DirecTV Deploys Harmonic Gear

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Harmonic Inc. (Nasdaq: HLIT) today announced that its award-winning DiviCom® encoders and statistical multiplexing systems have been further deployed by DIRECTV, Inc. DIRECTV, North America's largest all digital multichannel television service provider and long-time Harmonic customer, used the new digital headend systems to upgrade one of its broadcast facilities as well as expand its local market coverage. As a result of consistently superior MPEG-2 video encoding efficiency and picture quality, Harmonic has emerged as a leading provider of digital video solutions to direct broadcast satellite operators around the world. Today, Harmonic's base of satellite broadcast customers spans nearly every continent.

Once a satellite is launched, the available bandwidth is typically fixed for its entire useful life. The challenge for satellite broadcasters, therefore, is to increase the number of services within the fixed bandwidth of their network. The most cost-effective way to accomplish this, short of launching or leasing new transponders, is to improve the compression efficiency of the ground-based equipment.

Harmonic's focus on high-performance, real-time MPEG-2 compression has rendered systems that are crucial to the ongoing success of the satellite broadcast market. As a result of Harmonic's continued innovation, DIRECTV has upgraded its Los Angeles broadcast centre with the DiviCom MV50 encoders from earlier generation DiviCom encoders. The ultra-low bit-rate compression and industry-leading noise reduction features of the MV50 combined with Harmonic's advanced statistical multiplexing maximise the service carrying capacity of satellite and other bandwidth sensitive networks.

DIRECTV has aggressively grown its customer base by providing a broad range of programming with exceptional video quality. Upgrading its broadcast facility using Harmonic equipment allowed DIRECTV to increase the effective capacity of its network while maintaining the same stringent picture quality standards. The extra capacity is then available to deliver high-definition programming as well as channels from additional local markets around the country. "DIRECTV has set a standard for picture quality across all segments of the broadcast market. The scale of its customer base is a testament to the fact that video quality is key," said Anthony J. Ley, president and chief executive officer of Harmonic. "Harmonic's digital video technology, systems and services have been refined and market proven for nearly a decade. In that time, we have set the standard for real-time MPEG-2 compression performance and quality. Our deployments with DIRECTV, and other satellite broadcasters around the world, are a testament to that."

Harmonic Inc.

DirecTV Inc.