DIRECTV and TiVo(TM) Unveil the First Digital Satellite System to Combine Both Companies' Leading Services
Integrated Product Will Offer TiVo's Personal TV Service and DIRECTV's Digital TV Services in One Set-Top Device
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- TiVo, Inc., (Nasdaq: TIVO) the creator
of personal television and DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading digital
television service provider, today unveiled the first satellite receiver to
deliver DIRECTV(R) television programming and TiVo's leading Personal TV(TM)
service, in one integrated, easy-to-use device. The announcement was made at
the International Consumer Electronics Show (ICES) in Las Vegas.
This state-of-the-art digital receiver provides access to a wide variety
of DIRECTV programming seamlessly integrated with the control, convenience and
personalization that only TiVo delivers to television viewers. In addition,
the DIRECTV/TiVo receiver has been honored with an ICES Innovations 2000 award
in the satellite category.
"It is exciting to see the tangible results of TiVo's vision and our
partnership with DIRECTV come to life with this product. We have said from the
beginning that the future of TiVo's technology and service would be to deliver
it to consumers on their choice of home entertainment products," said
Mike Ramsay, CEO, TiVo Inc. "The DIRECTV/TiVo receiver is proof that TiVo's
vision is reality and the benefit of this reality is more choice, convenience
and control for our mutual customers."
"From the onset we believed there was a natural alliance between TiVo and
DIRECTV to combine our services, as it fulfills our philosophy of enhancing
the television viewing experience for the consumer," said Larry Chapman,
executive vice president, DIRECTV, Inc.
"The TiVo service has been a terrific solution for consumers who want more
control of their television viewing, as well as the perfect complement to the
variety of programming available on DIRECTV. Combining both services into one
seamlessly integrated system elevates consumers' television viewing habits by
giving them the ultimate control," added Chapman.
The digital DIRECTV/TiVo combination receiver stores up to 30 hours of
recorded programming, which provides almost twice the recording capacity of
other similar personal video recording satellite devices -- and at a
competitive consumer price point. Features include high quality all digital
video, high end Dolby Digital (AC-3), live TV pause, instant replay, slow
motion, frame forward/back, variable speed rewind and fast forward, and the
latest functionality of the TiVo service.
Further advances in the ease-of-use of the services include: access to
broadband satellite transmission to provide easier, faster product set-up and
integrated program information that will allow the consumer to schedule
recording directly from an advanced electronic program guide. Consumers can
choose either the DIRECTV or the TiVo program guide for easy recording and
storage, to capture favorite television shows or schedule and record
pay-per-view programming. The DIRECTV/TiVo combination system is slated for
consumer availability later this year.
TiVo is the creator of personal television. The TiVo Service lets
consumers take control of their television viewing by allowing them to watch
what they want, when they want it. As part of TiVo's easy-to-use service and
unique technology, viewers can time-shift their favorite television shows and
create a customized television line-up for viewing at anytime. With TiVo's
Thumbs Up(TM) Thumbs Down(TM) buttons, viewers can teach TiVo what shows they
like and dislike. Using these preferences, TiVo automatically records programs
the viewer may want to see.
TiVo also enables consumers to pause, rewind, instant replay and playback
in slow motion any live television broadcast. In addition, TiVo has developed
a technology that serves as a platform for new and interactive entertainment
content and services. To ensure viewer privacy, TiVo has established strict
policies to help protect the personal information of consumers, while
providing a valuable personalized TV experience. TiVo-enabled stand-alone
personal video recorders are available from Philips today and can be purchased
at retail outlets nationwide including, Best Buy, Circuit City and Sears or
online at Amazon.com, Roxy.com or 800.com. Founded in August 1997 and
headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., TiVo is the creator of personal
television. TiVo can be reached on the World Wide Web at www.tivo.com.
DIRECTV, Inc. is the nation's leading service provider of digital
television entertainment with more than 8 million customers, including
customers subscribing to the PRIMESTAR By DIRECTV medium-power direct
broadcast satellite service. DIRECTV(R) programming consists of a variety of
channels including sports, entertainment, news, music and family programming.
Since its launch more than five and a half years ago, DIRECTV has continuously
added new services and channels as part of its commitment to enhance
programming and set itself apart from cable and other satellite television
services. DIRECTV a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation owns a more than
ten percent equity investment in TiVo, Inc.
DIRECTV is a registered trademark of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes
Electronics Corporation. Hughes Electronics is the world's leading provider of
digital television entertainment, and satellite and wireless systems and
services. The earnings of Hughes Electronics, a unit of General Motors
Corporation (NYSE: GMH), are used to calculate the earnings per share
attributable to the General Motors Class H common stock. Visit DIRECTV on the
World Wide Web at www.directv.com. |
