Thompson Multimedia To Launch TiVo Box

["Mark McCall" <mark@xxxxxxx>]

http://www.diginews.org/news/june00011.htm
28/06/2000

Thompson Multimedia To Launch TiVo Box

THOMSON multimedia (NYSE: TMS), a worldwide leader in digital consumer
electronics products and TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), the creator of personal
television, announced today that the companies have signed an agreement by
which THOMSON multimedia has been chosen by TiVo to manufacture standalone
TiVo personal video recorders for the UK market. The TiVo Service delivered
in conjunction with British Sky Broadcasting (LSE: BSY, NYSE: BSY) will be
introduced this autumn on the personal video recorders carrying the TiVo
and
THOMSON Scenium brands.

State-of-the-art personal video recorders similar in size and shape to VCRs
and digital set-top boxes, will deliver the TiVo Service which will be
developed and distributed jointly by TiVo and Sky in the UK. The service
will allow TV viewers to easily record television programmes without
videotape, allowing them to watch what they want, when they want to watch
it. The product will be available at retail outlets and can be connected to
any TV regardless of the programming source, whether cable, Sky digital or
normal antenna.

"We are delighted to be the first to introduce the TiVo Service in the
UK,"
said THOMSON multimedia's Marc Valentin, Vice President, Digital Broadcast
&
Network Solutions. "We have been consistently promoting the
development and
marketing of new features associated to the use of digital technologies,
and
we feel that TiVo is one of the most exciting digital innovations to be
made
available to the TV viewers. Our strong image in the British market as an
innovative brand, and the partnership with BSkyB, the digital TV leader in
the UK, will be major assets in gaining acceptance for this new
technology."

TiVo and Sky will work together to deliver the service which will allow
viewers to shift the schedules for their favourite television shows and
create a customised television line-up for viewing at anytime. The TiVo
Service was designed to make it easy for consumers to find and record the
programs they want, with new service capabilities and enhancements
delivered
to recorders automatically.

Key benefits of the service also include the ability to select a Season
Passä, ensuring consumers never miss an episode of their favorite shows
again, because they will be routinely recorded every time they're on. They
will also be able to pause, rewind, instantly replay and play back in slow
motion any live television broadcast or recorded programme.

A unique attribute of the Service is its ability to recommend shows that
match viewers' interests through TiVo's Suggestions™; viewers can teach the
device what shows they like and dislike. Using these preferences, it will
automatically record programmes the viewer may want to see, in effect
making
peaktime television available anytime - day or night, for the convenience
of
the viewer.

TiVo president and CEO, Mike Ramsay commented: "Delivering better TV
is our
mission at TiVo, and we're pleased that by working with industry leaders
Sky
and THOMSON multimedia we will deliver a far richer, more entertaining TV
experience to UK viewers. The TiVo Service in conjunction with Sky's
programming offers the UK a revolutionary new way to enjoy TV, we are proud
to have the THOMSON brand associated with our product."

Sky's Chief Executive Tony Ball said: "This new product underlines
Sky's
determination to remain at the forefront of the broadcasting revolution.
The
new personal television service from Sky and TiVo will dramatically enhance
the TV viewing experience for all consumers in the UK. We are especially
delighted to welcome THOMSON multimedia as manufacturer of this
product."

_____________________________________
The UKs Premier Home Automation Site
http://www.automatedhome.co.uk
_____________________________________


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