BellSouth already launched Atlanta..........................
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BellSouth Introduces Wireless Digital TV Service In Orlando
PR Newswire - October 15, 1998 11:10
ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- BellSouth (NYSE: BLS) has begun the roll-out of its 100 percent digital wireless television service throughout Orlando with focus on both residential and commercial business customers. The new 160+ channel americast(R) service provides customers the best of local, cable and satellite programming with unmatched picture and sound quality, all in one single, easy-to-use service.
"Central Florida residents have been waiting for years for a competitive alternative to existing television programming services," said Jim Rozier, general manager of Orlando operations for BellSouth Entertainment. "Now they truly have a quality choice from a well-known company they can trust, BellSouth."
"To get the programming we offer, customers would have needed to subscribe to both satellite and cable TV services. We provide a single-source for our extensive viewing options which include: local, national and family programming, premium and Pay Per View movies; CD-quality, commercial-free music; weather, sports and more," Rozier added.
Additionally, BellSouth offers Express Cinema(TM) service, where customers can access a large selection of the latest hit movies as often as every half- hour without leaving the comfort of their homes.
BellSouth's americast(R) programming service delivers the highest value in home entertainment choices with digitally pure picture quality. In addition to the programming favorites to which they may already be accustomed, BellSouth customers will enjoy many of the newest channels available including: ESPNEWS, Sports Channel Florida, Independent Film Channel, WPIX New York, ESPN Classic Sports, BET on Jazz, Home and Garden TV, the Food Network, HBO Family, The International Channel, Animal Planet and more. BellSouth's americast(R) programming service is a result of a partnership of BellSouth, Ameritech, GTE, SNET and The Walt Disney Company.
In addition, the service features an on-screen Starsight(R) interactive program guide -- which can be customized to each family viewer's specific interests -- to help BellSouth customers navigate through an exciting array of entertainment options. The convenient guide allows customers to easily find programs up to seven days in advance, establish viewing preferences and block unwanted programming with state-of-the art parental control features. And, the guess-work of viewing local broadcast channels is eliminated with channel- on-channel programming where local stations are shown on their respective broadcast channel numbers.
BellSouth's entertainment customers will enjoy award-winning service from the communications company that has been chosen three years in a row by J.D. Power and Associates as the superior provider of local telephone customer service. BellSouth provides 24 hour-a-day, 7 day-a-week customer service, reliable extended-hour repair times and flexible installation appointments. The company will offer its digital wireless service through BellSouth Entertainment offices and eventually through many other BellSouth entities throughout the Orlando area. Customers may call 1-877-GO-DIGITAL for information.
"BellSouth has a long-standing commitment to meet the diverse needs of its customers with high-quality products, advanced technology and superior service," said Bob Frame, president of BellSouth Entertainment. "As BellSouth brings the future of digital television to Orlando, customers can expect the same quality service from the company they have come to know and trust for all their communications service needs."
Customers can use their existing television sets to receive the service. Customers will also save with guaranteed rates for up to two years and discounts each month through 2000 for customer referrals.
The launch in Orlando, preceded by successful roll-outs in New Orleans and Atlanta respectively, is the critical next step in BellSouth's plan to deliver home entertainment service to its customers. BellSouth now offers video service in multiple markets in the Southeast, reaching more than one million households, and BellSouth plans to begin offering its home entertainment service in Jacksonville and Daytona by early-1999 and in Miami by mid-1999 to cover a total of more than two million homes statewide.
BellSouth is a $21 billion communications services company. In addition to its new, all-digital service, it provides telecommunications, wireless communications, directory advertising and publishing, video, Internet and information services to nearly 31 million customers in 20 countries worldwide.
For more information about BellSouth, visit the BellSouth Web page at bellsouth.com.
SOURCE BellSouth Corporation
/CONTACT: Kevin Doyle, BellSouth Corp., 404-249-2793; or Allison Didier,
Curley & Pynn, 407-423-8006/
/Web site: bellsouth.com
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