Replay Networks Announces Panasonic to Market ReplayTV; Licensing Technology to One of World's Top Consumer Brands
06/08/1999
Business Wire
(Copyright (c) 1999, Business Wire)
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 8, 1999--
Deal to Broaden Distribution Channel and Widen Audience For Device,
Network That Guarantees Users Won't Miss Their Favorite TV Shows
A major chapter in the history of personal television was written today as Replay Networks Inc., the company that guarantees viewers will never miss their favorite TV shows, announced that Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (MEI) one of the world's largest producers of consumer electronics products will, through its subsidiary Matsushita Kotobuki Electronics Industries, Ltd. (MKE), begin manufacturing a version of the revolutionary ReplayTV digital-recording device that will be sold in the United States under the venerable Panasonic brand.
Under terms of an agreement announced today, Replay Networks, the category leader and first to market with its own award-winning, revolutionary personal television system, will license ReplayTV technology to Matsushita Kotobuki Electronics Industries, Ltd.
"This development significantly broadens distribution channels and, as a result, greatly widens the audience for the Replay Network Service," said Anthony Wood, founder and CEO of Replay Networks. "We're excited to be working closely with a company like Panasonic, whose proven marketing and distribution expertise can help ensure that personal television becomes a viable consumer product category."
Personalized 'Replay Channels'
With the ReplayTV set - top box and free Replay Network Service, viewers can easily create personalized, on-demand "Replay Channels." These channels can feature viewers' favorite shows, themes or actors so they can watch what they want, when they want. For example, viewers can create an "ER," "Julia Roberts" or "golf" channels. ReplayTV also lets consumers control live television.
With ReplayTV, viewers can pause, rewind and then fast forward through shows. When the telephone rings during a favorite live television show, viewers can hit pause, take the call and resume watching the rest of the program anytime without missing a scene.
"This new product represents just one more part of Panasonic's digital equation," said Panasonic Consumer Electronics Co. President Don Iwatani. "We are extremely happy to add the ReplayTV features and technology to our growing family of consumer-friendly digital products."
Specific Panasonic models and features have not been announced, but models will vary based on the amount of recording time available. The new devices are expected to be available for the 1999 holiday selling season. Manufacturer's suggested retail price has not been determined.
Replay Network Service is Key
"The Replay Network Service is a key component to our business and empowers our subscribers to have total control over their televisions," Wood said.
The Replay Network Service is delivered to the set - top device using a standard telephone line. ReplayTV automatically and silently calls a toll-free local number during off-hours to access the service and download updates of local broadcast information and other programming information. The free Replay Network Service also automatically sets ReplayTV's internal clock and provides periodic software updates to allow in-the-field upgrades.
The service will also provide access to "Replay Zones" from content partners such as E! Entertainment, Showtime, The Movie Channel and others. When subscribers select these zones, the Replay Network Service will find content and create personal channels based on the viewer's interests. Subscribers can then enjoy movies, shows, special events and previews when they want. They will also be able to view behind-the-scenes specials and celebrity interviews broadcast for the Replay Zones. All this is part of the free Replay Network Service.
Like Browser for TV
The Replay Network Service has been likened to a browser for television. But unlike computer-television convergence schemes, Replay Networks is easy to use and requires no computer or technical knowledge from subscribers.
About Matsushita
Matsushita Kotobuki Electronics Industries, Ltd. is a subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. and is one of the world's largest manufacturers of hard disc drives, optical (DVD/CD-ROM) disc drives, and high-capacity floppy disc drives. MKE's other products include VCRs, combination TV/VCR units, video camcorders (DVC/VHS-C) and heating equipment. MKE and Replay Networks were introduced by Panasonic Digital Concepts Center (PDCC), a subsidiary of Panasonic Technologies Inc. (PTI) that accelerates the growth of early and later-stage digital consumer electronics technologies through business incubation and direct investment services. PDCC is located in Cupertino, Calif., and focuses on Internet and E-commerce companies.
Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company (PCEC) a division of Matsushita Electric Corp. of America (MECA), markets a wide variety of consumer electronics products in the United States, under the Panasonic, Technics and Quasar brand names. MECA is the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., (NYSE/PCX:MC) of Japan, one of the world's largest producers of electronic and electric products for consumer, business and industrial use. (Consumers seeking more information on the company's products can call Panasonic's Customer Call Center at 800-211-PANA or access Panasonic's home page at www.panasonic.com.)
About Replay Networks, Inc.
Replay Networks, Inc., based in Palo Alto, Calif., is a leader in personal television technologies with more than 120 patent claims, the market leading ReplayTV platform and Replay Network Service. ReplayTV received "Best of Show" in video honors at the 1999 International Consumer Electronics Show, in Las Vegas, Nev. Last December, ReplayTV received a "Best of What's New" awards from Popular Science magazine. Replay Networks was recently named one of Upside Magazine's Hot 100 Companies for 1999.
Prior to founding Replay Networks, CEO Anthony Wood headed iband Inc., where he developed what is now known as Dreamweaver, the best-selling Internet authoring tool for professionals. iband was acquired by Macromedia in 1996. Replay Networks' board of directors includes Kevin L. Bohren, a former senior marketing executive who helped guide Compaq Computer Corp. to market prominence, and William R. Hearst III, partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. For more information, visit the Replay Networks home page at replaytv.com or call toll free at 800-266-1301.
Replay Networks, ReplayTV and Replay Network Service are trademarks of Replay Networks, Inc. All other products and brand names as they appear in this release are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. All specifications may be changed without notice.
Note to Editors: ReplayTV graphics and product photographs are available online at replaytv.com.
Contact: CONTACT: Replay Networks, Inc. Jim Plant, 650/210-1042 jim@replaytv.com or Panasonic William Pritchard, 201/348-7182 pritchardw@panasonic.com or A+R Partners Ron Kalb, 650/298-3924 rkalb@arpartners.com
12:00 EDT JUNE 8, 1999
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