SaskTel to upgrade platform for an improved Max experience

September 2, 2010 – SaskTel today announced a platform upgrade for Max™ Entertainment Services that will deliver new features and an improved customer experience. Powered by Microsoft Mediaroom, the upgraded Max service will initially be available to new Max customers starting September 13, with delivery to existing Max customers beginning in October.

With upgraded Max service, customers can expect:

• a new Interactive Program Guide that provides picture-in-picture, allowing the viewer to see other channels and watch the current channel all while browsing the Guide;
• multi-room Max Digital TV Recorder (DTVR) allowing customers to record a show on one set-top box and watch it later in another room;
• remote DTVR programming from the Web or select mobile devices (coming soon);
• faster channel changes and seamless navigation among live TV, recorded programs and Video On Demand;
• more personalization and better parental controls (including the option to prevent individual channels from appearing in the channel guide, leaving only the channels viewers want to see);
• new games and applications (including redesigned news, weather and sports information).
  

SaskTel Max customers can watch a video on channel 998 to see the new features.

“Max has become a signature SaskTel service that offers great value,” said Bill Boyd, Minister Responsible for SaskTel. “This upgrade will provide an improved Max experience to new and existing Max customers.”

“We’re very pleased to deliver this platform upgrade to our Max customers across the province,” said Ron Styles, SaskTel President and CEO. “With an all-new program guide, new robust DTVR capabilities and a host of other improvements, our Max customers can expect a Max service that is more flexible and convenient than ever before.”

The upgrade to existing Max customers will begin in October and is expected to be complete in all communities by early 2011. Customers will be notified by email and letter in advance and will receive installation instructions and new remote controls by mail.

The six previously announced Max expansion communities for 2010 (Humboldt, Lloydminster, Martensville, Melfort, Melville and Warman) will receive Max this fall and will have the upgraded platform at launch.

About SaskTel
Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corporation (SaskTel) is the leading full service communications provider in Saskatchewan, with $1.15 billion in annual revenue and more than 1.4 million customer connections including more than 550,000 wireless accesses, 543,000 wireline network accesses, 225,000 Internet accesses and 77,000 Max™ (TV) subscribers. SaskTel offers a wide range of communications products and services including competitive voice, data, Internet, entertainment, national security, messaging, cellular, wireless data and directory services. In addition, SaskTel International offers software solutions and project consulting in countries around the world. In 2009, SaskTel contributed more than $651 million to the Saskatchewan economy through dollars spent with Saskatchewan-based suppliers and sponsorships to non-profit organizations. SaskTel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have a workforce of approximately 4,800 employees.

For media inquiries only, please contact:

Andy Tate, SaskTel Media Relations
Phone: (306) 777-4548
E-mail: andy.tate@sasktel.com