Cisco Teams With the NBA to Enhance the League's Technology

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - October 31, 2007) - The National Basketball Association and Cisco today announced a new relationship to integrate Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) technology solutions throughout the NBA and work together on the league's social responsibility initiative, NBA Cares. The two organizations will explore ways in which Cisco technology solutions can be used to enhance the game, increase collaboration with the global NBA community, and bring the fans closer to the sport whether at home or in the arena. This multi-year, global effort will span operations in the United States and China.

The NBA will utilize Cisco technology to expand the way the league connects with fans worldwide. Cisco core technologies and mobility solutions will be used across various league platforms to power all of the league's communications and content delivery.

During marquee NBA events such as NBA All-Star, the NBA Playoffs and The Finals, Cisco networking technology solutions will be deployed to enhance the game for fans, corporate customers, employees and media. Throughout the year on NBA TV, all programming and full-length games will be delivered to fans throughout the United States and Asia utilizing encoders and decoders from Scientific Atlanta, a Cisco company.

As the NBA's operations in China dramatically increase, the two organizations will explore new opportunities for the league to integrate Cisco technology, including the potential use of TelePresence to create live, "face-to-face" meeting experiences over the network. Additionally, the NBA and Cisco will examine the possibilities of expanding league partner presence at NBA games through in-arena digital signage.

Beginning this season, Cisco will join the league's NBA Cares initiative. Through NBA Cares, Cisco will work with the NBA to provide New Orleans area school districts with educational and technological resources, and will create 30 family community resource centers.

"This relationship is a big win for Cisco because it allows us to demonstrate the power of the network to not only bring fans closer to the action but to also help the league expand the way they communicate with coaches, media, players and fans, worldwide," said Alan Cohen, vice president, enterprise marketing, Cisco. "In addition to a shared passion for the game of basketball, Cisco and the NBA share a commitment to social responsibility, and Cisco is honored to be a part of the NBA Cares initiative and post-Katrina recovery efforts."

"Cisco is a proven leader with innovative products that will provide the NBA with the latest technology to stay connected and enhance the overall NBA game experience for our fans," said Steve Hellmuth, executive vice president of operations and technology for the NBA. "Cisco's contribution to the NBA family's efforts in New Orleans through our NBA Cares initiative will help thousands of children and continue to aid in the resurgence of communities throughout this area."

Overall, Cisco will contribute to the league's season-long outreach initiative in the New Orleans region that will feature the entire NBA family: its players, teams, the National Basketball Players Association, media and marketing partners. Together, they will perform more than 30,000 hours of hands-on community service and create 40 places where families can live, learn or play -- helping more than 30,000 children by the conclusion of the 2007-08 NBA season.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

About The NBA

The NBA, founded in 1946, is a global sports and entertainment brand that features 30 teams in the United States and Canada. During the 2006-07 season, the NBA distributed 45,000 hours of programming to 215 countries and territories in 41 languages. The league's worldwide reach can also be seen with 85 international players on NBA rosters. Domestically, the NBA broadcasted 142 games on national television last season on ABC, TNT, ESPN and ESPN2, and eclipsed attendance records for the fourth consecutive season.

NBA TV, launched in 1999 as the first 24-hour television channel created and operated by a professional sports league, is distributed to 73 countries. NBA merchandise is sold in more than 100,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents; NBA.com gets more than half of its visitors from outside the United States.

NBA Cares is the league's social responsibility initiative that builds on the NBA's long tradition of addressing important social issues in the United States and around the world. Through this umbrella program, the NBA, its teams and players have committed to donating $100 million to charity, providing a million hours of hands-on service to the communities and creating 250 places where kids and families can live, learn or play. NBA Cares works with internationally recognized youth-serving programs that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes, including: UNICEF; the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.

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Contact Information: Contacts: NBA John Acunto (212) 407-8255 jacunto@nba.com Cisco Molly Ford (408) 526-8163 moford@cisco.com