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Ascent Media and BT Form Strategic Alliance for International Switched Video Services in London and New York

Ascent Media Group, LLC (AMG), and BT have entered into a strategic alliance to form a global broadcast switching platform offering 24/7 connectivity between the world’s two largest video switch communities. The service enables broadcast and cable networks, sports networks, news agencies and enterprises located in New York and London to instantly import and export content between the video switches and features full access to all venues and television connections in both cities. The new platform offers transport services for standard definition (SD) media content with full-time, dedicated connections between Ascent’s Waterfront Switch in New York and the BT Tower Switch in London and leverages both companies’ video switches and booking centers. High Definition (HD) service between the switches is planned for introduction later in the year.

The International Switched Video Services feature dedicated ports on Ascent’s Waterfront Switch and BT Tower Switch, dedicated (24/7) JPEG 2000 transport stream at 50 Mbps with 2-channel audio at 7 Mbps. The service offering ensures quality transport for SD program material and includes booking support enabling customers to easily schedule switches from New York and London and share content via existing local access circuits.

“By joining forces with BT’s Media and Broadcast team, we are establishing an expanded global network that lays the groundwork for connectivity and capabilities that uniquely enable television broadcasters to operate more efficiently and cost-effectively worldwide while exporting their content to global destinations and distribution platforms,” said Tom Kuehle, EVP, Strategic Solutions of Ascent Media Group. “BT is a natural partner for Ascent Media Group and we believe there is tremendous potential for the networks.”

BT Media and Broadcasts VP of Global Sales and Marketing, Mark Wilson-Dunn, added, “This is an important step towards the formation of a global eco system to support the creation, movement and monetization of content, and we are delighted to be taking that step alongside Ascent Media Group.”

The alliance also benefits from the interconnection of Ascent’s Global Media Network with BT’s Global Media Network. Ascent and BT's network connection arrangement enables both companies to offer and share connections to the world’s most important consumer television outlets and advanced television production services that today's content creators demand.

AMG and BT collaboration platform began operations last week.

About BT

BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.

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

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

About Ascent Media Group

Santa Monica, California-based Ascent Media Group, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ascent Media Corporation (NASDAQ: ASCMA). With more than 40 facilities worldwide, Ascent Media Group is a leading provider of fully integrated, end-to-end services for the global digital media supply chain. Guided by our entrepreneurial culture, we blend breakthrough creative with emerging technologies to deliver some of the most advanced and innovative media solutions to help film and television studios, independent producers, broadcast networks, cable channels, advertising agencies and other companies make, manage, move and monetize their digital media.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Ascent Media Corporation and its subsidiaries or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: the risks and factors described in the statements and reports of Ascent Media Corporation filed or furnished with the Securities and Exchange Commission (and publicly available at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website, www.sec.gov); general economic and business conditions and industry trends; spending on television advertising, first-run content libraries and existing content libraries; the regulatory and competitive environment of the industries in which Ascent Media Corporation operates; rapid technological changes; future financial performance, including availability, terms and deployment of capital; changes in, or failure to comply with, government regulations, including, without limitation, regulations of the Federal Communications Commission, and adverse outcomes from regulatory proceedings; and competitor responses to Ascent Media Corporation’s products and services, and the overall market acceptance of such products and services, including acceptance of the pricing of such products and services. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Release. Ascent Media Corporation expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Ascent Media Corporation’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Contacts:

Ascent Media PR Contact
Gail Laguna
Tel: (818) 260-6229
E-mail: glaguna@ascentmedia.com
or
BT Newsroom
+44 (0)20 7356 5369

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