Trio of Cutting-Edge Integration Providers Ready to Connect Canadian Television Distributors with The Movie Network GO

Great Lakes Data Systems (GLDS), watchTVeverywhere (WTVE) and Synacor Offer Integration Services for TV Everywhere Platform, Giving More Companies the Ability to Launch TMN GO

TORONTO, June 4, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Astral's The Movie Network (TMN) today announced an innovative solution for Canadian television distributors interested in offering their customers access to The Movie Network GO, TMN's video-streaming service which also includes HBO GO Canada and TMN Encore GO. This centralized TV Everywhere integration option, currently offered by GLDS, WTVE and Synacor, enables television distributors to partner with an intermediary service that handles the back-office integration, including billing systems assimilation, authentication and entitlement services. This will in turn enable smaller, independent distributors who may not have the ability to invest in their own integration infrastructure to tap into an existing and cost-effective solution to bring the TMN GO service to subscribers.

"TMN GO adds tremendous value to The Movie Network subscriptions and we are dedicated to making the service available to all subscribers through our ongoing relationships with Canadian cable and satellite providers," said Domenic Vivolo, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales, Astral Television Networks. "With our new partnership with GLDS, WTVE and Synacor, more of our affiliate partners will be able to offer TMN's unparalleled premium content through the web and iOS devices as well as capitalizing on TMN's future platform rollout plans."

Since launching in February of this year, TMN GO, HBO GO Canada and TMN Encore GO have launched with Bell TV, Rogers and Cogeco Cable, ensuring that the service is now available to approximately 75% of the total TMN subscriber base.

With a sleek cinematic design and interface that offers superior functionality, TMN GO is a best-in-class service that offers customers access to more than 1,000 hours of premium content. Key features of the service include:

• Pick-up-and-play technology which allows users to start watching on one device and continue on another;
• A Watchlist function which lets users keep up with their favourite series throughout the run;
• Parental controls to allow users to manage the content that family members of every age have access to;
• Social networking features which allow users to "share" and "like" favourite titles instantly with friends over Facebook, Twitter and email;
• Multiple members of the household can enjoy the service with up to three simultaneous streams and five registered devices per subscriber household;
• The service stream over Wi-Fi, 3G and LTE  networks, allowing users to manage their data consumption;
• Adaptive Streaming which automatically switches video quality to ensure the best viewing experience available based on the user's Internet connection;
• Video Quality Control gives users control over video quality, allowing them to further control their bandwidth consumption.

TMN GO's selection mirrors the programming offering from The Movie Network OnDemand, HBO Canada OnDemand and TMN Encore OnDemand, with new content being refreshed weekly.

TMN GO is supported by the iPhone 3GS and subsequent models, iPod touch (3^rd and 4^th generation) and the iPad and iPad Mini (running iOS 5.0 or higher).

The TMN GO App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or via the website at www.tmngo.ca

The Movie Network is a pay television service available in eastern Canada. With premiere access to Hollywood hit movies, new and exclusive HBO content, critically acclaimed Showtime series and first-rate Canadian programming, this pay-television service presents Canadians with some of the best television entertainment available. The Movie Network service includes five 24-hour multiplex channels - The Movie Network, HBO Canada, MExcess, MFun! and MFest - which deliver diverse and entertaining programs in an uncut and commercial-free television environment. All five multiplex channels are also simulcast in High Definition and are joined by The Movie Network OnDemand, a Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) service, available in select areas across eastern Canada; TMN OnLine an Internet-based content streaming service available to BellTV, Rogers and Videotron subscribers; and TMN GO, a video streaming service currently available to Bell TV and Cogeco Cable subscribers. For more information, please visit www.themovienetwork.ca.

TMN GO and The Movie Network are members of the Astral family. Astral Media Inc. (TSX:ACM.A/ACM.B) is one of Canada's largest media companies. It operates several of the country's most popular pay and specialty television, radio, out-of-home advertising and interactive media properties. Astral plays a central role in community life across the country by offering diverse, rich and vibrant programming that meets the tastes and needs of consumers and advertisers. To learn more about Astral, visit astral.com.

SOURCE: THE MOVIE NETWORK

Scott Campbell
[email protected]
416-956-8648