Invitel Delivers Network PVR, TimeShift-TV & VOD Services Using Espial MediaBase

    OTTAWA, July 28 /CNW Telbec/ - Espial(R) Group Inc. (TSX:ESP), a leader
in the delivery of digital TV software, today announced that Invitel
(http://english.invitel.hu/) Hungary (previously Vivendi Telecom) has
successfully launched and is now expanding its on-demand services using Espial
MediaBase (http://www.espial.com/products/media_base/) VOD servers. Espial
MediaBase provides Invitel's customers with on-demand TV services such as
Video on Demand, Network-based Personal Video Recording (NPVR) and TimeshiftTV
(TSTV). Invitel is the second largest service provider in Hungary and offers
telephony, Internet and data services to residential and business customers.
    Invitel started offering its InviTV service several months ago to
complement its core telephony, Internet, and data services. Invitel is using
Espial MediaBase to drive Video On Demand, Network PVR and Timeshift TV
services, sometimes known as Catch-up or Startover TV and Delayed or Replay
TV. A single hardware and software infrastructure helps reduce hardware
servers, storage, space requirements and costs, along with overall operating
costs of the system. The system integrator for this deployment was Smart Com
d.o.o., a key regional partner for Espial.
    "As we begin to scale our InviTV subscribers, we're pleased to have
chosen Espial MediaBase. This platform meets our requirements for scalability,
application performance and service continuity" said Aron Javorniczky, Head of
TV Services at Invitel. "As well, Espial MediaBase is a key ingredient in our
service differentiation strategy - it allows us to offer a leading edge number
of Timeshift TV and Network PVR channels. With this service mix, we're
confident we can build InviTV into a premium brand in the marketplace."
    "We are very pleased to be part of this deployment with Invitel, even
more so, to see the rapid growth in customer demand so early in their
deployment," noted Robert Hopkins, Vice President of Sales for Espial in EMEA.
"The Invitel success builds on our tradition of building lucrative on-demand
services for our customers using Espial MediaBase. With Network PVR (NPVR) &
TimeShift-TV support, operators can now offer an even richer set of services
using a unified video network infrastructure. In addition to movies-on-demand,
subscribers can access recordings of their favourite shows and also pause,
rewind and fast-forward live, broadcast TV. As content owners come to
recognise the benefits and security of NPVR, we expect to see increasing
demand for Network PVR and TimeshiftTV services."

    About Espial

    Espial provides intelligent and open digital TV software to service
providers in the cable, telecommunications and hospitality industries. Its
middleware, video-on-demand and browser solutions provide superior service
delivery, advanced service innovation tools and the ability to serve a wide
range of market segments - including over-the-top, IPTV, hybrid IP,
multi-dwelling unit and enterprise. With over 3.5 million licenses of its
patented TV software technology in use, Espial is a leading supplier of TV
software. Espial is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada. For more information
please call +1.613.230.4770 or visit www.espial.com.

    About Invitel (previously Vivendi Telecom Hungary)

    Founded in 1994, Invitel offers telephony, Internet, and data services to
residential and business customers in Hungary. Invitel is the incumbent
operator in 14 out of 54 primary service areas, where it has a stable cash
generative core telephony business. In the rest of Hungary, which represents a
significant growth opportunity following the liberalisation of the telecom
market, Invitel is an alternative telecom operator with a national backbone,
metropolitan networks and point-to-multi-point access system.

For further information: Inquiries from press or analysts: Kirk
Edwardson, Director, Marketing, Espial Group Inc., Email:
kedwardson@espial.com, Phone: (613) 230-4770 x1145