Drake Unveils Its Highly Anticipated Drake Digital Freedom(TM) Cable TV Solution

Drake Unveils Its Highly Anticipated Drake Digital Freedom(TM) Cable TV Solution

American Cable TV Manufacturer Launches New, Downloadable Conditional Access Headend and Customer Premise Equipment System to Ease Digital Video Upgrades

FRANKLIN, Ohio, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- R.L. Drake, an American cable TV equipment manufacturer committed to designing and building highly innovative communications solutions for over 65 years, today announced the launch of its Drake Digital Freedom(TM) system, a totally unique digital video delivery platform designed to afford cable operators of any size the ability to effectively compete in the digital video marketplace. Drake Digital Freedom encompasses a powerful, end-to-end video service architecture that offers video service providers an affordable means to upgrade their existing analog networks with MPEG-4 and high definition (HD) cable TV services.

"For the first time, operators have a new, viable choice in conditional access systems. We've integrated cutting edge technologies into our Drake Digital Freedom system specifically to provide cable TV systems operators with the tools they need to compete at price points even the smallest operators can afford," said Jeff Huppertz, new President and CEO of R.L. Drake.

Drake Digital Freedom allows delivery of hundreds of SD and HD digital channels, enabling operators to offer premium services and increase revenue per subscriber, while continuing to support analog-delivered channels. Drake Digital Freedom takes advantage of MPEG-4 compression technology for maximum efficiency and quality and features FCC-compliant, open standard downloadable security (OSDS) and conditional access system, along with a dynamic Electronic Program Guide (EPG).

Drake Digital Freedom is the first manufactured digital platform to feature Beyond Broadband Technology, LLC's pioneering BBTSolution which establishes a secure communications path, and BBTPlus, which enables a package of highly secure content delivery from network transport through delivery to subscriber homes. Drake Digital Freedom is designed to overlay existing hardware and provides cable operators with a fully customizable migration path from analog to digital distribution, allowing operators to recover and manage broadband spectrum far more efficiently without the necessity of major new capital expenditures. Most cable networks are now available through the BBTPlus end-to-end package via satellite transport by Avail Media.

"We have successfully developed the first affordable, end-to-end, HD set-top system, that will radically alter the digital experience for cable operators of all sizes," said Bill Bauer, President and Chief Executive Officer of BBT. "The system uses less bandwidth, is MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 compatible, and is specifically designed to help operators migrate more efficiently to the new world of digital delivery and HD with maximum performance and minimum cost."

Drake Digital Freedom with BBTPlus is easy to set up and comes pre-configured for plug and play capability. Drake Digital Freedom headend architecture consists of a customizable combination of Drake transcoder, modulator and passive combiner devices networked with an InterTECH headend controller. Drake's new BBTSolution enabled HDDS24 set top box utilizing ST Micro chipsets, completes the value chain at the customer's premises, delivering HD, digital, or standard definition programming to subscribers. All Drake Digital Freedom headend systems are designed for simple deployment, offer a small footprint and are built, tested and shipped by Drake.

"The BBTPlus enabled Drake Digital Freedom system is truly a breakthrough in affordable digital technology that will allow cable operators of all sizes a way to compete with advanced services offered by telco and satellite providers," added Huppertz. "Simply put, the system is designed to minimize capital expenditures associated with digital upgrades, allowing for a quick, smooth and scalable transition."

Drake is offering special introductory incentives as well as a lease option on this revolutionary system. For more information, please visit www.rldrake.com.

Source: R.L. Drake

CONTACT: Todd Franke of Bob Gold & Associates, +1-310-784-1040,
todd@bobgoldpr.com, for R.L. Drake

Web Site: http://www.rldrake.com/

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