Servecast launch new Broadband Video Service for Man Utd

Manchester, UK and Dublin, Ireland (July 18, 2006) - Servecast, the leading provider of advanced streaming media solutions to the sports industry, today announced the re-launch of Manchester United’s broadband video service, MUTV online, using its Media Studio platform.

The broadband service is being re-launched in advance of the beginning of the 2006/2007 season to take advantage of the high level of interest following Manchester United’s success last season, International interest following the World Cup and pre-season friendly matches.

Powered by Servecast’s Media Studio platform, Manchester United will offer a premium subscription broadband service with an impressive array of live and archive video as well as exclusive online content. To commence the new service, MUTV online will show live coverage of the pre-season friendly against Preston North End taking place on July 29th. MUTV online will also offer subscribers coverage of the South Africa tour as well as live coverage of the opening friendly match against the current holders of the UEFA Cup Sevilla on August 12th to celebrate the extended and newly refurbished Old Trafford stadium. MUTV online will also offer additional and exclusive behind the scenes coverage, player interviews, press conferences, reserve and academy matches and kit reveal footage.

With the newly re-launched premium subscription broadband service, MUTV online seeks to reach a global fan-base and offer the fans all over the world a sophisticated and high value online video service with live and archive content, much of which is exclusive to the service. The service is to provide a complementary offering to traditional broadcasting and the club’s own TV channel (MUTV). Moreover, content that has limited rights value through traditional television broadcasting can be presented creatively and streamed through MUTV online thereby enhancing the revenue potential from its media assets.

Speaking today, Mark Hargreaves, General Manager of Manchester United Interactive stated “The trend to access multi-media sports content via broadband is growing at pace and provides a great chance for our young fans around the world to see the team play. Broadband offerings have become increasingly significant as an effective medium for promoting the club and extending brand-awareness while building a direct and intimate relationship with Man Utd fans. Ultimately MUTV online will become a service that will make fans as far apart as America and Singapore, feel part of a global Man Utd online community. Servecast has enabled us to build a highly sophisticated and intuitive broadband subscription service so we can grow subscribers and revenues by providing a high quality service for our fans.”

Also speaking today, Darach Deehan, CEO of Servecast said “Servecast has un-paralleled experience supporting the growth of the most successful premium subscription services for UK sport. Servecast has developed a total solution and service capability for the provision of a premium service that reflects the high demands of functionality, scalability and customer service that will ensure commercial success for MUTV online. Furthermore Servecast has pro-actively developed the marketing capability to reach fans of Manchester United football worldwide which will help to grow subscribers to the service and associated revenues.”

As par t of the service, Servecast has designed, built and setup the complete subscription and delivery platform for MUTV online. Servecast also created a branded viewing console consistent with the new Manchester United website. The payment interface and security/protection systems are implemented by Servecast and the club is provided with geo-targeting to control delivery of content to different locations around the world. Manchester United will also be provided with Servecast’s Media Studio CMS, a sophisticated content management tool to provide complete control over the addition and editing of content to MUTV online. Media Studio CRM will provide access to online statistics to analyse subscriber behaviour and devise future promotional campaigns based on this information.

About Servecast
Servecast is the leading specialist supplier of new media sportscasting delivering advanced streaming media solutions for the sports industry. Servecast’s Media Studio Platform enables sporting organisations and rights holders to exploit their media assets to new broadband and mobile connected audiences. Through the delivery of high quality audio visual sports content over broadband and mobile applications, Servecast’s Media Studio platform greatly enhances the global fan sporting experience and enables the delivery of significant new revenue streams to the rights holder. Servecast is the partner of choice of sports broadcasters such as BSkyB, At The Races, NASN, RTE and Setanta Sports and facilitates the most commercially successful sports webcasting services in Europe. Servecast customers include Sky Sports, Liverpool FC, Manchester United FC, Chelsea FC, Arsenal FC, Rangers FC, the Rugby Superleague, the Ice Hockey League and the GAA. Servecast is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland with offices in London and Paris.

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