Norkring and NTV enter transmission network agreement

NTV has also entered a general agreement with Telenor Broadcast regarding development and operation of the service platform. The service platform consists amongst other things of encoding of pictures and sound, multiplexing, conditional access, electronic program guide and quality assurance of set-top-boxes. The operation agreement has a duration of 15 years.

As part of the transmission network contract Norkring will develop and operate the digital terrestrial transmission network for television in Norway. NTV will lease capacity from Norkring and sublet this capacity to NRK and pay-TV company NTV Pluss AS.

"The Norwegian digital terrestrial network for television will be one of the largest networks ever built in Europe. Norkring is now looking forward to the implementation," CEO Norkring, Nils-Jørgen Felledal says.

The digital transmission network will be developed in stages, one region at the time. The last region is due for completion bythe end of 2009. The first regions will be completed during fall 2007.

NTV has earlier carried out an international competitive tendering among potential suppliers. After a thorough assessment Norkring was summer 2004 considered the best candidate.

"Norkring has substantial competence on the terrestrial network in Norway and it is therefore reassuring that Norkring is responsible for the development," CEO NTV, Svein Aarvik says.

The transmission network agreement consists of three main elements: The basis network will cover 95 percent of the Norwegian households. In addition Norkring will develop a satellite shadow network. This network is being developed in order to cover households outside the coverage area of the basis network and households that do not have satellite coverage. The transmission network agreement also includes an option for additional two multiplexes.

For further information:

About Norkring:
Norkring is a fully owned subsidiary of Telenor ASA and is part of the business area Telenor Broadcast. Norkring is Norway's largest distribution company for terrestrial broadcasting. The company's head office is situated at Fornebu (Oslo) with regional offices in Hamar, Bergen, Trondheim, Kvitsøy and Lødingen. The company controls the national customer support center at Tryvann in Oslo. Norkring has a nationwide infrastructure consisting of 6500 transmitting units installed at 47 main stations and 2700 smaller stations.

About Norges televisjon AS:
Norges televisjon AS (NTV) is owned by Norsk Rikskringkasting AS, TV 2 Gruppen AS and Telenor Broadcast Holding AS. The three partners hold equal ownership shares in NTV.

NTV holds the license to and is a platform operator on the digital terrestrial network for television in Norway. The company has the technical and operative responsibility for development, launch and operation of the network. NTV was established 15. February 2002 by NRK and TV 2, with the aim of securing a license to establish and operate Norway's future broadcasting network for digital TV. On June 2. 2006 NTV was assigned the license to develop and operate a digital terrestrial network for television in Norway.

Facts about the digital terrestrial network in Norway:

• Department of Culture promoted the first white paper regarding digital television in June 1999.
• In June 2002 the Department of Culture issued the license for a digital terrestrial network in Norway.
• In February 2004 the Norwegian Parliament passed development of the digital terrestrial network and analogue shut off between 2007-2010.
• In Mai 2005 the Ministry of Transport announced that the license was to be republished.
• During fall 2005 Telenor Broadcast, NRK and TV 2 entered an agreement to apply for the license to develop and operate the future digital terrestrial network in Norway through Norges televisjon AS (NTV).
• NTV was the only applicant for the license and was assigned the license 2. June 2006.
• On commission from NTV Norkring will develop and operate the digital terrestrial network for television. NTV will lease capacity from Norkring.