MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems signs up for Pilat Media's IBMS

Press Release: 5 January 2004

Pilat Media Global plc (AIM: PGB) the London-based supplier of business management software to broadcasters around the world, today announces the signing of a new contract for the supply of IBMS (Integrated Broadcast Management System) to MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems Sdn. Bhd., which is better known in Malaysia by its trade name "Astro", and is Malaysia's leading provider of Pay TV services.

Astro will be the 7th pay TV platform joining Pilat Media's 28-strong client-base which includes additional satellite-based broadcasters like BSkyB, Foxtel and Sky Latin America. It is Pilat Media's first major fully Asian client, which can potentially serve as a reference for additional broadcasters in the region.

The contract is for IBMS licences, both the content programming and the advertising sales and traffic parts, including customisation, integration, training and additional implementation support services together worth approximately £1 million. Additional revenues are expected post implementation from long term maintenance and support services. The work on this project commenced back in October 2003, under an interim consultancy agreement, to enable go-live in the first quarter of 2004.

IBMS is intended to streamline content acquisition, programme scheduling and media preparations for over 40 subscription channels as well as on demand and interactive services and emerging advertising sales operations. As part of the implementation, it will be integrated with the conditional access system of Canal+. With Astro planning to continue growing, IBMS is expected to scale up and accommodate even more channels and new digital services all under the same business management system.

Astro is the largest multi-channel TV platform outside Japan in Asia. It has reached its one millionth subscriber and looking for continued growth. IBMS will be installed at Astro's 'All Asia Broadcast Centre' (ABC) in Kuala Lumpur, which is reputedly the largest single digital broadcast and production complex in the world. Astro is a wholly owned subsidiary of ASTRO ALL ASIA NETWORKS plc, a company recently floated on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange.

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About ASTRO ALL ASIA NETWORKS plc:

ASTRO ALL ASIA NETWORKS plc, is Malaysia's leading cross-media operator specialising in the creation, aggregation and distribution of content across various platforms. It is the sole provider of subscription television services in Malaysia and houses the country's largest television programme production facility. ASTRO ALL ASIA NETWORKS plc., is the country's leader in commercial radio, and publishes Malaysia's most widely circulated magazine, the Astro Guide. Celestial Pictures owns the world's largest Chinese Film library and its digitally remastered films are released internationally through video and DVD distribution and the Celestial Movies channel. The strength of these complementary brands has extended into interactive and multi-media services including provision of content for mobile telephony.

Notes to editors:

Pilat Media is a UK company, currently 150 strong, operating from headquarters in London and offices in the USA, Australia and Israel.

Pilat Media's IBMS (Integrated Broadcast Management System) is a new generation software system for managing the business of broadcasting. It is the world's most comprehensive solution, designed to maximize revenues and reduce costs by integrating airtime sales, content programming and media trafficking across an unlimited number of different channels or stations, regions or even countries, all under a single centralized, scalable and digital ready system. Al these have been historically serviced by several, typically dispersed systems. IBMS' functional breadth, depth and flexibility to suit all types of broadcasters are unrivalled, making it the first truly global system of its kind.

IBMS' first version was originally developed by Pilat for BSkyB, to support their fast growing multi-channel programming needs. Pilat Media was established in 1999 to further develop and market the system as a generic product. IBMS's scope was subsequently more than doubled by adding the advertising sales functionality in partnership with Network Ten of Australia. Since then Pilat Media has rapidly established itself as a rising force in the market for business management software for broadcasters. Today, Pilat Media's software solutions have been selected by 35 broadcasters in Europe, North America and Australasia, representing a wide spectrum of business models, organizational size and transmission technologies - digital and analogue, on terrestrial, cable and satellite platforms. Additional clients include CTV (Canada), Discovery (International), five (UK), TV New Zealand, Playboy (US), Sky Italia and TV4 (Sweden).