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Snell & Wilcox Quasar Ph.C Enables High-Quality, Cost-Effective Upconversion for Channel 4's New HD Offering

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HAMPSHIRE, U.K. -- March 25, 2008 -- Channel 4, a public service channel serving all areas of the U.K. and Northern Ireland, has installed eight Snell & Wilcox Quasar Ph.C HD upconverters to enable the new high-definition (HD) simulcast of the Channel 4 programming lineup. The Quasar Ph.C systems provide a seamless, cost-effective platform for Channel 4 to deliver upconverted standard-definition (SD) content where true HD is not yet available.

Channel 4 HD, which launched in early December 2007, is the U.K.'s first terrestrial HD simulcast. Channel 4 chose the Quasar systems as a key component in its strategy to bring HD programming to the market as quickly as possible, while laying the groundwork for future delivery of native HD content. As the world's first motion-compensated HDTV upconverter, the Quasar Ph.C. delivers twice the resolution of other systems to produce extremely clear and sharp HD outputs from a variety of SD inputs.

"It was critical for our upconverted material to look as good as possible in order for us to deliver the best-possible HD experience to our viewers. Hands down, the Quasar Ph.C provides the highest-quality images of any upconverter we tested, and at a reasonable price point," said Robert Luggar, technology projects and support manager of Channel 4. "In addition, the Quasar was the only system we evaluated that could enable AES embedding to be done in the box, an essential feature to us that cheaper modular converters could not offer."

"The Quasar Ph.C is specifically designed for broadcasters such as Channel 4, who are turning to SD upconversion as a cost-effective path to providing an HD offering but at the same time wanting to astonish their viewers with the highest-quality HD images possible," said Joe Zaller, vice president of corporate development at Snell & Wilcox. "We're pleased that we were able to provide an ideal solution for Channel 4 and play a role in the channel's expanded market share in the U.K."

More information about Snell & Wilcox products is available at www.snellwilcox.com.

Channel 4 is a public service channel broadcasting throughout the U.K. and the Republic of Ireland. Channel 4 is available on all digital platforms (terrestrial, satellite, and cable) as well as through traditional analogue transmission. Though commercially self-funded, Channel 4 is publicly owned and operated by the Channel Four Television Corporation established in 1990. Channel 4 also operates a number of other services, including the free-to-air digital TV channels E4, More4, and Film4, and an ever-growing range of online activities at channel4.com, including the broadband service FourDocs and Channel 4's bespoke video-on-demand service 4oD. The Film4 production division produces and co-produces feature films for the U.K. and global markets. More information is available at www.channel4.co.uk.

Snell & Wilcox designs and builds the world's most advanced systems for video playout, mastering, repurposing, infrastructure, and live production switching. Providing solutions that deliver immediate value while enabling a controlled and cost-effective transition to HD and file-based systems, the company serves a worldwide base of customers in the broadcast, postproduction, cable, satellite, mobile TV, and IPTV markets. In business since 1973, Snell & Wilcox maintains its U.S. headquarters in Burbank, Calif., and European headquarters in Hampshire, U.K. Additional offices are located in New York, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, and Russia. Further information is available at www.snellwilcox.com.

Press Contact: Susan Warren, Wall Street Communications, Tel: +1 631 261 1013, E-mail: susan@wallstcom.com

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Snell & Wilcox, Putting Pictures to Work, and Quasar Ph.C are all trademarks of the Snell & Wilcox Group. All other trademarks mentioned herein are acknowledged as the property of their respective owners.