General Instrument Supplies Interactive Digital Systems and Consumer Terminals to Insight Communications
01/19/99
PR Newswire
(Copyright (c) 1999, PR Newswire)
Insight Communications Will Use GI's DCT-2000 and DCT-5000+ Interactive Digital Platforms to Deliver Digital Programming, E-Mail, Video-On-Demand and High-Speed Internet Access to Rockford, Illinois and Columbus, Ohio Customers
HORSHAM, Pa., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- General Instrument Corporation (NYSE: GIC) announced today that Insight Communications has selected GI's DCT-2000 and DCT-5000+ digital platforms to provide its customers with real- time interactive services such as video-on-demand, e-mail and web browsing, as well as digital video and audio programming.
Insight will be offering digital technology and services to its 66,000 subscribers in Rockford, IL and 90,000 subscribers in Columbus, OH. The company also plans to add digital technology in all of its systems during 1999.
Insight recently launched GI's DCT-1200 successfully at its Griffin, GA plant, and installation of the DCT-2000 is slated for its Rockford, IL and Columbus, OH systems in early 1999, with plans to upgrade to the DCT-5000+ units.
Insight will also be using Regional Control from its Regional Data Center in Noblesville, IN to combine Rockford, IL; Columbus, OH; and numerous systems in Indiana.
"We have confidence that GI's proven technology will help support our growth as a major MSO. Moving to digital will enable us to provide the latest interactive services to our customers, as well as optimize our bandwidth," said Michael S. Willner, President of Insight Communications. "We aim to provide subscribers with a digital platform that includes interactive channels, VOD, and multiplexed premium services. This deployment emphasizes our commitment to customer satisfaction and we believe that the GI family of products will best deliver the technology to accomplish this."
Insight Senior Vice President of Engineering, Charles E. Dietz added, "We chose GI based on its industry leadership position, as well as the proven technology of its DCT interactive digital set-top terminals. We also are impressed with GI's aggressive approach to integrate various vendor platforms into its set-top terminals."
"GI is excited about being selected to support Insight Communications for their launch of real-time interactive digital services, enabling them to answer customer demand for advanced video and data services," said Denton Kanouff, Vice President-Marketing of GI's Digital Network Systems business unit. "Insight's selection of GI to launch an integrated offering, including software and applications from 3rd party Video-on-Demand and Internet access/e-mail providers, is a testament to GI's industry-leading open network and applications architecture."
The DCT-2000 represents the evolution of GI's current-generation interactive digital set-top terminals (DCT-1000 & DCT-1200), offering such enhancements as a double-speed processor, increased memory, and higher-end graphics capabilities. Like the DCT-1000 and 1200, the DCT-2000 combines MPEG -2 digital video and Dolby(R) AC3 digital audio with real-time interactive capabilities to help bring cable service to an entirely new level. They enable operators to offer increased channel lineups with digital picture and sound, as well as introduce their customers to a host of interactive services, such as impulse e-mail, video-on-demand, television-based Internet access, community networking and more.
GI's advanced interactive digital terminal, the DCT-5000+, delivers an unprecedented level of processing and graphics capabilities to the digital set-top terminal. Built around a high-powered RISC processor and a high-end 3D and picture-in-graphics capable graphics platform, the DCT-5000+ represents the leading edge in next generation digital cable terminals. This powerful processing and graphics capability is also supported by the unit's advanced digital networking capabilities. Offering a built-in DOCSIS-compliant cable modem for high-speed networking capability, the DCT-5000+'s unique triple tuner architecture enables users to simultaneously watch TV and surf the Internet or watch and talk using cable IP telephony functionality.
Insight Communications, a cable television operator, is among the nation's top 20 cable companies serving 525,000 subscribers. Specializing in offering a variety of state-of-the-art entertainment, educational and information services tailored to each local community, Insight owns and operates cable systems throughout the United States, with operations in California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Virginia. The headquarters is located in New York City.
General Instrument Corporation (NYSE: GIC) is a leading worldwide provider of integrated and interactive broadband access solutions, teaming with its business partners to lead the convergence of the Internet, telecommunications and video entertainment industries.
Visit the General Instrument website at gi.com.
/CONTACT: Media, Sharon Corbitt, Director of Communications, 215-323-1873, or e-mail, scorbitt@gi.com, or Investors, Dario Santana, VP, Investor Relations, 215-323-1213, or e-mail, dsantana@gi.com, both of General Instrument/ 17:16 EST
Contact: /CONTACT: Media, Sharon Corbitt, Director of Communications, 215-323-1873, or e-mail, scorbitt@gi.com, or Investors, Dario Santana, VP, Investor Relations, 215-323-1213, or e-mail, dsantana@gi.com, both of General Instrument/ 17:16 EST
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