Products / Services

Avail Media offers new options for affiliates through growing systems integrator and reseller partner program

Reston, Virginia, March 31, 2009 - Avail Media, the only customer service-focused aggregator and provider of both linear and video on demand (VOD) MPEG-4 IPTV content, today announced the addition of Dascom Systems Group to the company’s growing sales channel partner program, as well as the companies’ first joint affiliate customer, Valley Telephone Cooperative of Raymondville, Texas. By partnering with Avail Media, Dascom will now be able to offer its services as a systems integrator for Avail Media deployments for new affiliates as well as those transitioning from other service providers, such as SES Americom’s IP Prime™ platform, from which Valley Telephone is converting its transport solution.

"We chose Dascom and Avail Media for our IPTV system based on the good reputations both companies have in the industry and the exceptional work Dascom has done for us in the past," said Richard Cavin, Network Manager for Valley Telephone Cooperative of Raymondville, Texas. "In addition to the good working relationship we have with Dascom, we talked with other telephone companies using similar IPTV equipment and decided that moving forward with the Dascom/Avail Media solution made the most sense for us."

As a result of the agreement, Dascom customers – whether new or undergoing a transition to a new video services provider – can now move forward with their IPTV deployments utilizing the Avail Media solution. Affiliates working with Dascom will gain access to Avail Media’s full content lineup, including hundreds of channels that are quality-encoded in MPEG-4, IP-encapsulated, and fully-encrypted. Plus, in addition to linear programming, Avail Media enables video on demand content and other advanced digital media services.

“As the primary systems integrator for SES Americom’s IP Prime™ deployments, we have a deep understanding of the system requirements for customers who will now need to make a transition,” said Scott Apfelbacher, Founder, Dascom Systems Group. “By partnering with Avail Media, we are able to bridge that gap and provide affiliates with easy access to linear and VOD content with the associated transport rights coupled with technology and service that is unmatched in the industry.”

Avail Media delivers an extensive content library, including transport rights from the top national programmers, including ABC-Disney, Turner, NBC Universal, MTV Networks, and Fox Cable Networks. Its linear programming is complemented by its VOD rights from the major Hollywood movie studios, such as Buena Vista/Disney, DreamWorks, Lionsgate Films, MGM, NBC Universal, New Line Cinema, Paramount, 20th Century Fox, and Warner Bros.

“Adding Dascom to our partner program allows us to offer affiliates expanded choices for deploying IPTV systems,” said Ramu Potarazu, CEO of Avail Media. “Affiliates want to work with service providers who can help them get their systems up and running quickly and can ensure that they will be able to deliver the highest quality product available. By offering an end-to-end solution that encompasses content, technology, and service, Avail Media is able to help ensure that our affiliates invest in deployments that are both streamlined and profitable.”

For over 50 years, VTCI has provided a full range of telecommunications services to rural communities in South Texas. Telephone service boundaries have grown from a farmer’s fence to a global telecommunications network. VTCI was first in the world to deliver DSL Broadband service to 100% of our subscribers and also the first in South Texas to offer Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH). VTCI offers a full range of telecommunications services in 17 exchanges. These 17 exchanges cover approximately 7,300 square miles and touch 19 counties in South Texas. For more information on VTCI, please visit http://www.vtci.net.

Dascom Systems Group, LLC is an audio/video and IPTV systems integrator based out of Woodbury, Minnesota. Since 1995, Dascom has been providing customers in corporate, education, medical, government, and IPTV markets with audio/video technology through distance education, video conferencing, and head-ends. In the IPTV market, Dascom has built more than 80 head-ends nationwide to date, ranging from full head-ends to local insertion. Through superior integration and key partnerships, Dascom has become the leading integrator of legacy and next-generation IPTV systems in the industry. For more information on Dascom, please visit http://www.dascom-systems.com.

Based in Reston, Virginia, Avail Media is the industry leader in providing managed content aggregation services through a fully-integrated, head-end infrastructure for the profitable deployment of IP video. Avail Media is the only company today to deliver to its affiliates a combined MPEG-4 linear IPTV, HD Overlay (MPEG-2/4) programming solution, and Video On Demand (VOD) solution. The Avail Media solution includes a full content lineup of live television programming with hundreds of channels, all quality-encoded in MPEG-4, IP-encapsulated, encrypted, combined with VOD, and designed for future value-added services. Avail Media's system has been designed for use by video providers of multiple types - whether triple-play, quad-play, or pure video play. For more information, please visit www.availmedia.com.