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| New WebTV Personal TV Service and DISHPlayer 500 Offer Full Digital Video Recording, Live TV Pause, Interactive Television, Internet Access and More |
| MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Dec.
14 /PRNewswire/ -- WebTV Networks, Inc. today announced the new Microsoft® WebTV
Network(TM) Personal TV service, featuring digital video recording (DVR) capabilities,
customized news and more, available with EchoStar Communications Corp.'s DISHPlayer
satellite TV systems. In addition, EchoStar today announced the availability of the new
DISHPlayer 500 satellite system, which combines a state-of-the-art satellite receiver, 500
channels of programming, an integrated electronic programming guide and more, with
enhanced TV services from WebTV. Together, the DISHPlayer and WebTV® service deliver a
complete enhanced TV offering for consumers in a single set-top box, including DVR, games,
Internet access and interactive television shows, without requiring numerous appliances or
complicated setup. A great holiday gift for television viewers, families and home
entertainment aficionados, the new DISHPlayer 500 receiver is priced at just $299, with
WebTV Personal TV service and WebTV Plus service priced at $9.99 and $24.95 per month,
respectively and will be shown at Microsoft booth 2311 at the Western Show in Los Angles
this week. A free* software upgrade allows existing DISHPlayer 300 customers to subscribe
to the WebTV Personal TV service and receive these new DVR features. ``WebTV is proud to join with EchoStar to deliver the future of television -- today,'' said Bruce Leak, president of WebTV Networks. ``DISHPlayer with WebTV services gives consumers the ultimate enhanced-TV experience. From digital video recording and 'live' TV Pause to interactive programs that allow them to participate with their favorite TV shows, plus Web surfing, e-mail and e-commerce, one box does it all.''
In addition, WebTV Personal TV service provides viewers with an Instant News channel that delivers the latest headlines, business, weather, sports and stock information, which users can customize right on their television. Instant News is updated via satellite, requiring no Internet connection, so viewers are always up to date. Games such as ``You Don't Know Jack'' and ``Solitaire'' are also included, providing hours of family fun. DISH Network Delivers the Most Choices in Satellite TV Programming With approximately 3.25 million customers, DISH Network is the fastest-growing direct broadcast satellite (DBS) provider in the United States. DISHPlayer 500 provides DISH Network customers with access to up to 500 crystal-clear digital video and CD-quality audio channels, including popular programming, local broadcast networks, special events, pay-per-view, movie packages and more. ``DISH Network and WebTV now offer customers four incredible products in one -- a satellite TV system, digital video recorder, game player and Internet browser -- all in the comfort of their own living rooms for a tremendously low price,'' said Charlie Ergen, chairman and CEO of EchoStar. ``And DISH Network can now offer a clear alternative to cable for consumers who want their local broadcast networks along with hundreds of all-digital channels.''
Interactive programming includes sports, news and game shows such as ``The Today Show,'' ``Judge Judy,'' ``JEOPARDY!®,'' ``Wheel of Fortune®,'' ``Dateline NBC,'' ``NBC Nightly News,'' and ``Newshour with Jim Lehrer''; 24x7 interactive content from networks such as MSNBC, E! Entertainment Television and the Weather Channel; and special interest programs from HBO, The Learning Channel, The Discovery Channel, and Home and Garden Television. And many more interactive programs arriving soon. WebTV Plus service provides easy-to-use Internet access, Web browsing, e-mail and chat, which enable TV viewers to easily explore their interests on the Internet from the comfort of their living rooms. Plus, Kid Friendly(TM) features ensure a safe and fun Internet environment for children. Pricing and Availability - Give the Gift of WebTV Service WebTV Personal TV service and the DISHPlayer 500 will be available at retail locations nationwide in time for holiday shopping. The DISHPlayer 500 receiver includes a DISH 500 antenna, set-top receiver and remote control unit for an introductory estimated retail price of $299. A version with a wireless keyboard is available for $349. DISH Network satellite programming is available starting at $19.99 per month, with WebTV Personal TV service offered at an additional $9.99 per month. The WebTV Plus service is offered at $24.95 per month and can be ordered directly from users' DISHPlayer systems. Customers subscribing to both the WebTV Personal TV and WebTV Plus services may receive a $5 discount on their monthly WebTV bill. (Some restrictions apply.) Interested parties can obtain more information about DISHPlayer 500, DISH Network programming or WebTV Personal TV service, or can contact one of 20,000 DISH Network retailers by calling (800) 333-DISH (3474). In addition, WebTV is offering prepaid service cards for purchase as gifts this holiday season. WebTV service gift cards are an easy way for gift givers to prepay for WebTV Personal TV or WebTV Plus service for friends and family who are either receiving a DISHPlayer receiver or already have one. WebTV service gift cards are available in a variety of denominations, including $75, $100, $150 and $300, and can be purchased with the click of a remote at the new WebTV online store at http://www.webtv.net/ or by calling 800-GO-WEBTV (469-3288). WebTV service gift cards are wrapped in a unique gift pack and shipped with a personal note and easy-to-follow instructions for use. About EchoStar Communications DISH Network is EchoStar's state-of-the-art direct broadcast satellite system that is capable of offering over 500 channels of digital video and CD-quality audio programming, fully MPEG-2/DVB-compliant hardware and installation. DISH Network was also ranked number one in customer satisfaction among satellite/cable TV subscribers by the J.D. Power and Associates 1999 Cable/Satellite TV Customer Satisfaction Study. EchoStar V, EchoStar's newest high-power direct broadcast satellite, launched on a Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS rocket on Sept. 23, 1999, to the 110 degrees W.L. orbital location. In addition to local channels, EchoStar V allows DISH Network to offer 500 channels, including high-definition television, Dolby Digital surround sound, Internet and high-speed interactive television and data services, all on a single dish. DISH Network, which currently serves over 3.1 million customers, is a trademark of EchoStar Communications Corp. DISH Network is located on the Internet at http://www.dishnetwork.com/. DISHPlayer satellite TV system recently won an award from Popular Science magazine for ``Best of What's New'' in 1999, and was chosen by the editors of etown.com on the basis of performance, quality, technology and value as the 1999 Satellite Television Product of the Year. About WebTV Networks WebTV Networks, Inc., is a leading provider of enhanced TV services using Internet and digital technologies. WebTV Networks offers a range of enhanced TV services for set-top boxes, satellite products and other TV-related devices. Today, these services include the WebTV Classic service, the WebTV Plus service, and WebTV Personal TV service. WebTV Networks owns and operates a network of TV services and provides enabling software and hardware reference designs to consumer electronics manufacturers. WebTV Networks, based in Mountain View, Calif., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corp. Microsoft incorporates WebTV technologies in the Microsoft TV software platform, which it licenses to television network operators worldwide. Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT - news) is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. Connect-time charges may apply. NOTE: Microsoft, WebTV Network, WebTV, Kid Friendly and WebPIP are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries/regions. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. Appendix The following features are available with the DISHPlayer 500 satellite system. Customers may select one or more service offerings, based on their TV viewing preferences.
Satellite TV Digital Video Interactive TV
Programming Recording and Personal Programs
TV Remote
DISH Network offers Viewers can access
customers hundreds of Viewers can record more than 350 hours
channels of popular and store up to of interactive
entertainment and 10 hours of digital- television
educational programming; quality video and programming
sports and sports AC3 and Dolby audio each week, enabling
packages; foreign programming with them to participate
language programming; just one click of directly with a
DISH Latino, a complete the easy-to-use favorite TV show
Spanish-language remote. (e.g., vote, chat,
package; premium movie get more information)
packages and pay-per- by clicking on the "i"
view services; over 30 during an interactive
CD-quality audio broadcast. Special ads
channels, and local and promotions offer
broadcast networks in additional
select cities. participation
and commerce
opportunities.
TV Pause Enhanced TV Pause Internet Access
Viewers can pause or Viewers can pause live Easy-to-use Internet
freeze live television television for as long access with a 56K modem
for up to 30 minutes and as there is space on provides up to six
resume when ready to the digital video e-mail accounts with
watch again. recorder, then fast- picture e-mail and
forward, instantly child-protection
replay or rewind through features, and supports
recorded programming. popular audio, video
and Internet formats.
TV Limits Multispeed Fast Forward Chat and Newsgroups
and Rewind
Parents can block TV Viewers can fast- Viewers can interact
programs by rating, forward and rewind with other users,
channel or time, as through paused and voice an opinion,
well as block games and recorded programming share interests and
pay-per-view movies. at their own pace. experiences, and add
musical flourishes or
voices to newsgroup
messages.
TV Listings Instant Replay WebPIP(TM) Technology
Viewers can find and Viewers can easily Viewers can watch
record programming from replay any scene on television and surf the
two days of TV Listings. live or recorded Internet at the
Customizable listings television and never same time.
enable users to select again miss a moment of
the channels they watch a favorite live TV show,
the most and search for movie or game. With a
programs by word, touch of a button on
category, actor or the remote, programs
program title. Users can instantly jump back
also easily set up shows seven seconds.
to be recorded right
from TV Listings with a
click of the record
button on the remote.
One Touch VCR Interactive TV Listings WebTV Centers
Recording
Viewers can program a Users can find and Up-to-the-minute
VCR to record a show in record TV programming information on news,
advance with just a from seven days of TV money, sports,
click of the remote. If Listings. The TV Recent entertainment, shopping
users also subscribe to feature saves and other topics are
WebTV Personal TV thumbnails of the last available. The centers
service, this feature six channels viewed. gather information
can be used for about a topic and
archiving recorded DVR direct users to popular
programs onto VHS tape. Web sites related to
the topic.
Show Notification Skip Ahead Parental Controls
DISHPlayer will
automatically remind Viewers can jump ahead Surfwatch keeps kids
viewers that their show 30 seconds during from accessing Web
is about to begin and recorded programming to sites with adult-
even change the channel the next big play or a oriented content, and
for them. favorite movie scene to Kid Friendly technology
get right into the provides very young
action. users with a special
Kids' Home page and
access to a mininetwork
of sites created
especially for them.
Dolby Digital Instant News Page Builder
DISHPlayer 500 is Personalized news is Users can quickly
designed to be used with available on demand and create and publish
any surround sound updated throughout the personal Web pages
system with its Dolby day via satellite. using a template
Digital output. DISH Presented as an provided by WebTV.
Network also offers additional channel
Dolby Digital-encoded available with TV
movies. Listings (Channel 201),
Instant News broadcasts
a viewer's local
weather, personal stock
quotes, favorite team's
scores, news headlines
and entertainment news
choices.
Program Facts Games LineShare
More information about "You Don't Know Jack" Users can take
a show can be obtained and "Solitaire" are telephone calls even
while watching it with a included for family when connected to the
simple click of the fun. "You Don't Know WebTV service. Call
remote control. Users Jack" is updated Waiting-enabled
can find out about weekly over the subscribers can have
program ratings, satellite, so there WebTV automatically
remaining time and more. are always new games disconnect from the
to play. service when receiving
a phone call while they
are connected. Once the
phone call is finished,
users can reconnect and
pick up right where they
left off.
Printer Port Message Watch
Users can print out Message Watch actively
e-mail messages or TV checks for incoming
Listings, or take a e-mail messages, whether
still video image to a user is online or the
print out. They also receiver is retrieving
can send via e-mail a TV Listings information
picture from a camcorder in the middle of the
or digital camera with a night. Once an e-mail
picture port. message arrives, a red
light on the front of
the DISHPlayer 500 is
illuminated, notifying
the user of the new
e-mail.
SOURCE: WebTV Networks, Inc. |
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