BEK Communications Looks to Mariner's xVu Service to Better Manage TV Programming

Online, September 9, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Fiber to the Home (FTTH) Conference, Las Vegas, NV:

BEK Communications, the innovative telecommunications company serving south-central North Dakota, announced today their use of xVu as a means of gaining improved insight of their local programming. A key element of BEK's strategy as a multi-faceted telecom company is their exclusive hometown programming. Through BEKTV, BEK Communications broadcasts such specialized local features as BEK Sports, BEK Life and BEK Local Weather. This hometown programming model makes BEK unique in the IPTV landscape.

"Having the knowledge of local viewership trends is critical to managing our local programming on BEKTV," states Derrick Bulawa, CEO for BEK Communications. "We were looking for an effective means of gaining this insight, and Mariner's xVu product met that need. We strive to meet the interests and needs of our customers through our local programming and xVu has become part of the formula for doing that," Bulawa added.

Key Facts

• BEK Communications required a non-intrusive, reliable means of gaining insight into the viewership of their local specialty channels: BEK Sports, BEK Life and BEK Local Weather.

• BEK Communications will soon begin inserting BEKTV commercials into various programming on its TV service. The use of xVu is helping determine which programming is viewed the most and therefore would be the best in which to advertise.

• xVu helps BEK Communications with customer TV troubleshooting.

Supporting quotes:

"We are excited at the adoption of xVu by BEK to assist with enhancing BEKTV," says Curtis Howe, President and CEO of Mariner. "The BEK Communications business model is a little unique in IPTV in that they create, manage and deliver local content. It is very important to them. Live Better in Your Hometown is something they take to heart and we are pleased to be able to assist with their local programming pursuits through our xVu tool set."