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Press Release |
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VeriSign Supports Launch of Enhanced Sky Anytime on PC Application
Mountain View, CA and London, UK – December 18, 2007
– VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN), the leading provider of Internet infrastructure
for the networked world, has announced that its VeriSign® Kontiki® Delivery
Management System (DMS) has supported in the re-launch of British Sky
Broadcasting’s (Sky) broadband video download service, Sky Anytime on
PC. The service is now available through a web-browser interface, making
online content even easier to access and consume.
Since the launch of Sky Anytime on the PC in January
2006, Sky has evolved the peer-to-peer download service to enable access
via a web-browser interface. The new application will make searching
for programmes easier, as users can access the URL from any internet-enabled
PC without having to log-on to a desktop application. The service can
also be embedded within any website, meaning that content can be accessed
via multiple entry points, including Sky’s own portfolio of popular
websites. User log-in details will only be requested at the point of
download. The new system is supported by VeriSign’s award-winning Kontiki®
DMS technology, which will sit within the new thin-client application.
Griff Parry, director, On Demand, BSkyB,
commented: “At Sky we have moved into a multi-platform world in which
we put the power in the hands of the customers to define what, when
and how they watch. Sky continues to innovate and the content and service
enhancements to Sky Anytime on PC are a reflection of this. We know
that our customers want the best entertainment experience across platforms
and Sky Anytime on PC continues to offer the breadth and depth of content
that matters to them. VeriSign’s Kontiki Delivery Management System
plays a crucial role in supporting the delivery of an efficient download
service and a rich customer experience.”
VeriSign Kontiki DMS is a secure and low-cost content
delivery system that rapidly delivers compelling, rich media communications
to users. Its use of peer-to-peer technology enables the distribution
of large video files at significant cost savings over traditional CDN
models, and lightens the load on servers that otherwise may be overwhelmed
by the demands of delivering online video. With VeriSign, Sky’s online
users can rely on secure and reliable delivery of content, fast video
downloads and high-quality media experiences.
Stephen Condon, vice president of marketing at VeriSign,
commented: “Consumers are becoming increasingly demanding and are no
longer willing to make an appointment to view a programme; they want
to view it at their convenience from any device at any time. Consequently,
our content delivery strategy is to be able to broadly deliver on-demand
content to as many platforms and ultimately to as many viewers as possible.
Whether that’s through a desktop application or the web-browser, we
provide the means to efficiently and cost effectively deliver the content
they desire, in a format that can be viewed whenever and wherever they
want to watch it.”
The Sky Anytime service is principally a bonus service
to Sky customers with a wealth of great movies, sports, entertainment,
documentary and arts programming available as part of the core Sky TV
subscription. A range of additional programming, spanning a number of
genres, is also available to both Sky customers and non-subscribers
alike on a transactional basis. The service includes content from Sky
One, Sky Movies, Sky Sports, Sky Arts, Sky News, Sky Real Lives, The
History Channel®; National Geographic®; The Biography Channel® and the
Crime & Investigation Network®. Since the launch in January 2006,
VeriSign Kontiki DMS has delivered over three million content items
for Sky Anytime on PC users.
About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN), operates digital infrastructure
services that enable and protect billions of interactions every day
across the world’s voice, video and data networks. Additional news and
information about the company is available www.verisign.co.uk
About Sky
Sky is the UK’s leading entertainment company and operates the
most comprehensive multi-channel, multi-platform television platform
in the UK and Ireland. Around 21 million viewers in 8.7 million households
enjoy an unprecedented choice of movies, news, entertainment and sports
channels and interactive services on Sky Digital, the UK and Ireland's
most watched digital television service.
Sky’s aim is to offer customers unparalleled choice
in content, delivered through innovative and technologically-advanced
platforms that best serve the demands of today’s viewers. In delivering
entertainment through the TV, PC and mobile, customers have more control
and flexibility over what they watch and how they watch it.
Contacts
VeriSign EMEA Media Relations: Victoria Henry, vhenry@verisign.com
+44 (0) 20 8600 0723
VeriSign Media Relations North America: Allison Flerl, aflerl@verisign.com,
+1 650 452 4867
VeriSign Investor Relations: Nancy Fazioli, ir@verisign.com,
+1 650 426 5146
Weber Shandwick for VeriSign: Sneha Nagmoti, snagmoti@webershandwick.com,
+44 (0) 20 7067 0515
For Sky: Stephen Gaynor, stephen.gaynor@bskyb.com,
+4 (0) 20 7705 3446
Trademarks
VeriSign, the VeriSign logo, the checkmark circle, “Where it all comes
together” and other trademarks, service marks and designs are registered
or unregistered trademarks of VeriSign, Inc., and its subsidiaries in
the United States and foreign countries. Sky is a trademark of BSkyB
Ltd. The History Channel, The Biography Channel and the Crime and Investigation
Network are trademarks of A&E Television Networks, Hearst Communications.
National Geographic is a trademark of the National Geographic Society.
All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Statements in this announcement other than historical
data and information constitute forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve risks
and uncertainties that could cause VeriSign's actual results to differ
materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements.
The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainty
of future revenue and profitability and potential fluctuations in quarterly
operating results due to such factors as the inability of VeriSign to
successfully develop and market new products and services; customer
acceptance of any new products or services, including the Kontiki DMS;
the possibility that VeriSign’s announced new services may not result
in additional customers, profits or revenues; and increased competition
and pricing pressures. More information about potential factors that
could affect the company's business and financial results is included
in VeriSign's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including
in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2006 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. VeriSign undertakes no
obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the
date of this press release.
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