New RCA DirecTV Satellite Systems Bring Local Channel Reception To Homes

A new generation of RCA DirecTV satellite receiver systems with a dramatically enhanced feature package promises exciting new viewing options for consumers including local channel capability, Interactivity, Enhanced Program Guides, and Caller ID Display.Along with the new feature content, many new and existing RCA DirecTV System owners soon will have the option of receiving local broadcast network channels following President Clinton's recent signature to new federal legislation. The ""Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999"" permits satellite companies - for the first time - to offer local broadcasts and provides a five-year reprieve for hundreds of thousands of consumers who were scheduled to lose distant network signals as a result of an earlier federal courtdecision.Regarding local channel reception, DirecTV has previously announced it will offer local broadcast network channels via satellite to up to 50 million homes, or about half of the nation's television households. DirecTV began rolling out local channels in Los Angeles and New York within hours following the President's signature of the new law and has continued to add markets throughout the remainder of 1999 and in 2000. Within the 50 million household area, many consumers will be able to receive local channel broadcasts through their existing RCA DirecTV systems.""Local channel reception capability brings the RCA DirecTV System to a higher plateau, and we expect it to result in another banner sales year,"" said Thomson's David Spomer, Vice President - DBS Product Management. ""Along with over 200 channels of satellite entertainment from DirecTV, these new receiver systems are designed to deliver new capabilities in home entertainment as well as outstanding convenience features.""Two of the DirecTV System models - the DS4440RE system (suggested retail price $399) and the DRD480RE stand-alone receiver (suggested retail price $349) - include the following new convenience features:- WinkÆ Enhanced Broadcasting capability which enables DirecTV (starting later this year) to transmit information related to the program being viewed by the consumer. The Wink system overlays graphics on the program being broadcast with data that could include sports statistics, quiz questions, and other information which the viewer can access by remote control.- New Seven-Line Program Guide, a video window within the Enhanced Program Guide that enables the viewer to watch the current program while searching through additional program listings. Among other advantages, the new program guide offers quick and easy access to local programming, displaying only those local channels available in the consumer's broadcast market. Earlier-generation guides require viewers to surf through the entire range of local optionsto locate eligible programming.- Caller ID Display - when the consumer subscribes to a caller ID service via the telephone company, this feature can display the telephone number and name of the caller during an incoming phone call. This gives the viewer the option to continue watching a favorite program before returning the call.The DS4440RE system incorporates Wink Enhanced Broadcasting capability, New Seven-Line Program Guide, Local Channel Reception capability, and Caller ID Display capability in addition to standard convenience features. This new system comes with the DSA8900E 18-inch x 24-inch wide oval satellite dish/antenna featuring two dual LNBs and a multiswitch for connection to multiple DirecTV satellite receivers. This allows for reception of DirecTV programming satellites in multiple orbital slots.The DRD480RE stand-alone receiver/decoder includes Dolby Digital surround sound audio capability and a UHF/IR universal remote control. Viewers who wish to experience six-channel Dolby Digital sound for maximum home theatre enjoyment may do so by connecting a Dolby Digital receiver and external speakers to the DRD480RE.Additional standard convenience features shared by the digital satellite receivers include an Accelerated 32-Bit Processor for near-instant access to favorite programs and an Advanced On-Screen Program Guide with personalized viewing options as follows:Information Guide which lists five different channels of programming at a glance. Details on the current highlight program are displayed in a channel banner at the top of the screen. Program information changes as the consumer navigates through the guide, highlighting different programs.Interactive Channel Banner, a see-through banner that displays icons of the most frequently used system functions and positions them in the banner for virtually instant access to key receiver features.Scout, a feature that enables the viewer to customize programming options. Scout searches the entire program guide to find matches to eight key words or phrases that the consumer enters. When a match is found, the Scout icon in the channel banner is automatically highlighted.AlphaSort which allows the user to sort the program guide alphabetically, starting with any letter. The viewer highlights and presses a single button on the remote to instantly access the desired program.The Guardian, an enhanced parental control feature that gives viewers the capability for setting specific viewing times as well as locking out specific channels and/or setting ratings (on rated programs) and spending limits.About Thomson MultimediaWith sales over $6 billion in 1998 and 48,000 employees in over 30 countries, Thomson multimedia (NYSE: TMS) is the fourth largest global supplier of consumer electronics products. The group has four main activities: Displays and Components, Consumer Products, New Media Services, Patents and Licensing. Within its activities Thomson Multimedia develops, manufactures and sells television displays and components, consumer products such as televisions, VCRs, camcorders, audio and communications products, digital decoders, DVD players and professional video equipment. Thomson Multimedia is the parent company of the U.S.-based Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.

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