Wave Entertainment Network to Use Harmonic's Solutions for On-Demand and Real-Time Video Delivery to Cruise Ships

Harmonic Inc. (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced that Wave Entertainment Network, part of SeaMobile Enterprises, a global provider of satellite connectivity, communications and content services to the maritime industry, will deploy a complete IP-based video solution from Harmonic for a new service that will provide a rich video programming lineup to cruise ships while at sea. The unique video offering is designed to enhance the traveler’s experience with a full on-demand library and broadcast content delivered via satellite, and will be launched later this year. A full complement of Harmonic products has been selected to power Wave Entertainment’s maritime video service. At a central headend on shore, DiviCom® Electra™ 5400 standard definition (SD) MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) multi-channel encoders will be used in conjunction with Harmonic’s LIVEcut™ scheduler to create assets for time-shifted viewing, while the CLEARcut™ storage encoding solution will prepare assets from offline sources. Harmonic’s Ingest Gateway software will gather programming acquired by Wave Entertainment from other content providers, and all of the assets stored on centralized library servers and then distributed to the ships. On board, a StreamLiner® video server will stream assets to viewers on demand and provide multicast broadcast services from playlists. Additional channels will also be broadcast directly to the ship for real-time viewing. NMX Digital Service Manager™ will be utilized to control and monitor the entire video infrastructure, and Harmonic’s service and support organization is providing system integration and training services. "Our goal is to implement a world-class video infrastructure for delivery of high quality programming to guests while they are on board cruise ships,” said Jeff Longbottom, Vice President of Engineering and Operations for Wave Entertainment Network. "Harmonic offers a complete solution for on-demand content preparation with its ability to aggregate assets from many sources, including tapes, DVD, live programming and pre-compressed content from other providers. The Electra 5400 H.264 encoders provide exceptional bandwidth efficiency, and the integrated compression and VOD offering from a single solution provider was an important consideration allowing us to more easily implement the system.” The cost-effectiveness, flexibility and efficiency of the on-demand solution were also important factors in Wave Entertainment’s decision-making process. Harmonic’s on-demand software and StreamLiner servers are based on off-the-shelf hardware and designed to easily support a VOD system of any size—from a single server for provisioning of dozens of streams to a large-scale cluster of servers that deliver tens of thousands of simultaneous streams. The StreamLiner used on board is a small and compact configuration that is easy to maintain and supports the entire ship’s needs. "Today’s advanced technology truly makes it possible for service providers to deliver high quality video programming anytime, anywhere—even in the middle of an ocean,” said Mark Renfroe, Vice President of Americas Sales for Harmonic Inc. "Wave Entertainment Network’s innovative implementation of on-demand and broadcast video services is an exciting application of Harmonic’s IP-based digital video solutions that will allow viewers to enjoy a full complement of programming during their journey.” Harmonic’s comprehensive IP-based on-demand video delivery platform encompasses real-time and offline content preparation, content ingest, intelligent asset distribution and edge processing, as well as broadband access for narrowcast applications in the HFC network. The Electra 5400 H.264 encoder is Harmonic’s latest generation SD platform and has been deployed by dozens of operators around the world to deliver ultra-high quality, ultra-low bit-rate video services. For the maritime industry, this is an exciting opportunity to access a direct, one-source solution that will give their guests unparalleled access to the entertainment they want most. For film and TV content providers, Wave Entertainment is the simple, secure way to extend the reach of their content to a whole new market. About SeaMobile® Enterprises & Wave Entertainment Network™ SeaMobile Enterprises is the dominant global service provider of at-sea communications, connectivity and content services. Our global VSAT satellite communications network provides broadband satellite and other services for more than 300 maritime vessels throughout the world. Combined with our superior technology and customer support, we provide always-on connectivity to deliver a vast array of services for businesses, government entities and consumers. Wave Entertainment Network, a SeaMobile® Company founded in 2007, is quickly becoming the leading provider of quality, innovative video entertainment to the maritime industry. With a state-of-the-art scalable broadcast infrastructure and a company leadership consisting of former DIRECTV executives, Wave Entertainment Network makes it possible for those at sea to enjoy programming and TV events like they would at home. Other SeaMobile Enterprises services include mobile phone voice and data, wireless for PDAs and laptops, access to printed versions of more than 500 daily newspapers from around the world, internet cafes and much more. SeaMobile Enterprises offers solutions for cruise lines, ferries, yachts, casino boats, container ships, fishing vessels, offshore platforms and the government and military. The company has offices in Seattle, WA, Miramar, FL, Paris, France, Rome, Italy, Athens, Greece, and Manhattan Beach, CA. For more information, visit www.seamobile.com and www.waveentertainment.net. About Harmonic Inc. Harmonic Inc. is a leading provider of versatile and high performance video solutions that enable service providers to efficiently deliver the next generation of broadcast and on-demand services including high definition, video-on-demand, network personal video recording and time-shifted TV. Cable, satellite, broadcast and telecom service providers can increase revenues and lower operational expenditures by using Harmonic’s digital video, broadband optical access and software solutions to offer consumers the compelling and personalized viewing experience that is driving the business models of the future. Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California with R&D, sales and system integration centers worldwide. The Company’s customers, including many of the world’s largest communications providers, deliver services in virtually every country. Visit www.harmonicinc.com for more information. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27(A) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21(E) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements related to: the deployment of a complete IP-based video solution for a new service that will provide a rich video programming lineup and which will be launched later this year, the use of multi-channel encoders in conjunction with Harmonic’s LIVEcut™ scheduler to create assets for time-shifted viewing, the use of the CLEARcut™ storage encoding solution to prepare assets from offline sources, software which will gather programming and which will stream assets to viewers on demand and provide multicast broadcast services from playlists, the broadcast of additional channels directly to the ship for real-time viewing, the use of NMX Digital Service Manager™ to control and monitor the entire video infrastructure, and the application of Harmonic’s IP-based digital video solutions that will allow viewers to enjoy a full complement of programming. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results could differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in Harmonic’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its recent Reports filed on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Harmonic does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements. EDITOR’S NOTE – Product and company names used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.