CONTACT: Thomas Dima 212.459.1605 thomas@cablepositive.org

CABLE POSITIVE PARTNERS WITH TVN ENTERTAINMENT TO RAISE HIV/AIDS AWARENESS THROUGH NEW VIDEO ON DEMAND (VOD) EDUCATION INITIATIVE

Adelphia, Buckeye, Charter, Comcast, Mediacom, Metrocast and RCN Plan Nationwide Launch Beginning May 2005

NEW YORK, NY - March 30, 2005
Cable Positive, the cable and telecommunications industry’s AIDS action organization, will launch a new video on demand (VOD) service featuring HIV and AIDS educational and informational programming in May 2005.  This service is available free of charge to all cable operators. TVN Entertainment, a leading provider of on demand television programming, management and delivery solutions, is making the Cable Positive initiative possible by underwriting the total cost for encoding and transport of information.  The two organizations are uniting in an effort to continue Cable Positive’s work to increase AIDS awareness, promote HIV prevention and reduce stigma surrounding the disease. 

Cable Positive and TVN Entertainment have confirmed distribution from Adelphia, Buckeye, Charter, Comcast, Mediacom, Metrocast and RCN multiple system operators representing more than 12 million VOD enabled homes nationwide.

“TVN is proud to take Cable Positive’s HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention efforts to a new level using the On Demand platform,” said Kurt Heisler, Vice President of Affiliate Sales, TVN Entertainment.  “We are pleased to take this first step in utilizing the On Demand platform for social awareness for this incredibly worthwhile project with our industry’s AIDS action organization.”

Comcast represents more than half of the VOD enabled homes who will be able to access this important lifesaving HIV/AIDS programming.

“Having worked alongside Cable Positive for many years, Comcast knows firsthand the excellent job they do in disseminating important information about HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness, “said Page Thompson, Vice President and General Manager of Comcast ON DEMAND.  “We’re pleased to be able to support this creative idea to provide this critical information on Video on Demand for people to access in their homes at a time that is convenient for them to watch it.  It’s a great use of our ON DEMAND product.”

Video on Demand is available to the majority of Comcast customers across the country and the Cable Positive programming will be available free of charge beginning in May.

Initial programming on the service will include the documentaries, AIDS in the 21st Century, The Grim Reaper: HIV + Club Drugs and Coping with HIV Drugs: A Personal Story, as well as health and medical news stories provided by Healthology and news segments on drug use and HIV transmission. The programming will be expanded and updated regularly to include segments on the 4th Annual Positively Outstanding Programming (POP) Awards honoring exceptional HIV/AIDS-related programming and educational updates based on Cable Positive’s education program – AIDS in the Workplace.

The catalyst for utilizing video on demand as an educational tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS was a brainstorming session with Cable Positive’s Southern California chapter in the summer of 2004.

“We are grateful to Charter’s Craig Watson, Bob Gold & Associates’ Bob Gold and Time Warner’s Deane Leavenworth and the activists in our Southern California chapter for identifying this new technology as an avenue for continuing our work in the fight against HIV and AIDS,” said Steve Villano, President + CEO of Cable Positive.  “They’ve clearly demonstrated how dedicated volunteers working together through their socially responsible companies can make an enormous difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

To launch this service, please contact Kurt Heisler, TVN at 818.295.4534.

About TVN Entertainment Corporation
TVN Entertainment, a video on demand (VOD) content solutions company, is a leading provider of on demand television programming, management and delivery services. TVN currently offers more than 2000 hours of VOD programming from over 70 content providers. In addition to comprehensive programming services, TVN Entertainment offers the only single-source management and distribution solution for VOD, including content aggregation, packaging, encoding, asset management and transport via satellite to all video service providers. TVN Entertainment has been chosen as the VOD solution for many leading MSOs and telecommunications companies, including Adelphia, Bresnan, Buckeye, Blue Ridge, Cablevision, Charter, Comcast, Insight, Mediacom and Verizon.  For more information, visit www.TVN.com.

ABOUT CABLE POSITIVE
Cable Positive is a national non-profit organization that was founded in February 1992 by three concerned cable executives with the mission of organizing cable’s resources in the fight against AIDS. Cable Positive will mobilize the talents, resources, access and influence of the cable and telecommunications industry to raise HIV/AIDS awareness; support HIV/AIDS education, prevention and care; and strive to end stigma by creating a more compassionate climate for people whose lives have been affected by HIV or AIDS. Cable Positive has grown to include supporters from every major cable network, multiple system operator, cable system, hardware manufacturer, trade association, media publication, and affiliated industry vendors and suppliers. Since 1992, Cable Positive has raised more than $10 million in the fight against AIDS. For more information about Cable Positive, call 212-459-1502 or log on to www.cablepositive.org.