Oct 08, 2009 08:00 ET
Level 3 First to Deliver Uncompressed High-Definition TV Signal From Major Professional Sports League Event to Broadcast Studio
Level 3 Delivering Broncos Home Games During 2009-2010 Season
BROOMFIELD, Colo. --(Business Wire)-- Oct 08, 2009
Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: LVLT) has announced that it is
delivering Denver Broncos home games from Invesco Field in Denver to the
game’s broadcaster using an uncompressed high-definition (HD) video
feed. Level 3 delivers the signal entirely on its fiber-optic network
and is the first in the broadcast industry to enable end-to-end delivery
of uncompressed HD video.
By leveraging its IP network – and the fiber-optic connection into
Invesco Field that Level 3 installed to deliver the 2008 Democratic
National Convention – Level 3 is delivering an uncompressed 1.5 Gigabit
per second feed from Denver to the broadcast studio of the network
carrying the game. Typically, broadcasters take the feed from the
cameras at a given sporting event and send it to a production truck;
from there the feed is compressed and delivered to the broadcast studio
(which Level 3 also will continue to deliver throughout the season while
the higher bandwidth feed is being evaluated).
Level 3 has been a proven thought leader and technology innovator since
it built its IP network and was a key participant in creating the High
Bit Rate Audio Visual IP (HBRAV-IP) standard that is driving the future
of uncompressed HD delivery. The standard is being developed by the
Video Services Forum, an international association composed of service
providers, users and manufacturers dedicated to interoperability,
quality metrics and education for video networking technologies.
“When you compress and uncompress a signal the quality becomes degraded,
if only slightly; however, an uncompressed video feed maintains the
integrity of a signal and allows broadcasters to deliver the highest
quality picture possible,” said Mark Taylor, vice president of product
and strategy for Level 3’s Content Markets Group. “Our goal is to keep
thinking about what’s on the horizon in terms of delivering the best
possible service that will support the next generation of video, and
this trial, as well as our work in developing an industry standard to
deliver IP video, reflect that goal.”
Quality content delivered
Leveraging one of the most-connected IP networks in the world and a full
suite of content delivery network and broadcast-delivery technologies,
Level 3 is uniquely positioned to provide true end-to-end solutions that
enable content delivery from “creation to consumption.” Level 3 brings a
proven track record of media distribution services and serves the
nation’s top broadcast outlets and many of the Internet’s top online
properties.
In its ongoing tradition of supporting the most watched – both online
and broadcast – sporting events in the world, a sample of the events
Level 3 has delivered this year to various audiences includes the Super
Bowl, the Tour de France, the IAAF World Athletics (Track & Field)
Championships, World Championship Swimming, and the French Open.
About Level 3 Communications
Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: LVLT) is a leading international
provider of fiber-based communications services. Enterprise, content,
wholesale and government customers rely on Level 3 to deliver services
with an industry-leading combination of scalability and value over an
end-to-end fiber network. Level 3 offers a portfolio of metro and
long-haul services, including transport, data, Internet, content
delivery and voice. For more information, visit www.Level3.com.
© Level 3 Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Level
3, Level 3 Communications and the Level 3 Communications Logo are
either registered service marks or service marks of Level 3
Communications, LLC and/or one of its Affiliates in the United States
and/or other countries. Level 3 services are provided by wholly
owned subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc. Any other
service names, product names, company names or logos included herein are
the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statement
Some of the statements made in this press release are forward-looking
in nature. These statements are based on management’s current
expectations or beliefs. These forward-looking statements are not a
guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties
and other factors, many of which are outside Level 3’s control, which
could cause actual events to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by the statements. The most important factors that could prevent
Level 3 from achieving its stated goals include, but are not limited to,
the current uncertainty in the global financial markets and the global
economy; disruptions in the financial markets that could affect Level
3’s ability to obtain additional financing; as well as the company’s
ability to: successfully integrate acquisitions; increase the volume of
traffic on the network; defend intellectual property and proprietary
rights; develop effective business support systems; manage system and
network failures or disruptions; develop new services that meet customer
demands and generate acceptable margins; attract and retain qualified
management and other personnel; and meet all of the terms and conditions
of debt obligations. Additional information concerning these and other
important factors can be found within Level 3’s filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this press release
should be evaluated in light of these important factors. Level 3 is
under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any such obligation to,
update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new information, future events, or otherwise.
Level 3 Communications, Inc.
Media:
Vince Hancock, 720-888-2146
or
Investors:
Mark
Stoutenberg, 720-888-2518