PORTLAND, Ore., March 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Rentrak Corporation ( Nasdaq: RENT) today announced that Charter Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHTR) will begin using OnDemand Essentials(TM), a proprietary system created by Rentrak to measure and report aggregated video on demand (VOD) usage data. OnDemand Essentials delivers timely, in-depth, customizable analysis of anonymous on demand viewing data and will help Charter and its programming partners better understand viewer preferences for Charter OnDemand(TM) content.

"On demand programming continues to grow more and more popular with our customers, and since satellite cannot match our technology or content offering, Charter OnDemand is an increasingly important content distribution channel," says Robert Ladd, Charter Director of Marketing for On Demand and Pay Per View Services. "Rentrak will enable us to accurately measure and analyze on demand viewing preferences so that we can further enhance our on demand offerings for our customers."

Rentrak's engagement with Charter will begin with a one-year trial of OnDemand Essentials during which technical data feed protocols, reporting formats, staff training and other ramp-up activities will be conducted. The trial period allows Rentrak to customize OnDemand Essentials' capabilities to Charter and its customers and ensure smooth operations once aggregated data begins to be accumulated from Charter's digital cable customers.

Cathy Hetzel, senior vice president, OnDemand Essentials at Rentrak, commented, "Our engagement with Charter Communications, the fourth largest North American MSO, brings us to an important milestone, making Rentrak the only company in position to capture, analyze and report anonymous on demand viewership for 50 percent of all VOD-enabled US cable households. We intend to continue expanding our footprint with other top MSOs and become the industry standard for this growing market segment."

Charter OnDemand is an expansive library of movies, premium channel hits, sports, music and other programs that begin the moment you confirm your selection. Customers navigate a simple menu and pause, rewind and fast- forward using nothing more than their remote. Rented titles are available for 24 hours so customers can watch them as often as they like. Access to Charter OnDemand is free and available to over half of Charter Digital customers.

OnDemand Essentials provides cable operators, content providers (including broadcast/cable networks, studios) and advertisers with a real-time transactional tracking and reporting system to view and analyze on-demand content. The product is an extension of Rentrak's Essentials suite of business intelligence products customized for the entertainment industry. OnDemand Essentials clients have password protected, real-time, web browser- based 24x7 access to on demand consumer usage data at various access levels based on business and privacy rules. A sophisticated toolset aggregates and reports data across multiple vendors in one easy to use report system. Clients using the OnDemand Essentials system are able to instantly analyze and interpret their own business data to identify trends, program and promote more effectively by identifying trends, as well as track their performance against the broader business sector in which they operate. Cablevision, Comcast Cable Communications and Insight Communications are also using Rentrak's OnDemand Essentials service. Music Choice was previously announced as the first content provider to subscribe to the service.

About Rentrak Corporation

Rentrak Corporation, a Portland, Oregon-based information management and business intelligence company, is the developer of the Essentials(TM) suite of information management products that are used by clients in the media, entertainment, retail and manufacturing industries. Through the specialized vertical market editions of the Essentials web-based applications that are customized to the needs of each licensee, marketers are able to collect, manage and analyze detailed point-of-sale and supply chain data on a real-time basis. The Essentials(TM) suite of services offers bottom-line enhancing and competitive advantages to executives by providing timely and actionable insight into both their own company's performance, as well as perspective from access to aggregated industry-wide data. For further information, please refer to Rentrak's corporate Web site at http://www.rentrak.com .

About Charter

Charter Communications, Inc., a broadband communications company, provides a full range of advanced broadband services to the home, including cable television on an advanced digital video programming platform via Charter Digital(TM) and Charter High-Speed(TM) Internet service. Charter also provides business-to-business video, data and Internet protocol (IP) solutions through Charter Business(TM). Advertising sales and production services are sold under the Charter Media(R) brand. More information about Charter can be found at www.charter.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

When used in this discussion, the words "anticipates," "expects," "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Additional risk factors that could affect Rentrak's business are described in Rentrak's March 31, 2004, annual report on Form 10-K, as amended, and subsequent quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Statements about potential future industry trends and growth prospects in each of the company's operating divisions are forward-looking, subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release and include many factors that are outside the direct control of Rentrak. The inclusion of any statement in this release does not constitute a suggestion by the company or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statements are material. The company does not undertake to publicly update or revise these forward- looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied in this release will not be realized.

Press Contacts
Rentrak
Sallie Olmsted/Susan Yin
310-854-8124/8145

Charter
David Mack
303-323-1392

Investors
Rentrak
Ron Parham
503-924-1186

SOURCE Rentrak Corporation