CANALSAT Expands Video Over DSL Service with Harmonic's MPEG-4 High Definition and...

CANALSAT Expands Video Over DSL Service with Harmonic's MPEG-4 High Definition and Standard Definition Encoders

- IP-Based DiviCom(R) Electra(R) Systems Provide Unparalleled
Compression Efficiency and Superior Picture Quality -
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
Harmonic Inc. (NASDAQ:HLIT) today announced that CANALSAT, part of
the CANAL+ Group and a fully-owned subsidiary of Vivendi, has expanded
its ADSL video service with MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) based digital video
solutions from Harmonic. The DiviCom(R) Electra(R) 7000 high
definition (HD) and Electra 5400 standard definition (SD) high density
encoders enable CANALSAT -- the leading digital pay-TV operator in
France with more than 10.5 million subscriptions -- to provide viewers
with superior quality video at ultra-low bit-rates. Using the Harmonic
solution, CANALSAT can enhance its service portfolio to meet
increasing demand for HD programming, expand the SD channel lineup and
increase the number of households that have access to its ADSL video
service.

The CANAL+ Group distributes more than 300 television channels to
viewers in France via multiple platforms, including digital
terrestrial television, direct-to-home satellite, ADSL and mobile
phone subscription services. CANALSAT is one of the world's largest
aggregated DSL service providers, delivering programming to consumers
through several major telecommunications operators' networks.

"Harmonic continues to demonstrate its leadership in providing
reliable and high performance compression solutions for both standard
and high definition programming," said Christophe Hennequin, Technical
Director of CANALSAT. "The ability to deliver a technically superior
H.264 solution is critical as we introduce new revenue-generating
services such as HD to our subscribers. Harmonic's new IP-based
Electra H.264 encoders meet our needs for provisioning the highest
quality video and give CANALSAT the compression efficiency
improvements that allow us to support more services to the home."

"Maximizing bandwidth utilization has become a top priority for
telco video service providers worldwide as demand for HD,
video-on-demand and higher-speed Internet access continues to grow,"
said Thierry Fautier, Director of Telco Solutions for Harmonic Inc.
"The deployment of Harmonic's highly flexible Electra 7000 HD and 5400
SD H.264 encoders gives CANALSAT the ability to significantly decrease
bit-rates in comparison with MPEG-2 while enhancing the viewing
experience. The multi-channel and multi-service capabilities of the
latest generation Electra H.264 multi-service encoders greatly
simplify operations, reduce costs and help enable a profitable video
over DSL business model."

Top tier telco operators around the world continue to prefer
Harmonic's Electra video encoding platform, which is today used to
deliver thousands of IPTV channels. Leading DSL-based service
providers that have selected Harmonic's powerful compression systems
include: Aliant, CANALSAT, HanseNet, Jazztel, PCCW, Portugal Telecom,
SaskTel, SingTel, T-Com Germany, Telekom Austria, Tiscali UK and
Yahoo!BB. Introduced in September 2006, the industry-leading Harmonic
Electra 7000 HD H.264 multi-channel encoder has been selected by top
tier satellite, telco and cable operators in North America, Europe and
Asia to provide the highest quality, ultra-low bit-rate compression
for more than 1,500 HD channels.

About CANAL+ Group

Canal+ Group is the leader in pay-TV in France with more than 10.5
million subscriptions to a wide range of offers including Canal+,
CanalSat and the former TPS, present in all networks, at home or
on-the-go, in order to reach all customers, whatever their way of
watching TV and whenever they are.

Within its offer, CANAL+ LE BOUQUET, the first multi-channel
premium offer in France, available via satellite, cable, digital
terrestrial television and ADSL networks, features six premium content
channels built around the leading premium general-interest channel,
CANAL+. CANAL+ Group also produces a range of channels dedicated to
subscribers' favorite themes which include films (CineCinema), sport
(Sport+, Infosport), news (i-Tele), series (Jimmy), documentaries
(Planete) and programs for young people (Piwi, Teletoon).

Canal+ Group distributes CANALSAT too, a multichannel offer
available on satellite, cable, ADSL, DTT through a minipack and
adapted for third generation (3G) mobile telephones.

CANAL+ Group, through its subsidiary StudioCanal, is also a
significant contributor to the financing, acquisition and distribution
of films.

A pioneer in new technologies and new access, CANAL+ Group is
among the first pay TV operators to have launched HD programs by
satellite in spring 2006 and today has the largest offer in the French
TV market with more than 10 HD channels. The Group has also been
committed, for the past three years, to the development of broadcast
mobile TV.

About Harmonic Inc.

Harmonic Inc. is a leading provider of versatile and high
performance video solutions that enable service providers to
efficiently deliver the next generation of broadcast and on-demand
services including high definition, video-on-demand, network personal
video recording and time-shifted TV. Cable, satellite, broadcast and
telecom service providers can increase revenues and lower operational
expenditures by using Harmonic's digital video, broadband optical
access and software solutions to offer consumers the compelling and
personalized viewing experience that is driving the business models of
the future.

Harmonic (NASDAQ:HLIT) is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California
with R&D, sales and system integration centers worldwide. The
Company's customers, including many of the world's largest
communications providers, deliver services in virtually every country.
Visit www.harmonicinc.com for more information.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27(A) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section
21(E) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements
related to: increasing demand for HD programming, expanding the SD
channel lineup, increasing the number of households that have access
to CANALSAT's ADSL video service, and demand for HD, video-on-demand
and higher-speed Internet access continuing to grow.

Our expectations and beliefs regarding the capabilities of
Harmonic's MPEG-4 AVC digital video solutions and the anticipated
benefits to CANALSAT may not materialize, and actual results could
differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements
contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and
uncertainties, including those more fully described in Harmonic's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its
recent Reports filed on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Harmonic does not
undertake to update any forward-looking statements.

EDITOR'S NOTE - Product and company names used herein are
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Harmonic
Sarah Lum, +1-408-543-2392 (Media Relations)
sarah.lum@harmonicinc.com
or
StreetConnect
Michael Newman, +1-408-542-2760 (Investor Relations)
hlit@stct.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008