HBO Goes DolbyÆ Digital 5.1

Multichannel Audio Set-Top Box And Receiver Numbers Climb

16-Jul-01

DolbyÆ Laboratories announced that HBO's primary channel will debut programming in DolbyÆ Digital 5.1 with the pay network premiere of ìThe Perfect Storm.î The epic adventure, which began airing Saturday, July 14, is the first of many films and other programming to be broadcast by HBO in Dolby Digital 5.1-channel audio.""HBO has a reputation for bringing its viewers the highest-quality home entertainment, so we are thrilled to now offer Dolby Digital 5.1 on the service,"" said Bob Zitter, Senior Vice President of Technology Operations, HBO. ""Many of our viewers have home theatre setups, and with the growing number of set-top boxes equipped to deliver a Dolby Digital bit stream, we are able to enhance our subscribers' experience.""In addition to ìThe Perfect Storm,î upcoming HBO programming in Dolby Digital 5.1 includes the theatricals ìWhat Lies Beneathî and ìThe Contender,î the HBO film ìDinner With Friends,î and the ten-part HBO miniseries ìBand Of Brothers.îDolby Laboratories estimates that by the end of 2001, ten million U.S. households will have a set-top box capable of playing Dolby Digital 5.1 via DBS and/or digital cable. Dolby also estimates that more than nine million U.S. households will be equipped with Dolby Digital 5.1 home receivers. As the number of Dolby 5.1-channel devices continues to rise, more networks are broadcasting in Dolby Digital 5.1 sound.""We are very excited to see HBO embrace Dolby Digital 5.1 on their primary channel,"" said Tom Daily, Marketing Director, Professional Audio, Dolby Laboratories. ""Dolby Digital is changing the way viewers experience television programming, and we are starting to see viewers demand high quality multichannel audio through their cable and satellite television subscriptions. The quality of the home viewing experience is now richer than ever.""Other networks currently broadcasting in Dolby Digital 5.1 include ABC, DIRECTV, DISH Networkô, HBO HDTV, PBS, Showtime, and STARZ!For more information about Dolby Laboratories or Dolby technologies, visit www.dolby.com.

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