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VOOM Now Totals 30 HD Channels With Addition of NFL Network and Playboy TV in
HD; Significantly More HD Offerings Than Any Other Satellite or Cable Provider
Introduces Ground-Breaking Whole House Solution Built Specifically For HD
Programming
Rainbow DBS, Cablevision Systems Corporation's satellite division, announced
four additions to VOOM's HD lineup - NFL Network, Playboy TV, STARZ! HD East and
STARZ! HD West - bringing its total to 30 HD channels, far more HD programming
than any other satellite or cable provider. In addition, Rainbow DBS introduces
the VOOM HD Home Media Network, a groundbreaking whole house solution designed
specifically for HD programming, which is expected to roll out this summer.
Mickey Alpert, chief operating officer of Rainbow DBS said, "Today's
announcement is a natural progression of Rainbow DBS's commitment to deliver the
latest in HD content and technology to its customers. For those who have already
made a substantial investment in high-definition technology and the 40 million
consumers who are expected to own HDTV sets within the next few years, Rainbow
DBS is one step closer to ensuring they will now have access to the most HD
programming offered anywhere combined with ultimate viewing control - all in one
package."
Fact: More HD Programming Than Anyone Else
In addition to its existing HD channels - which include Discovery HD Theater,
Showtime East and West and The Movie Channel - VOOM is continuing to team up
with leading HD programmers. The following HD offerings will be added throughout
the coming months.
NFL Network:
VOOM and NFL Network will deliver to millions of football fans a high-definition
dimension to the NFL experience 24 hours a day. Viewers get insight directly
from team headquarters, league offices and anywhere else the NFL is making news.
Playboy TV:
In addition to being able to watch today's top films and sports action in HD,
VOOM and Playboy TV will offer its customers the ultimate in HD adult
entertainment. VOOM customers will have access to Playboy TV original
programming exclusively in HD as well as Spice Digital Networks' content in HD.
STARZ! HD East and STARZ! HD West:
VOOM customers experience feature films the way they were meant to be
experienced - in high-definition. And now, with the additions of STARZ! HD East
and STARZ! HD West, VOOM customers will have access to even more of today's
hottest films including: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, About Schmidt,
Anger Management, and Austin Powers in Goldmember.
VOOM already features an exclusive VOOM package of 21 commercial-free HD
channels created by Rainbow Media Holdings LLC. Rainbow Media is the Cablevision
programming subsidiary that launched such successful cable channels as AMC, IFC
(The Independent Film Channel), WE: Women's Entertainment, Fuse, News 12
Networks and Bravo, which was later sold to NBC.
The exclusive VOOM HD channels from Rainbow Media are:
HD Cinema 10TM - Ten different film channels that offer the largest selection of
HD movies available anywhere.
Monsters - Scary movies taken to the next level by the power of HDTV.
Epics - A cinematic celebration of the silver screen with magnificent stories
and music, all about heroes, noble journeys and the triumphant human spirit.
World Sport - Close-up sports action from every corner of the globe, including
exclusive HD coverage of the Spanish league soccer, featuring Real Madrid with
David Beckham.
Rush HD - Heart-pounding, in-your-face, extreme sports like skydiving,
snowboarding, surfing and skateboarding.
Rave HD - All-music, all-the-time; plus concert performances by top artists with
incomparable resolution and audio clarity.
Ultra HD - Direct from the fashion and food capitals of the world, enjoy the
hottest trends in what to wear, where to go and how to find the best dining on
the planet.
Treasure HD - Capturing the amazing world of collectibles and collectors, meet
these eclectic personalities from the most knowledgeable to the merely curious.
Gallery HD - Exploring the world's greatest museums, art galleries and
architecture, with HD detail and clarity unseen anywhere else on television.
Animania - Big, bold fun for everyone in the family, featuring long and
short-form animation from award-winning festivals to popular cartoon classics.
News Bytes HD - Current news headlines, weather and sports, all in HD, plus
compelling feature stories and video essays.
MOOV - Stunning motion-video with a continuous flow of unusual images set to
music, creating a new artistic medium uniquely suited for HD.
VOOM Technology Provides An Unparalleled HDTV Experience
Rainbow DBS's VOOM uses the most advanced technology - including a
state-of-the-art satellite, ground stations and receivers - to provide and
deliver sharper images more efficiently than ever before. The latest advancement
from Rainbow DBS will be the rollout of its VOOM HD Home Media Network, expected
this summer. Built specifically for VOOM this groundbreaking service will
feature an HD digital video recorder [DVR] that can record and playback HD video
programming in its intended format.
For VOOM customers, a whole house solution will be achieved when this
HDTV-capable DVR is combined with the VOOM HD Home Media Network's networking
capabilities, which will allow customers to link televisions, computers and
other entertainment devices so that programming, music and photos can be enjoyed
throughout the house.
Rainbow DBS will be using embedded software from Ucentric Systems, a leading
provider of home media networking software and service for the new digital home,
in the development of this product.
"VOOM's HD Home Media Network is being developed as state-of-the-art and the
first of its kind anywhere in the world. VOOM will have the only DBS service
with both HD DVR and Multiple HD sessions networked off a single drive over the
in-home network. This will be the most advanced HD home product available," said
Michael Collette, chief executive officer, Ucentric Systems. "We are very
pleased to partner with VOOM in bringing this highly innovative product offering
to market."
Additional key features of the VOOM HD Home Media Network will include:
Standard DVR functionality: stop, start, rewind and fast-forward at the touch of
a button
Separate television control: pause and rewind a program on one television, while
continuing to watch the same program on another television
Record and play - whenever: record a program in one room and play it in another,
at any time
"Follow Me": pause a television program in one room and then continue watching
the same program in another room
Content organization: organize recorded content in folders and set parental
controls that download automatically to each television in the house
Music and photos: upload both music and photos from a computer, which can then
be managed through on-screen television menus and enjoyed anywhere in the house
VOOM Delivers A Compelling Value Proposition -- Nationwide
In addition to the very latest in HD content and technology, VOOM customers will
also receive several cable favorites such as the Disney Channel, A&E, FX, AMC
and more, as well as over-the-air digital local broadcast channels delivered in
standard definition (SD) and in HD where available. By February 2004, with the
addition of new channels, customers will receive 39 HD channels and 88
standard-definition channels, including more than 40 cable favorites.
VOOM's state-of-the-art technology and dynamic programming give customers
everything they need to enjoy the world of HDTV at an unmatched value, without
requiring a long-term commitment. For $39.90 a month, customers will enjoy:
21 VOOM HD exclusives
More than 40 cable favorites
18 digital music channels from Music Choice
With the included off-air antenna, over-the-air digital local broadcast channels
in standard definition and in HD where available
Each additional HD PlusPacks can be purchased for $14.90 per month. Customers
also have access to adult Pay-Per-View programming in HD and Inside VOOM, a
customer information channel.
For an initial one-time cost, customers will receive a satellite dish, remote
control, digital off-air antenna and next-generation set-top receiver that
seamlessly integrates local signals into one user-friendly program guide,
specifically designed for the HD format.
VOOM is available at more than 1,600 Sears stores nationwide, or by calling
1-800-GET-VOOM or visiting http://www.voom.com.
Rapid Growth Forecasted for Underserved HDTV Market
According to Forrester Research, as many as six million households will have
HDTV-compatible televisions by the end of 2003 - double the number of the
previous year. That figure is expected to double again by 2005 and, according to
analysts, by 2007, more than 40 million consumers will own HDTV sets.
According to a recent study by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA):
Consumers are overwhelmingly unaware of existing HDTV content - 71 percent of
those surveyed said they were not very familiar or not at all familiar with HDTV
programming.
Among potential HDTV purchasers, almost 30 percent of those surveyed cited lack
of HDTV content as an inhibitor to purchasing an HDTV set.
An even larger percentage of consumers surveyed lack basic information about how
to receive the full benefits of HD programming:
74 percent of consumers were unaware that they need a set-top box to view HD
programming
54 percent weren't aware that owning HDTV hardware would enable them to view
programs in HD only if the programs were broadcast in HD.
Offering more than twice the HD programming provided by any other satellite or
cable provider, Rainbow DBS's VOOM is already well positioned to help clarify
some of the confusion regarding the transition, technology and reception of HD,
and meet the demands of this growing HDTV audience.
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