Tele Columbus and Espial Achieve Success with Initial Results of Advanced TV Trial

Transforming the viewing experience worldwide, Espial and Tele Columbus today jointly announced a successful initial phase to an ongoing field trial of Tele Columbus’ next-generation, 4K ultra high definition ready video service, known as "Advanced TV," based on key Espial video solutions and integrated by the Espial Elite^TM systems integration team.

Conducted in select households within their footprint, the impact of the Tele Columbus next-gen navigation system has been remarkable. Trial participants show an extremely high approval of the new system’s clarity (83% favorable) and the Premium EPG's content (78% favorable). As a result, almost 70% of trial participants regularly use the system to discover content and learn about the TV program they ultimately choose to watch.

The Advanced TV trial leverages Espial’s G4 STB Client based on RDK, Espial Media Service Platform Backoffice, and Multi-screen solutions to support an ultra-high definition (UHD), 4K ready video platform with advanced PVR functionalities. The user experience is enhanced through Tele Columbus’ custom-designed, on-screen content guide known as "Premium EPG," featuring intuitive search - by program name, genre, actor information, etc. - with intelligent recommendations.

Among the world's foremost experts in deploying next-generation video solutions, the Espial Elite systems integration team delivered the Advanced TV trial in a matter of months. Advanced TV will include Tele Columbus' entire linear and on-demand video services on a single platform, while simultaneously expanding the visual experience to mobile devices throughout the home network. Through the integration of maxdome to its platform, Tele Columbus customers will have access to movies, series and documentaries from Germany’s largest online video library.

“The first phase of our Advanced TV platform trial has been an unqualified success, with viewer feedback on the new video services extremely positive,” said Stefan Beberweil, Tele Columbus Chief Marketing Officer. “Espial’s expertise in integrating best-in-class video technologies enabled us to get to first field trial stage in record time.”

“Given the highly competitive video environment in Germany and worldwide, Tele Columbus has seized the initiative by creating and launching a new set of advanced IP video services that their viewers love,” said Jaison Dolvane, Espial President and CEO. “We’re proud to help Tele Columbus transform their business through our industry leading software solutions and Elite systems integration services.”

About Espial (www.espial.com)

With Espial, video service providers create responsive and engaging subscriber viewing experiences incorporating powerful content discovery and intuitive navigation. Service providers achieve ‘Web-speed’ innovation with Espial’s flexible, open software leveraging RDK and HTML5 technologies. This provides competitive advantage through an immersive and personalized user experience, seamlessly blending advanced TV services with OTT content. With customers spanning six continents, Espial is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, has R&D centers in Montreal, Silicon Valley and the UK, and sales/support offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.espial.com.

About Tele Columbus (www.telecolumbus.com)

The SDAX listed Tele Columbus Group is one of Germany's largest cable network operators. Via its origins – individual regional cable network operators that were merged into Tele Columbus - the company dates back to 1972. Today, about 3.6 million connected households in Germany are served by Tele Columbus, primacom, pepcom, Deutsche Telekabel, Martens und KMS with TV signals and, increasingly, digital broadcast packages, Internet and voice connections provided via high-performance broadband cable. As a national provider with a regional focus and a partner of the housing industry, the Group is present throughout its core markets Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia as well as in numerous key regions in western Germany. In tune with current demand trends, the company is upgrading its networks in a hybrid fibre-optic infrastructure for super fast Internet connections of up to several hundred megabits per second with the state-of-the-art Internet transmission standard DOCSIS 3.0. The broadband cable caters to the entire range of innovative media applications from analogous, digital and high-definition TV to high-speed Internet and voice connections to telemetry services, tenant portals and interactive services. Beyond merely transmitting signals, Tele Columbus uses its own product platform in order to actively increase the programme offering and to develop additional services. Via its company HL komm, Tele Columbus also delivers powerful connections and network services to business customers.

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