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High-Quality Surround Enters Digital Broadcast Arena

As the globally recognized initiative for adopting new technologies for consumer benefit, the DVB responded to requirements from its members to provide the technical means of carrying the DTS multi-channel audio format in DVB transmissions. DTS Digital Surround technology gives broadcasters new scalable multi-channel audio solutions previously unavailable for broadcasting, including the ability to equal or exceed DVD-quality sound.

"It's been a great experience working with the DVB over the past two years; they've been very supportive of DTS and our efforts in the broadcasting space," said Jon Kirchner, President and CEO of DTS. "We look forward to actively participating in the DVB and the development of DTV worldwide."

"The DVB's goal is to present the best alternatives for broadcasters to easily adopt DTV," said Peter MacAvock, Executive Director, DVB Project Office. "We believe that the inclusion of DTS as an option for audio in DVB will give broadcasters and viewers more choice and flexibility."

    About DTS Digital Surround in Broadcasting
    DTS coding within a DVB stream offers several advantages to broadcasters:

Scalability -- The core DTS specification and supporting broadcast hardware encoding platform allow broadcasters to choose whatever audio bandwidth they wish to transmit; typical discrete 5.1 transmissions can range from 384 kbps up to 1.5 Mbps. Therefore, broadcasters can allocate more audio transmission bandwidth, greater coding accuracy and higher quality sound for special events such as movie premieres, concerts or flagship programs. Using higher bandwidth DTS audio compression techniques, it is possible to match or better the audio quality currently found on DVD material.

Ease of implementation -- The DTS proposal loads the MPEG-2 stream with Packetised Elemental Streams (PES) in a similar way to that utilized by AC-3. Any device supporting AC-3 can be readily used for DTS transmission, which means that a broadcaster does not require massive re-investment in infrastructure to support DTS transmissions.

Compatibility with existing DTV delivery systems -- A key advantage for DTV customers is that the DTS Digital Surround signal can be received and processed by a standard set top box with a digital audio output (such as the Sky + box.) The upgrade required to recognize the DTS data stream can be made over the air from the broadcast head. The signal can then be fed to and decoded by an AV receiver equipped with a DTS decoder in the same manner as a DVD. Today, every major consumer electronics brand includes DTS decoding in its home theater components.

About DVB

The Digital Video Broadcasting Project (DVB) is an industry-led consortium of some 300 broadcasters, manufacturers, network operators, software developers, regulatory bodies and others in over 35 countries committed to designing global standards for the delivery of digital television and data services. The DVB standards cover all aspects of digital television from transmission through interfacing, conditional access and interactivity for digital video, audio and data. The consortium came together in 1993 to create unity in the march towards global standardisation, interoperability and future proofing.

To date, there are numerous broadcast services using DVB standards. Hundreds of manufacturers offer DVB compliant equipment, which is already in use around the world. DVB dominates the digital broadcasting world. A host of other services is also on-air with DVB-T, DVB-S and DVB-C including data on the move and high-bandwidth Internet over the air. Further information about DVB can be found at: www.dvb.org

About DTS

DTS (Digital Theater Systems, Inc.) is a digital technology company dedicated to delivering the ultimate entertainment experience. A pioneer in multi-channel audio, DTS is featured on more than 21,000 motion picture screens worldwide; in home cinema, car audio, PC and game console products, as well as 5.1 Music, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio and DVD-ROM software. DTS decoders are in every major brand of Home Cinema component, and in more than 16 million consumer electronics products. Founded in 1993, the company is headquartered in Agoura Hills, California and has offices in the United Kingdom and Japan. For further information, please visit www.dtsonline.com .

    DTS, DTS-ES and Neo:6 are trademarks of Digital Theater Systems, Inc.
    DVB is a trademark of the DVB Project.