Did anyone catch this announcement ?
Philips Electronics to Make Set-Top Boxes for DirecTV Service
Amsterdam, Aug. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Royal Philips Electronics NV, Europe's largest consumer electronics maker, said it will make digital set-top boxes for Hughes Electronics Corp.'s DirecTV satellite-television service.
The agreement expands on an existing pact between the companies to work with closely held TiVo Inc., which makes digital television recorders that let viewers skip through advertisements, to develop such a box. The device, which will allow users to receive both DirecTV programming and the TiVo personalized television service, is expected to be available in early 2000. A consumer price has not been set, DirecTV said.
Satellite television companies including El Segundo, California-based DirecTV want to add new services to attract subscribers and compete better against cable-TV operators, which are spending heavily to upgrade their systems to deliver their own array of new digital services.
``DirecTV and Philips share the same commitment to introducing consumers to new technologies,' DirecTV Executive Vice President Bill Casamo said.
Amsterdam-based Philips, with 1998 sales of $33.9 billion, said the agreement will make it one of the world's largest manufacturers of digital set-top boxes.
Hughes is a subsidiary of General Motors Corp.
Aug/27/1999 20:18 |
