Cisco to Power Global Video Transmission of News Broadcasters’ Coverage of the 2008 U.S. Presidential Nominating Conventions

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Cisco announced today it has been selected to provide Internet Protocol (IP) video network infrastructure and video-encoding solutions to Genesis Networks for the broadcast video transmission of Reuters news clients’ coverage for the U.S. Presidential Nominating Conventions.

Genesis Networks, Inc. provides managed broadcast video transmission services for broadcasters and has nearly 200 points of presence, or transmission hubs, in 20 countries. With the Cisco IP networking infrastructure, Genesis is able to provide Reuters international news agency service with dynamic IP bandwidth, improved picture quality, flexibility, and cost savings over traditional satellite broadcast solutions.

The stability of the Cisco IP Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) infrastructure enables Genesis to provide a robust and reliable IP video network solution for high visibility events like the conventions, which are often broadcast under demanding network environments. Improved fiber quality has strengthened the appeal of IP for video transmission because the signal does not degrade over distance as it does with satellite transmission.

“For a broadcaster, quality is the ultimate defining mark,” said Brittany Neal, vice president of marketing and business development, Genesis Networks. “Our reputation depends on our ability to meet broadcasters’ expectations for availability and delivery at a competitive price point while maintaining the highest quality available.”

“The digital video broadcast world is expanding, and the Cisco IP infrastructure and encoding technologies are putting broadcasters and audiences in touch with each other across a multitude of multimedia avenues,” said Tony Bates, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco’s Service Provider Group.  “We are connecting consumers to the information, the data and the communications they demand, giving our customers the ability to reach more people in more ways, and giving people more ways to access the content they crave – anywhere, anyplace, anytime.”

Advantages of an IP Network are broad and include:
• Global reach, with improved latency and network stability
• Increased bandwidth, combined with reduced costs
• Ability to dynamically increase bandwidth in real-time through a web interface
• Ability to carry video, voice, and data on the same network
• Space savings compared to satellite solutions
• Increased HD picture quality and no weather-related image degradation
• Reduced costs and reduced carbon footprint with central editing and elimination of on-site broadcast crews

About Genesis Networks
Genesis Networks provides broadcasters, cable networks, production companies, and corporations with high-quality customised global video transmission services that are reliable, flexible, and affordable. The Genesis Networks platform is a next-generation, IP-based fibre and satellite video network with cutting-edge switching and compression technologies. With almost 200 locations worldwide and growing, many organizations can now take advantage of Genesis Networks services. The company’s network operations centre in New York City maintains the health and standards of the global network while the Genesis Networks proprietary software system, IRIS, allows clients to have remote, real-time network monitoring, scheduling, and control capabilities. Additional information on Genesis Networks and its innovative products is available at www.gen-networks.com.

About Cisco Systems
Cisco, (NASDAQ: CSCO), is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate.  Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

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