7DIG.L Regulatory News (7DIG)

20 Jun 2005 07:00

UBC Media Group PLC20 June 2005 June 20, 2005 BT LIVETIME CHOOSES UBC MEDIA AS EPG SUPPLIER UBC Media Group plc (UBC) is delighted to announce that it has been chosen tosupply and implement the Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) which will beintegrated into the new mobile entertainment service by BT Livetime. BT Livetime is a new service which delivers live television and radio to mobilephones using DAB technology. A pilot of the service through Virgin Mobile phonesbegins today. The service will provide customers with access to Sky Sports News,Sky News, a new music channel, Blaze, and more than 50 digital radio channels. UBC's Unique Interactive subsidiary will provide the technology which will allowusers to select the service they want to watch or listen to. Customers will beable to scroll through services, pause and rewind services and download contentthrough a data channel broadcast alongside the TV and radio stations. Unique Interactive was chosen in an open tender. The selection reaffirms thecompany's leading position in the supply of EPG software. Unique's radio EPG isnow licensed to Capital and Chrysalis in the UK. UBC expects most new radios inthe UK to be EPG capable from next year, and the control of the EPG technologywill be a crucial part in the digital radio value chain, as it is in the pay TVvalue chain. The EPG will provide the gateway to the radio services and otherinteractive services. Simon Cole, Chief Executive of UBC Media said: "This is a landmark deal for UBC.It underlines our leading position in the provision of radio EPGs, and allows usto be part of a hugely compelling consumer product, BT Livetime. I believe EPGswill soon be standard of all DAB devices, and will become the gateway throughwhich customers choose their listening, and businesses monetise their services". Chris Hutchings, director of ventures BT Wholesale said: "BT Livetime intends tobe Europe's first commercial mobile entertainment service to deliver broadcastTV and entertainment services direct to DAB-enhanced mobile phones and mediaplayers. We are delighted to be working with UBC Media on this venture." -ENDS- Inquiries about this news release should be made toTim Allan, Portland for UBC Media Group plc 020 7404 5344 BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK dial+ 44 20 7356 5369. All news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.bt.com/newscentre. About UBC Media plc UBC Media Group plc is a UK public company quoted on the London Stock Exchange'sAIM market. The Group is a market leader in the supply of content to the radio,Internet and digital television industries in the UK. In addition to theentertainment and travel news services provided to commercial radio, the Groupis the largest independent producer of radio programming for the BBC. About BT BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions servingcustomers in Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific. Its principal activitiesinclude networked IT services, local, national and internationaltelecommunications services, and higher-value broadband and internet productsand services. BT consists principally of three lines of business: • BT Retail, providing a comprehensive range of communications and related services to more than 20m UK consumers and businesses. • BT Wholesale, providing network services and solutions within the UK to more than 600 fixed and mobile operators and service providers including the provision of broadband and private circuits. • BT Global Services, providing networked IT services to meet the needs of multi-site organisations globally. BT Global Services operates in more than 130 countries and also offers international carrier services. In the year ended 31 March 2005, BT Group's turnover was £18,623 million withprofit before goodwill amortisation, exceptional items and taxation of £2,085million. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. BritishTelecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group andencompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange