NRTC Signs Distribution Agreement with HBO

For Immediate Release
DATE: October 15, 2008
Contact: Andrea Cumpston
Phone: 703-787-7156
E-mail: acumpston@nrtc.coop

NRTC Signs Distribution Agreement with HBO®

Rural Telcos Can Now Deliver All HBO and Cinemax® Linear Feeds and On-Demand Services

October 15, 2008 [Herndon, VA]—The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) announced today that it has reached an agreement for video distribution rights with Home Box Office, Inc. (HBO). With this agreement, rural video providers that are NRTC members will have access to programming from the company’s two 24-hour premium television services—HBO and Cinemax, including award-winning original series, films, sports, documentaries and specials.

The agreement includes rights for NRTC members to distribute all 26 HBO and Cinemax MPEG-2 standard-definition feeds and all 26 HBO and Cinemax MPEG-4 high-definition feeds to subscribers via MPEG-4 delivery. NRTC members will also have subscription video-on-demand rights for these services.

"With HBO and Cinemax in our programming lineup, rural telcos can compete effectively against a growing number of providers that are offering consumers a bundle of three or four services, including voice, data and video," said NRTC President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Phillips. "Rural America is no different than its urban or suburban counterparts in its demand for quality video services. NRTC works diligently for its members to bring that same quality to home towns across the United States. I'm pleased that weve reached this agreement with HBO and can offer this programming to our telco members," he continued.

NRTC and the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association partnered in 2007 to offer rural telcos a complete programming selection for IPTV. With the addition of HBO and Cinemax, the offering will boast over 350 video and audio channels from companies such as A&E Television Networks, Disney/ESPN/ABC, NBC Universal, Fox News, Discovery Communications, Scripps Networks, MTV Networks, Lifetime Networks, Showtime Networks Inc., Starz Entertainment, Turner Networks, Comcast Network services, The Outdoor Channel and The Weather Channel.

About NRTC
The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) represents the advanced telecommunications and information technology interests of more than 1,400 rural utilities and affiliates in 47 states. Founded in 1986, NRTC provides products and services developed specifically to meet the needs of rural utilities and their customers, such as high-speed Internet access via satellite, full service Internet access and support, advanced metering infrastructure, SmartSCADA, wireless technologies, power quality products, long distance programs, mobile phone service, IP backbone services, direct broadcast satellite service (DBS) with DIRECTV and programming for Internet protocol television (IPTV). For more information, visit www.nrtc.coop.

About HBO
Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., providing two 24-hour pay television services – HBO and Cinemax – to over 40 million U.S. subscribers. The services offer the most popular subscription video on demand products, HBO On Demand and Cinemax On Demand, as well as HBO on Broadband, HD feeds and multiplex channels. Internationally, HBO branded television networks, along with the subscription video on demand products HBO On Demand and HBO Mobile, bring HBO services to over 50 countries. HBO programming is sold into over 150 countries worldwide.