KPN Signs Contracts with Over Sixty Channels for IPTV

February 7th, 2006 - KPN has signed contracts with over sixty parties to feature on its IPTV. Besides the Dutch national and commercial television and radio channels, these include several extra theme channels.

Negotiations are still ongoing with a number of parties. KPN expects to launch IPTV in the Netherlands in the second quarter of 2006. Further details about the full basic package, the add-on theme packages, the video-on-demand portfolio and prices will be announced at the launch.

KPN’s IPTV
IPTV means watching television via a broadband internet connection, the next step in the evolution of television. The signal is digital, so image and sound quality is better than that offered by analog television. KPN’s basic IPTV package will comprise at least 60 television and radio channels. In addition, subscribers will be offered extra services.

For example, with the push of a button they can order films and watch them straight away, catch up on missed programs, and opt into special theme packages with extra channels - music, adults-only, sports, news or kids. IPTV subscriptions will come with a personal recorder that can store up to 100 hours of recordings and enables viewers to take breaks during live TV broadcasts. An Electronic Program Guide gives an immediate overview of what’s on. Viewers can also set an alarm to warn them when their favorite show is about to start. Up-to-the-minute weather, traffic and news reports will be available on a special page.

Ludolf Rasterhoff, manager of KPN’s TV and Media business unit: "In signing these contracts, KPN is setting a major step in the rollout of its TV strategy. With KPN TV, people in the Netherlands can watch TV anytime anyplace, anywhere. We’re still negotiating with several more interesting parties, and expect to have further news in the coming months."

Wireless digital TV
On 18 October 2004, KPN launched its wireless digital TV product, which now numbers 184,000 (at the end of 2005) subscribers. The wireless offering comprises 23 popular TV channels and 17 popular radio channels. Subscribers can consult their on-screen TV guide for an overview of programs, what’s on now and what’s on next.

For more information about KPN please visit http://www.kpn.com