CANAL+ Group and Pace claim IPTV World Series Award

CANAL+, the leading pay-TV operator in France, and Pace, the leading independent developer of digital TV technologies for the global payTV industry, have jointly won an IPTV World Series award for the ‘Best Hybrid Broadcast-IP Video Delivery Solution or Service’. The award was presented for +LE CUBE, Europe’s first Satellite / IP hybrid set-top box to use the Ethernet port for VOD services, at this year’s IPTV World Forum Awards Dinner on Wednesday 25^th March at The Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London.

The +LE CUBE set-top box was recognised by a panel of leading industry experts as the best technology solution to support the delivery of video over both IP and non-IP video networks in parallel. +LE CUBE is a hybrid HD PVR with a low audibility 320 GB hard disk drive providing the ability to record up to 100 hours of HD programming. In addition to Ethernet port, the +LE CUBE supports USB and HDMI and has Dolby Digital audio outputs. The IP connection allows progressive download of VOD (CANAL+ ON DEMAND and CANALSAT ON DEMAND) whereby content is buffered onto the HDD.

Maxime Saada, SVP Marketing CANAL+ Group commented on the award: "The +LE CUBE set-top box was designed specifically with our subscribers in mind. Customers expect a great range of services packaged in a stylish hub and that’s exactly what we’ve delivered. +LE CUBE is a future-proof hybrid product, that’s extremely deserving of the ‘best hybrid solution’ title.”

Mathias Hautefort, President of Pace France said: "Pace’s relationship with CANAL+ Group stretches back over 20 years and we’ve always worked hard to deliver innovative solutions to help them grow their business. The +LE CUBE set-top box stands as testament to Pace’s strength in delivering hybrid IP technology and CANAL+’s forward thinking approach to serving up services their customers want. The IPTV award recognises this success and constitutes fitting industry recognition.”

Roll-out of the +LE CUBE set-top box began on November 4th, 2008

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About Pace plc

Pace plc (LSE:PIC) is a leading technology developer for the global payTV industry, working across satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms.

Pace has one of the world's most experienced specialist engineering teams, developing intelligent and innovative products and services for both payTV operators and retail markets across the world.

Following the acquisition of the set-top box and connectivity solutions business of Royal Philips Electronics in April 2008, Pace employs over 900 people in locations around the world, including France, the USA, India and Hong Kong. Pace's international headquarters are in Saltaire, West Yorkshire, UK.

For more information on Pace, please visit www.pace.com

About CANAL+ Group

CANAL+ Group is the leading pay-TV operator in France with more than 10.5 million customers subscribing to a wide range of services including CANAL+ and CANALSAT.

Within its range of services is LES CHAÎNES CANAL+, the first multi-channel premium service in France, available on satellite, cable, digital terrestrial television and all ADSL networks, featuring five premium content channels built around the leading premium general-interest channel, CANAL+. CANAL+ Group also produces a variety of theme channels dedicated to subscribers’ favourite interests, including films (CinéCinéma), sport (Sport+, Infosport), news (i>Tele), TV series (Jimmy), documentaries (Planete) and programs for young people (Piwi, Teletoon).

CANAL+ Group also distributes CANALSAT, a multichannel service available on satellite, cable, ADSL, DTT (through a minipack) and adapted for third generation (3G) mobile phones.
CANAL+ Group is a major producer of French pay-TV channels and, through STUDIOCANAL, makes a significant contribution to the financing, acquisition and distribution of films.

A pioneer in new technologies, in Spring 2006 CANAL+ Group became the first pay-TV operator in Europe launch HD programmes by satellite. Today, with13 HD channels, CANAL+ Group has the largest service package in the French TV market.

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