FOX Sports Signs On with Level 3 for Vyvx VenueNet+ Services to Support Major League Baseball Game Delivery

BROOMFIELD, Colo., May 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:  LVLT) today announced that FOX Sports is using Level 3’s Vyvx VenueNet+ services to support the delivery of all Major League Baseball games that it broadcasts for the 2011 season. VenueNet+ combines Level 3’s sophisticated voice, video and data services into one streamlined package delivered from a single panel, reducing FOX Sports’ operational complexities and enabling more advanced communications options for the event delivery process.

“After using Level 3’s VenueNet+ services for the 2010 football season — including the Super Bowl, which was one of the most-watched events in history — we were truly impressed with the simplicity of the panel as well as the tremendous operational capabilities it enabled,” said Jerry Steinberg, senior vice president of Field Operations with FOX Sports. “We’re pleased to work with Level 3 to provide viewers with top-quality broadcasts for the 2011 baseball season.”

With VenueNet+, Level 3 is providing FOX Sports with live video backhaul services for all Major League Baseball broadcasts. As part of that service, FOX Sports is using Level 3’s JPEG 2000 compression, an integrated service that further simplifies the production and operational workflow for the customer while enabling high-quality broadcast encoding for video delivery from major league baseball venues back to FOX Sports’ production headquarters in Los Angeles.

Level 3 is also providing FOX Sports with high-speed Internet access directly from the VenueNet+ panel. This particular feature of VenueNet+ was added at the request of customers who noted that they were previously limited by a lack of reliable, high-speed connectivity options in venues throughout the country. Additionally, based on feedback from customers, each VenueNet+ installation includes integrated Level 3 Enterprise voice services.

“Our expanded relationship with FOX Sports is a testament to the strength of our VenueNet+ offering and Level 3’s commitment to consistently improving our services to meet our customers’ communications needs,” said Mark Taylor, vice president of Content and Media at Level 3. “VenueNet+ makes it easier for broadcasters to meet more of their communications needs from a single provider with the support of a Level 3 team that has extensive expertise in delivering live events seamlessly over the Vyvx network.”

For more information on VenueNet+ and Level 3’s advanced event delivery capabilities, please visit www.level3.com/Products-and-Services/Video/Vyvx/venuenet-plus.aspx.

About Level 3 Communications

Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE:LVLT, news, filings) is a leading international provider of fiber-based communications services. Enterprise, content, wholesale and government customers rely on Level 3 to deliver services with an industry-leading combination of scalability and value over an end-to-end fiber network. Level 3 offers a portfolio of metro and long-haul services, including transport, data, Internet, content delivery and voice. For more information, visit www.Level3.com.

© Level 3 Communications, LLC.  All Rights Reserved.  Vyvx, VenueNet+, Level 3, Level 3 Communications and the Level 3 Communications Logo are either registered service marks or service marks of Level 3 Communications, LLC and/or one of its Affiliates in the United States and/or other countries.  Level 3 services are provided by wholly owned subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc.  Any other service names, product names, company names or logos included herein are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

Some of the statements made in this press release are forward looking in nature. These statements are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs. These forward looking statements are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside Level 3’s control, which could cause actual events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements. The most important factors that could prevent Level 3 from achieving its stated goals include, but are not limited to:  the current uncertainty in the global financial markets and the global economy; a discontinuation of the development and expansion of the Internet as a communications medium and marketplace for the distribution and consumption of data and video; and disruptions in the financial markets that could affect Level 3’s ability to obtain additional financing.  Additional factors include, but are not limited to, the company’s ability to:  increase and maintain the volume of traffic on its network; develop effective business support systems; manage system and network failures or disruptions; develop new services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; defend intellectual property and proprietary rights; adapt to rapid technological changes that lead to further competition; attract and retain qualified management and other personnel; successfully integrate acquisitions; and meet all of the terms and conditions of debt obligations. Additional information concerning these and other important factors can be found within Level 3’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this press release should be evaluated in light of these important factors. Level 3 is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any such obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE Level 3 Communications, Inc.