[February 22, 2011]

Accenture Enables Mediaset to Launch Over-the-Top Services for TV, PC and Other Mobile Devices

Accenture (News - Alert) (NYSE: ACN) has built a leading edge solution for Mediaset, Italy's largest commercial broadcaster, that will enable the company to provide innovative Over-the-Top services for TV, PC and other devices as part of the Mediaset Premium offer. The solution will be launched today. Terms of Mediaset's multi-year contract with Accenture were not disclosed.

The solution will allow Mediaset customers to enjoy a seamless consumer experience for accessing linear content, as well as non-linear services such as Catch-up TV, Video on Demand and Virtual Linear Channels on the TV set. The solution also enables Mediaset to deliver video content to additional platforms including PCs, mobile, gaming consoles and connected TVs, so that its consumers can create their own personal online TV experience.

Mediaset is leveraging the Accenture Video Solution to deliver both linear content through the broadcast network and advanced interactive services through an open broadband IP network on industry standard set top boxes. The Accenture Video Solution helps launch new non linear video services quickly and cost effectively by reducing the initial high cost of IT and infrastructure setup. It also supports several advanced applications such as targeted advertising, personalized content recommendation and adaptive streaming, depending on available bandwidth.

"We selected Accnture as our innovation partner because of its leading broadcast industry vision and its expertise and deep knowledge in communications network technologies, IT applications and video content delivery as well as management solutions," said Franco Ricci, managing director at Mediaset's RTI. "The ability to launch this new service represents a significant step forward for Mediaset to become a truly multimedia and multiplatform company while maintaining our content and technology leadership position in the current dynamic and competitive market."

The Accenture Video Solution was created at Accenture's Innovation Center for Broadband in Rome, where a team of specialists design and deploy complex solutions for leading media organizations and service providers around the globe. The Center serves as a hub for the development of leading-edge broadband and broadcast solutions based on Accenture's experience and knowledge, functional and technical skills, assets, methodologies and delivery capabilities.

"We are proud to team with Mediaset in this significant and ambitious undertaking. The project reinforces Accenture's work with leading broadcasters in pioneering innovation for their customers," said Francesco Venturini, global broadcast lead of Accenture's Media & Entertainment industry group. "The service we built for Mediaset enriches the traditional TV consumption experience and will bring a new level of engagement -- typical of the online world -- flexibility and greater consumer choice.

"In addition, this solution will enable new ways for Mediaset to enhance customer relationships, strengthen customer loyalty -- especially with younger generations -- and will boost advertising-generated revenues and content usage, all critical objectives for broadcasters as the role of the television continues to evolve from home television to personal television."

About Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with approximately 211,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world's most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$21.6 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2010. Its home page is www.accenture.com.

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