Anystream to Show Integrated Nielsen Media Research Audience Measurement at NAB

Audio Watermarks Inserted Within Automated Agility VOD Content Production.

LAS VEGAS, NAB (April 25, 2006) – Anystream, the leading provider of multiplatform publishing solutions to the media industry, and Nielsen Media Research today will show the first production application of Nielsen audio watermarking technology seamlessly integrated with the Anystream Agility VOD automated video-on-demand content production solution.

The development follows an agreement announced by the companies in August to enable content providers, MSO’s and distributors using Anystream’s Agility VOD software to seamlessly apply audio codes to VOD content in support of Nielsen’s announced VOD Measurement Plan. The resulting solution is the first to enable VOD content owners to assess viewership levels and is an important step towards advertising-supported revenue models.

Agility VOD is an end-to-end, video-on-demand content production solution for small and large content providers looking to cost-effectively capitalize on exploding demand for VOD programming. It automates the key workflow components for producing standards-based CableLabs-compliant VOD content packages that will display and playout seamlessly in the program guides and set-top boxes of all major cable service providers. At NAB, Nielsen audio watermarks will be automatically inserted into VOD content for pick-up by Nielsen Meters and measurement via Feedpoint reporting systems.

In May 2005, Nielsen announced plans to incorporate VOD usage into its television ratings service from its national and metered market samples in phases starting summer of 2006. Nielsen will measure viewership of recently aired programming that is watched via VOD within seven days of its initial airing on traditional television. By 4Q 2006, Nielsen will measure VOD viewership of theatrical movies, pay-per-view events, and older television programs.

Nielsen will collect viewership of VOD programming using their new Active/Passive (A/P) meter which responds to audio codes embedded in the programming content. The A/P Meter System is the only complete multi-engine metering system that actively reads video and audio codes in programs, and takes passive audio signatures to ensure a backup so all programs are rated accurately. The A/P meter is being used in Nielsen’s local and national metered samples to collect viewing of timeshifted programs.

“With so many premium content providers rapidly expanding their Cable VOD offerings, the need for measurement technologies has never been greater,” said Scott L. Brown, Nielsen senior vice president of Strategic Relations, Marketing & Technology. “Since Anystream’s Agility is already widely used by these content providers, we are delighted to see their continued progress in integrating Nielsen watermarking technology.”

“Our clients have eagerly anticipated the advent of technologies like Nielsen’s audio watermarking that will enable them to definitively measure Cable VOD audiences,” said Fady Lamaa, Anystream vice president of business development. “This NAB demonstration is a significant step towards offering this integrated capability as part of our automated VOD content production solution.”

About Nielsen Media Research
Nielsen Media Research is the leading provider of television audience measurement and related services, worldwide. In the United States, Nielsen’s National People Meter service provides audience estimates for all national program sources, including broadcast networks, cable networks, Spanish language networks, and national syndicators. Local ratings estimates are produced for television stations, regional cable networks, MSOs, cable interconnects, and Spanish language stations in each of the 210 television markets in the U.S., including People Meter service in five local markets (10 markets by 2006) and electronic set-metered service in 51 markets.

Nielsen Media Research, outside the U.S. and through international partnerships, operates TV ratings panels in 45 markets. Nielsen Media Research also offers radio audience measurement, print readership, direct mail measurement and customized media research services outside the U.S. In addition, Nielsen Media Research provides competitive advertising intelligence information in the U.S. and in 29 markets worldwide. Through a network of affiliates, advertising intelligence coverage is extended to more than 70 countries, representing 85% of the world’s advertising spending.www.nielsenmedia.com

About Anystream, Booth SL2944
Anystream is an essential element of the new media broadcast strategies of some of the world’s largest media companies, including Time Warner, Viacom and News Corp. Anystream is the leader in providing easy-to-use, cost-effective solutions that maximize the value of video content. The company’s automated, mission-critical solutions tightly integrate with legacy production systems to extract video and enhance it with metadata for indexing, searching, deploying, advertising and distributing it through any system, to any device. Anystream has received numerous honors including the Frost and Sullivan Market Leadership Award, Presentations Magazine’s Standing Ovation Award, PC Magazine’s Technical Excellence Awards finalist, COMDEX Best of Show awards finalist, Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Hot 100” list and Deloitte and Touche’s “Fast 50.”

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