Chello Scores a Touchdown with NFL/chello Kicks Off First Live Webcasts of American Football

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (PROTEXT) - Chello broadband n.v. (chello), www.chello.com, Europe's first and leading broadband Internet service provider and an operating company of United Pan- Europe Communications N.V. (UPC) (Nasdaq: UPCOY; AEX: UPC), today announced it will be the first broadband Internet service provider to webcast live American Football games from the National Football League (NFL). The NFL games will initially be tested with chello's subscribers in the Netherlands at www.chello.nl. The NFL webcasts will utilise chello's recently announced revolutionary technology, ClearBand, which captures, encodes and broadcasts full screen, TV quality images from any video source (i.e. videotape, VCR, digital video camera) in real time. chello's users will be able to view one live NFL game per week, plus other archived-games on demand. Alongside the live webcast, chello and NFL will provide an interactive information section where fans may look up facts about American football, including rules, player profiles and team stats, at any time. The chello portal will make NFL games available on a live and near video on demand (NVOD) basis allowing subscribers to view games whenever they choose. Games will be offered at no charge in the early part of the autumn NFL season, during which time chello and the NFL will conduct extensive research to evaluate users' reactions to the experience of viewing full-length NFL games on their PCs. In addition, chello will deliver NFL specific non-game content, including highlight programmes from Emmy Award-winning NFL Films. These will include: NFL Review, a weekly 30-minute programme which recaps every game and previews upcoming games; A Beginner's Guide to American Football, with a 30-minute introduction of the rules and responsibilities of each player; NFL Bloopers; Super Bowl Moments, a series of one minute capsules that revisit the most memorable and historic Super Bowl action; and Play Football Vignettes, a series of 30 second videos explaining the basics of the game. Mike Bracken, vice president production and development of chello, says, "The combination of chello and NFL validates chello's broadband content and media presence as the world's leading convergence service. Never before has such an important global sports brand committed to distributing its content in such a targeted, innovative fashion. We are delighted to offer the very best NFL content to our growing numbers of users across Europe. This move shows that chello is a leading broadband Internet company capable of extending the reach of leading brands in a way that does not conflict with existing broadcast agreements." Tola Murphy-Baran, senior vice-president market development of NFL Enterprises, comments, "The NFL has always been on the forefront of new technology and innovative ways to reach fans. We are looking forward to working with chello, a true innovator and leader in the field, to test this ground-breaking effort. The NFL played a key role in making the U.S. satellite TV industry a viable and competitive entertainment medium with the 1994 introduction of NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM), the out-of-market subscription TV package. "In the same way, we hope to accelerate broadband enabled Internet services. The power of NFL programming will help drive the deployment of broadband and further increase our non-U.S. fans' interest and access to NFL football internationally." Roger Lynch, president and cfo of chello, says, "We are constantly improving and updating chello content and technology and this partnership with the NFL further underpins chello's commitment in delivering the best broadband Internet experience in Europe." Mark Schneider, chairman of chello and chairman and ceo of UPC, comments, "UPC is delighted with this partnership between NFL and chello. This new way of Internet entertainment offered via satellite makes it clear that UPC and all its subsidiaries are really working hard on the realisation of being the most innovative communications company in Europe, offering fully integrated services via broadband." chello's subscribers will also be able to find information about NFL via hyperlinks between chello's portals and NFL's US and European websites -- www.nfl.com and www.nfleurope.com. About chello broadband n.v. chello broadband is Europe's first and leading broadband Internet service provider and is commercially active in five countries. It has the largest reach in Europe and is committed to delivering next-generation, 24-hour accessible Internet services and broadband content to consumers via high-speed cable modems, with no phone bills -- ever! It provides a turnkey service to cable operators and other broadband networks based in Europe. The company is an operating company of United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC), with headquarters in Amsterdam and offices in Amsterdam, London, Paris, Vienna, Hamburg, Brussels and Oslo. By providing unparalleled communications services, chello broadband delivers m@ximum Internet through cable with minimal cost. chello(TM) is a registered trademark of chello broadband n.v. About UPC N.V. Headquartered in Amsterdam, UPC is the most innovative broadband communications company in Europe and owns and operates one of the largest pan-European groups of broadband communication networks. UPC provides cable television, telephony, high-speed Internet access and programming services in 12 countries across Europe and in Israel. As of July 31, 1999, UPC's systems passed approximately 8.7 million homes with 5.8 million basic cable subscribers. In addition, UPC had 133,900 residential telephony lines and 13,600 business telephony lines, as well as 56,300 residential Internet subscribers and 2,600 business Internet subscribers. UPC completed an IPO in February 1999 and its shares are traded on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange ("UPC") and NASDAQ ("UPCOY"). UPC is a consolidated subsidiary of Denver based UnitedGlobalCom, Inc. ("United"), (Nasdaq: UCOMA). Microsoft has an interest of approximately 7.8% in UPC. About NFL Enterprises and the NFL NFL Enterprises is a division of the NFL responsible for enhancing fan enjoyment of the game through innovative programming and distribution. It serves as the new media and technology arm of the NFL with three business divisions: NFL SUNDAY TICKET, NFL Interactive and NFL Films. In addition, NFL Enterprises runs NFL International. The NFL has always been at the forefront of sports and entertainment. It was the pioneer in sports marketing and licensing with the creation of NFL Properties in 1963, decades before other sports leagues began co-ordinated marketing efforts. The NFL is also the sports leader in new media and technology. In 1994, the NFL launched NFL SUNDAY TICKET, the first sports subscription-based programming package available via satellite TV. In addition, the NFL was the first American sports league on the Internet in spring of 1995 with NFL.com, one of the most heavily visited websites. The NFL is the most popular sports league in the U.S. Unsurpassed TV ratings, fan surveys and in-stadium attendance records all indicate the NFL's unparalleled success in the sports world. The NFL's 31 teams each play a 16-game schedule from September to January, in addition to playoffs which culminate with the world-famous Super Bowl. More than 130 million Americans and 800 million worldwide annually watch the Super Bowl, making it the highest-rated TV program. The NFL is also very popular internationally with more than 180 countries worldwide having access to games. Cities around the world have hosted NFL teams in American Bowls since 1976. The NFL also runs NFL Europe League, a six-team all European league, including the Amsterdam Admirals who are enjoying an emerging fan base. ots Original Text Service: chello broadband n.v. Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Ross Sampson, vp communications of chello broadband, +31-20-778-8288, or ross@chello.com; or Julia Crawford, Senior Account Executive of Edelman PR Worldwide, +44-171-344-1342, or jcrawford@edeluk.com, for chello broadband; or Henrietta Hirst, Director of Group Corporate Communications of UPC N.V., +44-171-518-7980, or hhirst@upclondon.com; or NFL media, Brian McCarthy, Senior Manager of Corporate Communications of National Football League, 212-450-2069, or mccarthyb@nfl.com Web site: http://www.chello.com http://www.chello.no http://www.chello.at http://www.chello.be http://www.chello.fr http://www.chello.nl http://www.upc.nl http://www.nfl.com http://www.nfleurope.com http://www.nflsundayticket.com Subscribers please note that material bearing the slug "PROTEXT" is not part of CTK's news service and is not to be published under the "CTK" slug. 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