform, on the other hand, is provided as a service. Installation costs are minimal and we simply charge a transaction fee every time an ad impact is made. Our business model makes it easy for smaller IPTV network operators to get up and running with local ad insertion with minimal capital outlay and to start generating profits from advertising almost from day one. We are delighted that our solution fits MTA’s needs so well.”

Christian also comments that although initially MTA will use the Packet Vision platform for local ad insertion, this does not – as with cable-based equipment - represent the end point. Once the Packet Vision solution is part of the network the same platform can be used for higher value applications such as targeted or interactive advertising.

About Packet Vision

Packet Vision (www.packetvision.com), based in Reading, UK, specializes in the design of systems that enable addressable advertising for IPTV. Its delivery platform supports local ad insertion, interactive advertising and targeted advertisements that can, for example, be tailored to match the demographics of individual households and which may be altered – in real time – to reflect viewers’ reactions.

Founded in May 2004, Packet Vision is a privately funded organization, with the backing of a number of well known and highly successful investors, including Dr Andrew Rickman, OBE, founder of Bookham Inc; Jon Moulton, managing partner of Alchemy Partners; and serial entrepreneur Bob Jones. The company’s founder and chief technical officer is Patrick Christian, who was previously co-founder of VegaStream Limited, which was successfully sold to Pace Micro Technology plc within three years. The company has recently appointed Charlie Horrell, formerly chief operating officer at Thomson SA, to the position of chief executive officer.

About MTA

MTA was formed in 1953 to serve residents in the Palmer area, and now extends across Alaska's fast-growing rail belt region from Eagle River to Anderson and from Skwentna to Glacier View, nearly 10,000 square miles.

MTA delivers state of the art products and services, like digital television entertainment, wireless, high-speed internet, local telephone service, business communication systems, on-line directory, and long-distance. We also offer satellite phone service. For more information, visit MTA's website at www.mtasolutions.com

Notes for editors:
Packet Vision’s virtual press office is at www.packetvision.com.
For more information, interviews, photos and demos, please contact:
Maxine Ambrose, maxineambrose@ambrosecomms.co.uk, +44 1491 412944
or Jane Lee, jane.lee@dexterity.co.uk, +44 1273 470199
or Therese Penny, therese.penny@packetvision.com, +44 1865 391116