BT Ensures NBC Continues To Service Wimbledon Coverage To The US

BT Ensures NBC Continues To Service Wimbledon Coverage To The US

WASHINGTON, June 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BT Media and Broadcast has been contracted by NBC for the 2005 and 2006 seasons to bring weekend coverage of Wimbledon to tennis fans across the US. NBC has relied on BT to bring the Grand Slam event's programming to the US since 1979.

BT transmits the Wimbledon footage from London to NBC New York via BT's global fiber network. From New York, the matches and match highlights are uplinked and broadcast across the US. BT Media and Broadcast is also providing an off-air confidence feed which allows NBC to monitor the transmission services live from their headquarters.

John Ruane, Manager, Sports Broadcast Operations from NBC said: "We rely heavily on BT to make sure our audience is kept up to date on the news and highlights coming out of Wimbledon during the tournament. We have confidence that our content will be transported efficiently and cost effectively."

Bill McNamara, general manager for BT Media and Broadcast, the Americas says: "Tennis fans across the US will continue to enjoy high quality footage of Wimbledon during the tournament thanks to NBC and BT. NBC's extension of the contract for the next two seasons is proof that we continue to deliver and offer competitive solutions that make sense."

About BT

BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions serving customers in Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific. Its principal activities include networked IT services, local, national and international telecommunications services, and higher-value broadband and internet products and services.

BT consists principally of three lines of business:

* BT Retail, providing a comprehensive range of communications and
related services to more than 20m UK consumers and businesses.

* BT Wholesale, providing network services and solutions within the UK to
more than 600 fixed and mobile operators and service providers
including the provision of broadband and private circuits.

* BT Global Services, providing networked IT services to meet the needs
of multi-site organizations globally. BT Global Services operates in
more than 130 countries and also offers international carrier services.

In the year ended 31 March 2005, BT Group's turnover was 18,623 million pounds sterling with profit before goodwill amortization, exceptional items and taxation of 2,085 million pounds.

BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group.

For more information, visit http://www.bt.com/aboutbt

About BT Media and Broadcast

BT Media and Broadcast (BTM&B) is the digital media and broadcast services arm of BT, which is responsible for the provision of fully managed broadcast services and the development of the commercial opportunities presented by digital content. Its international customer base includes broadcasters and content and rights owners within the television, film and media industries, along with the corporate and government sectors.

BTM&B provides bespoke satellite and fiber-based solutions, using sophisticated digital content and data management technology, to transport and manage video, audio and data. Delivering live broadcasts from major international events, providing digital terrestrial TV (DTTV) networks and direct to home (DTH) satellite platforms and storing and securely distributing video content to broadband devices are just some of the areas in which BTM&B excels. An industry pioneer, BTM&B aims to deliver the highest quality of service, flexibility and efficiency through advanced technology and industry expertise.

BTM&B is part of BT Global Services. BT Global Services is BT's business services division, which serves multi-site organizations with European operations.

For more information, please visit: http://www.bt.com/broadcast

Source: BT Media

CONTACT: Cheryl Gale, +1-617-475-1571, Cheryl@marchpr.com, or Liz
Swenton, +1-617-475-1572, Liz@marchpr.com, both of March Communications for BT
Media

Web site: http://www.bt.com/
http://www.bt.com/broadcast

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