VRSN: VeriSign Powers NBX Video for Sports Fans

VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN), the leading provider of intelligent infrastructure for the networked world, today announced that NBX, an online sports entertainment company, will use the new VeriSign Intelligent Content Delivery Network (CDN) to improve its user experience for online video.

VeriSign is enabling NBX to deliver high-quality, secure podcasts and videocasts to sports fans via the Internet. NBX.com offers online, interactive sports competition to avid sports fans through the NBX Fantasy Sportsbook, which combines fantasy sports betting with an activity-based social network and original sports media programming. Users simply register on the website, create a profile and can begin competing and communicating with each other instantly and it is free to join and play. In addition, NBX users have access to view all of NBX's sports media content, including blogs, videocasts and podcasts.

“Just like other media and entertainment companies, sports entertainment companies need a secure and cost-effective way to distribute the Internet-based content their customers are demanding,” said Todd Johnson, senior vice president for global marketing for VeriSign. “The VeriSign Intelligent CDN, through the latest streaming technology and Kontiki peer-to-peer (P2P) technology, enables NBX to offer the best possible experience for sports fans by providing them a choice in how their content is delivered.”

VeriSign Intelligent CDN enables entertainment companies like NBX to safely distribute their copyrighted content with digital rights management, at a lower cost and higher quality. With a legacy in Internet security, VeriSign is leveraging its scalable, global infrastructure to offer a range of streaming, download and play options in addition to the Kontiki P2P technology.

“We are always focused on providing our users with the most entertaining experience possible when they visit NBX.com,” said John Linney, executive vice president of product management for NBX. “As our user base continues to grow exponentially, so does the demand for our original video programming. VeriSign’s content delivery network dramatically helps us increase delivery speed while maintaining the highest viewing quality of the NBX video programs. Aside from being extremely cost effective, VeriSign helps make NBX a better interactive experience for our users.”

The audience of passionate sports fans looking for quality entertainment offerings online is massive and continues to grow. According to the Center for Media Research, the top five sports websites alone boast more than 60 million visitors. In addition, an estimated 20 million fantasy sports players were online in 2006, according to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association.

About NBX Inc.
NBX Inc. (No Boundaries Experience) offers the NBX Fantasy Sportsbook™ integrated with the MyNBX™ Social Network and unfiltered sports media programs, providing the ultimate, interactive sports competition to avid sports fans. All NBX offerings are completely free. The NBX Fantasy Sportsbook allows sports fans to “wager” using NBX points, not their hard-earned cash. Players compete for bragging rights, weekly cash and prizes plus a chance to qualify for free fantasy sports tournaments with $10,000 grand prizes.