BROOMFIELD, Colo.--BUSINESS WIRE--Level 3 Communications, Inc. NASDAQ: LVLT today announced its collaboration with Microsoft Corp. to deliver live and on-demand high definition HD, three-dimensional 3D streaming for both PC and television using the Level 3 content delivery network CDN, Microsoft Silverlight for playback and Internet Information Services IIS Smooth Streaming for delivery. The technology will be demonstrated at the National Association of Broadcasters NAB Show in Las Vegas on April 12-15 at the Microsoft booth # SL220.

�Companies like Level 3 help developers use their existing skills to create unique experiences that run across many and varied devices.�

The demonstration will show how 3D content can be made available quickly as IIS Smooth Streaming content and delivered via Level 3’s CDN over the Internet and watched on a PC with Anaglyphic glasses using Silverlight. It will also show how 3D live or on-demand content being played back in Silverlight can be delivered via HDMI to the new generation of 3D TVs and viewed with Polarized or Active Shutter glasses.

A number of companies collaborated to enable this demonstration, including:

• Film and TV production company, TVN GROUP, which captured live HD 3D content in Germany.
• Digital media preparation company Inlet Technologies, whose Spinnaker^TM real-time streaming appliance encoded the HD-SDI 3D output into IIS Smooth Streaming.
• Microsoft, which developed IIS Smooth Streaming and Silverlight.
• THX Ltd., whose THX^® Media Director™ drives switching between 2D and 3D playback settings automatically. NAB demo will also feature complete THX Certified Display and home audio system.
• Level 3, which will deliver the content using its London Broadcast Encoding Center and global CDN during a live demonstration at NAB.

“This technology opens up a world of content to 3D streaming and offers new possibilities for event delivery starting as early as this year – major live sporting events or concerts streamed right to your television or computer in 3D,” said Peter Neill, senior vice president of Content Markets at Level 3. “Combined with the work of our partners, Level 3’s broadcast encoding and content delivery experience and significant network scalability have helped make this delivery possible.”

“Microsoft is pleased that Level 3 has invested support in Silverlight and the next-generation application development platform,” said Brian Goldfarb, director of the developer platform group at Microsoft. “Companies like Level 3 help developers use their existing skills to create unique experiences that run across many and varied devices.”

For more information on Level 3’s Media services, please click here or visit www.Level3Delivers.com. Level 3 will be at NAB in Las Vegas on April 12-15 to discuss its broadcast delivery capabilities. In addition to the demonstration in the Microsoft booth, Level 3 will have a booth in the South Hall – SU9506Z in the Destination Broadband Pavilion.

About Level 3 Communications

Level 3 Communications, Inc. NASDAQ: LVLT 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. 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.

Forward-Looking Statement

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; disruptions in the financial markets that could affect Level 3’s ability to obtain additional financing; as well as the company’s ability to: increase and maintain the volume of traffic on the network; successfully integrate acquisitions; develop effective business support systems; defend intellectual property and proprietary rights; manage system and network failures or disruptions; develop new services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; adapt to rapid technological changes that lead to further competition; attract and retain qualified management and other personnel; 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.