Industry News

Wowza Media Server(TM) Pro 1.5 Blasts Barriers to Live H.264 Flash(R) Streaming

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - May 15, 2008 - Wowza Media Systems, emerging leader in streaming media, today announced the general availability of Wowza Media Server Pro 1.5, the latest version of its award-wining server software that removes the barriers to live H.264 Flash streaming, thanks to its exclusive support of industry-standard RTSP/RTP H.264 video and HE-AAC audio encoders.

All Wowza Pro 1.5 users, including traditional broadcasters, pure-play netcasters and service providers can use existing H.264/HE-AAC encoders to bring live SD and HD content to huge Flash audiences that constitute over 98% of all connected computers. There is no need for specialized Flash H.264 encoders.

In addition, users now have many options of readily available RTSP/RTP encoders in all price ranges that can be used for broadcast quality HD & SD Flash streaming. The compatible product list includes Apple QuickTime Broadcaster, Varasoft Wirecast, multiple models of HaiVison and Orban encoders and many others.

Wowza Media Server Pro 1.5 is already being deployed by broadcasters around the world. While the details of the deployments differ, the positive response has been universal.

"Thanks to Wowza, we finally have the opportunity to launch the H.264 live and on-demand streaming service using Flash. RAInet and Wowza will work together on building a market leading streaming platform," said Marco Nuzzo, Operations Manager with RAInet, an early adopter of the latest Wowza Pro release. RAINnet is the on-line arm of Radiotelevisione Italiana S.p.a. (RAI), the Italian public broadcaster.

"Wowza's ability to stream HE-AAC has a tremendous potential benefit to our streaming operations," commented Adam Hunter, Manager of Information Systems, Astral Media Radio GP. "With Wowza Pro, we can drastically improve the sound quality of our station streams and save money on bandwidth, without any major infrastructure changes. Beyond the benefits of audio streaming, we're able to experiment with more video streaming and enable synchronized events in our players. We evaluate a lot of streaming technologies and Wowza's system is something that we have found to be truly impressive."

Astral Media is Canada's largest broadcaster that owns 82 radio stations and 19 licensed television properties in 8 provinces serving 9 million Canadians.

Numerous other video and radio broadcasters use Wowza Pro server software for live and on-demand Flash streaming, including Bonneville Chicago Radio Group, Chilevision S.A., RTL Nederland, KTBS 3, TVW, and France's TVBase.

Wowza Media Server Pro 1.5 features many other new capabilities, including:

• Support for playback of H.264/AAC media files (.f4v, .mp4, .m4a, .mov,
  .mp4v, .3gp, and .3g2)
• Support for AAC audio re-streaming from SHOUTcast and Icecast
• Support for H.264 re-streaming from Apple QuickTime Streaming Servers
  (QTSS/Darwin)
• Full support for RTMP-based H.264/HE-AAC encoders
• Bi-directional support for Action Message Format 3 (AMF3)
  Wowza Media Server Pro 1.5 is available immediately at
  http://www.wowzamedia.com/store.html. Price for Wowza Pro Unlimited edition
  remains at $995. Upgrade to Wowza Pro 1.5 is free for the current holders
  of Wowza Pro licenses.

SEE WOWZA LIVE: Streaming Media East 2008, May 20-21, New York Hilton,
Booth #500.

About Wowza Media Systems
Wowza Media Systems, headquartered in San Jose, CA, is a developer of interactive streaming media server software. With the introduction in February, 2007 of its flagship product, Wowza Media Server(TM) Pro, Wowza has taken a leadership position in redefining Flash streaming. Wowza has not only radically changed Flash streaming economics, it has also revolutionized online media by introducing unique and exclusive capabilities that make live and on-demand video and audio, video recording and interactive Flash streaming feasible for a broad range of customers. These customers include Macy's, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Interoute, RAINet, and Astral Media. Wowza Media Server Pro is deployed by over 7,200 global licensees in entertainment, social media, advertising, enterprise, education, government, and Internet commerce. For more information, visit Wowza Media Systems at http://www.wowzamedia.com.

Wowza and related marks are trademarks of Wowza Media Systems. Adobe and Flash are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Biondo Communications
Biondo Communications puts technology to work by architecting enterprise Internet solutions essential for businesses worldwide. Biondo Communications offers a wide range of ground-breaking Internet products and services for markets including, but not limited to: communication, education, entertainment / media, insurance, non-profit and retail.