Unity Motion Brings Multichannel HDTV Broadcasting To America Unity Motion has begun broadcasting two additional channels of high-definition television (HDTV), making it the first multichannel HDTV broadcaster in America.
Channels HD-2 and HD-3 will offer a growing range of movies and sports 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They join HD-1, a general entertainment channel currently being demonstrated by audio/video retailers to introduce consumers to the Unity Motion High Definition Distribution System. ""We are pleased to once again lead the industry with the latest advancements in HDTV broadcasting,"" said Unity Motion Chairman and CEO Lawrence Miller. ""Viewers of our multichannel HDTV service will experience the highest possible picture and sound quality. It's the type of extraordinary performance originally envisioned for the HDTV marketplace."" To facilitate the upramp to HDTV broadcasting, additional channels are scheduled for debut by Unity Motion during the course of 1999 and into the next millennium. Unity Motion plans to deliver programming from a wide variety of sources, including movie studios, premium channels, cable channels, international providers, independent producers and others. The company has secured significant capital for the acquisition of first-run programming and operates its own production facilities for the creation of original programming in HD. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) numerous manufacturers, including Hitachi, JVC, Kenwood, Philips, Pioneer and Sony, used Unity Motion's national HD broadcasts at their show booths. By mid-1999 Unity Motion expects to add 720p broadcasts as programming is available, though its system is now capable of airing both 1080I and 720p formats via satellite, and 720p terrestrially. ""Any format of HDTV can be used or received by our system,"" said Unity Motion's Senior Vice President Sean Henry. Unity Motion has begun marketing its system through A/V specialists and has now equipped about 400 dealers with demos, according to Henry. While product is now shipping to dealers, Unity Motion will not begin charging for its programming packages until June. ""We want our early adopters to feel good and comfortable with it,"" Henry said. Unity Motion expects to charge $19.95 per month for its basic programming package or $95 a year. Pricing for its premium package or pay-per-view has not been announced. For more information contact Sean Henry at 314 592 9700 or visit www.unitymotion.com.