Monday June 14, 11:30 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: General Instrument Corporation
General Instrument and HITS Team to Offer New Cable Service; Cable Operators To Add Digital Programming With No Additional Infrastructure Investment
CHICAGO, June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- General Instrument Corporation (NYSE: GIC - news) and Headend In The Sky (HITS®) have jointly developed a Satellite/Cable Overlay system and service that will allow cable operators to add 140+ channels of digital programming to their existing analog lineup -- without having to upgrade cable plants or invest in digital headend equipment. A live demonstration of the new service -- called HITS2HOME(TM)* -- may be viewed at Cable '99 at the General Instrument and HITS booths.
The HITS2HOME(TM) digital signals will be delivered via a satellite dish to the cable customers' home and combined with the current analog services from their local cable operator. A new set-top receiver manufactured by General Instrument will integrate the digital and analog signals. An interactive, on-screen guide will seamlessly list programming for both analog and digital services. Operators will have the ability to brand the service with their logo.
General Instrument will provide the authorization services for the HITS2HOME(TM) service from their Operations Center in San Diego, CA. GI will also coordinate an equipment package that includes the set-top, remote control, satellite dish, dish mount and all outdoor electronics needed by the operator.
This conveniently packaged service and equipment offering will be an advantage to small cable operators. While convenience, picture quality, and the availability of local TV channels have been the anchor benefits of cable, the addition of 140+ digital services enabled by the HITS2HOME(TM) service will offer a compelling advantage compared to DBS services.
The HITS2HOME(TM) service will now make the same popular HITS digital programming available to a whole new segment of the cable market. And, with GI and HITS working together, the new service is expected to be available in the third quarter of this year.
Cable operators interested in HITS2HOME(TM) may see a live demonstration of the product at the HITS booth #1114 and at the General Instrument booth #1700.
General Instrument is a leading worldwide provider of integrated and interactive broadband access solutions, teaming with its business partners to lead the convergence of the Internet, telecommunications, and video entertainment industries.
Visit General Instrument website at www.gi.com.
The 2 in HITS2HOME(TM) is a Superscript
SOURCE: General Instrument Corporation
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