EchoStar To Introduce New Digital Set-Top Box With OpenTV Operating System Software For The DISH Network
EchoStar Communications Corp. demonstrated its new interactive TV services using OpenTVÆ software at the annual Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association expo in Las Vegas this week. These new interactive services are planned to provide DISH Network satellite television customer later this year with numerous opportunities to access e-commerce, music information, customer care assistance, and other interactive services. EchoStarís new Model 3800 and current Model 4700 series satellite receivers will deliver interactivity to DISH Network customers this winter as quickly and easily as changing channels. This will represent the first deployment of OpenTV services to the entire U.S. market. EchoStar will license and deploy OpenTVís technology and software with EchoStarís Model 3800 and 4700 series satellite receivers, which will be abatable via satellite download to consumers this winter. Both interactive TV systems will qualify for DISH Network One-Rate Plans. OpenTV is the leader in interactive television with more than 3 million homes currently using its platform worldwide. ""By being the first in the U.S. to offer OpenTV interactive television, weíre offering our customers more of what they want from their television experience,"" said Mark Jackson, Senior Vice President of Satellite Services at EchoStar. ""DISH Networkís interactive TV services can provide customers instant high-speed information while generating new revenue streams for EchoStar and the content providers who use our service. Most importantly, DISH Network interactive TV services places us steps ahead of our competitors."" ""EchoStarís DISH Network is the ideal medium for the first U.S. deployment of truly interactive services for people who enjoy watching television,"" said Jan Steenkamp, CEO of OpenTV. ""The key to our success is an open and flexible software design, which uniquely positions us to bring expanded digital interactive services to the entire U.S. television market."" During the first year of deployment, DISH Network intends to offer its customers a variety of enhanced television services, such as an interactive electronic program guide, e-mail and Internet access for television, weather forecasts on demand and a variety of customer care and e-commerce services, including local weather and music merchandising, with more to be added in the future. DISH Network currently serves approximately 2.6 million customers. DISH Network is a trademark of EchoStar Communications Corporation. DISH Network is located on the Internet at www.dishnetwork.com. About OpenTV OpenTV is a worldwide leader in interactive television software for the digital receiver, providing a complete end-to-end solution for the development and delivery of interactive services via digital satellite, cable and terrestrial broadcast. More than three million digital receivers have been shipped worldwide with the OpenTV operating system software. To date, OpenTV software solutions have been deployed by 12 television networks worldwide including British Sky Broadcasting (BskyB) in the United Kingdom and TPS in France. EchoStarís DISH Network is scheduled to launch their interactive services in the U.S. utilizing OpenTV software later this year. The OpenTV operating system software is licensed to more than 20 digital receiver manufacturers and OpenTVís authoring tools are licensed to more than 100 independent developers, content and service providers. OpenTV is a member of the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) project and a licensee of Personal Javaô from Sun Microsystems. Worldwide headquarters for OpenTV is located in Mountain View, California, with European operations based in Paris, France. Information on OpenTV is available at www.opentv.com. For more information, contact EchoStar Communications Corp., Judianne Atencio, Communications Director, at 303 723 2010 or e-mail: judianne.atencio@echostar.com, or OpenTV, Inc., Mary Montes, Marketing Communications Manager, at 650 429 5556 or e-mail: mmontes@opentv.com.