This is just an example of the way CUBE Management works. Check the dates on these two news releases. Do you really think that the Zenith boxes ever used CL-91xx chips? Check this date first, then check the Zenith news release..
c-cube.com
Major Milestone: ZENITH DELIVERS FIRST OF 3 MILLION DIGITAL SET-TOP BOXES TO AMERICAST
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ANAHEIM, Calif., Dec. 10, 1996 -- Zenith Electronics Corporation (NYSE:ZE) delivered the first of an expected 3 million digital set-top boxes to Americast today, just three months after the programming venture selected Zenith as its digital set-top box supplier.
On the eve of the Western Cable Show here, William G. Luehrs, president of Zenith Network Systems, presented the first Zenith digital set-top box to Stephen A. Weiswasser, chief executive officer of Americast.
Zenith Network Systems division president Bell Luehrs presents the first digital entertainment terminal to Americast president Stephen Weiswasser.
"This is a major milestone," Luehrs said. "In 90 days to the day after signing the contract, the first of these digital terminals rolled off our production line." Initial quantities for Americast's technical evaluation are scheduled for later this month.
Accepting the inaugural set-top box from Zenith, Weisswasser said, "We're extremely enthusiastic about delivering the next generation in home entertainment to the American people. The delivery of this set-top is both an important and symbolic first step in reaching that goal."
This accomplishment was made possible by Zenith's multi-million-dollar investment in state-of-the-art digital manufacturing technology and its partnership with DiviCom Inc., Luehrs said. Zenith and DiviCom, a wholly-owned subsidiary of C-Cube Microsystems Inc. (NASDAQ: CUBE), are collaborating to make the feature-rich Americast terminal a reality.
Zenith's digital terminals are based on open industry standards. The flexible design uses interchangeable network interface modules for four different digital video networks: hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC), switched digital video (SDV), direct broadcast satellite (DBS), and multi-channel, multi-point distribution systems (MMDS).
Today's presentation of the first digital set-top box follows the non-exclusive contact Americast awarded to Zenith in late August. As a result of that deal, possibly worth more than $1 billion, Zenith is to supply at least 3 million digital set-tops to subsidiaries of Ameritech Corporation, BellSouth Corporation, GTE Corporation, SBC Communications and Southern New England Telecommunications Corporation for the next generation of home entertainment services. The Walt Disney Company also is a partner in Americast.
Americast is a consortium of Ameritech Corporation, BellSouth Corporation, SBC Communications, Southern New England Telecommunications Corporation and The Walt Disney Company created to develop and market the next generation in home entertainment. The americast service is currently being introduced into selected markets across the United States. In addition to providing traditional entertainment services, Americast will offer innovative programming and develop such features as a proprietary program navigator, video-on-demand, home shopping and a variety of interactive services.
CONTACT:Zenith, John I. Taylor (847) 391-8181
Americast, Petro Kacur (213) 966-5753 |
