Re Contract

14 Apr 2005 07:30

Avanti Screenmedia Group PLC14 April 2005 Avanti Screenmedia Group plc ("Avanti Screenmedia"or "the Company") Contract Gain from European Space Agency Avanti Screenmedia, the market leading provider of retail television services,is pleased to announce it has been awarded a €4.3m contract, over 30 months, bythe European Space Agency (ESA). The project, called INSPIRE, provides for the installation of a new mode ofsatellite and wireless broadband Internet access technology in 600 communitiesaround the United Kingdom and Europe. It builds on work which AvantiScreenmedia's consultancy division has pursued for many years - the developmentof more efficient techniques to deliver video and data via satellite andterrestrial distribution networks. To date, the main beneficiary of this workhas been the screenmedia business which provides end-to-end digital videochannels to clients in the high street retail, pub and bar sectors. Thiscontract will greatly extend the applicability of this work into a range ofnew markets. Commenting on the contract, David Williams said: "This contract sits in thecontext of a huge amount of effort currently being made on a European basis toaddress what has become known as the "Digital Divide". We have created a productwhich has the price and functionality to solve that problem." He added: "Although our investors know about our consultancy division, thisundertaking marks a significant increase in our activity in this new area ofopportunity. Whilst there are some core areas in which this technologydevelopment enhances our screenmedia offering, overall it is quite a differentbusiness. I believe that there may be more significant developments in this areafor Avanti Screenmedia this year. This contract forms the foundation of what could become a very interesting standalone business. For that reason, Avanti Screenmedia is currently investigatingthe most appropriate corporate structure within which to take advantage of thisvery exciting new development, and I am hopeful of delivering to shareholdersthis year some unexpected value." For further information please contact: David Williams, Chief Executive Avanti Screenmedia Group plc 020 7749 1600Jacqui Graves/Peter Binns Binns & Co PR Ltd 020 7786 9600Mark Percy Seymour Pierce 020 7107 8000 Notes to Editors About Avanti Screenmedia Avanti Screenmedia is the leader for provision of bespoke screenmedia to the barand high street retail markets. It provides services in pub and bar, retail andshopping mall sectors. Avanti Screenmedia is unique in its ability to provideall elements of a screenmedia service - network, creative, media sales - usingskilled and dedicated in-house resources, which reduces risk and cost andimproves quality for clients. Avanti also operates a consultancy and R&Ddivision specialising in multimedia applications development. It providesconsultancy to a variety of operators and agencies such as the European SpaceAgency, the British National Centre (a division of the DTI), Eumetsat andInmarsat. The Company was admitted to AIM on 9 July 2004. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange