Release
<div>SHOWTIME NETWORKS ANTICIPATES HDTV DEMAND WITH COMPELLING PROGRAMMING</div>
NEW YORK, NY (JUNE 12): Showtime Networks recognizes that high-definition programming has the potential to be as revolutionary as the introduction of color TV. As a result, the company has substantially increased the amount of programming available on SHO HDTV in this ground-breaking format.
Showtime has steadily increased its HDTV programming since its launch of SHO HDTV in 2000. For the year-to-date through May, over 75% of primetime content is available in high resolution widescreen format of which 55% originates in HD. Furthermore, Dolby Digital 5.1 enhances virtually all high resolution widescreen content on SHO HDTV.
"As a leader in innovative broadcast technology, the company has taken a proactive stance on HDTV," stated Mark Greenberg, Showtime Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Communications. "Currently five percent of U.S homes are receiving HDTV signals, but that number is going to grow significantly. We feel the company is right on target and we want to be there when HDTV programming becomes mainstream."
The Yankee Group, an independent research company, expects significant growth HDTV in the near future with over 40 million homes expected to be receiving HDTV signals by 2007.
Increasing consumer adoption is already evident in HDTV-ready set and display sales. The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) reported that sales of digital TV (DTV) sets and displays (the majority of which are HDTV-ready) exceeded forecasts for 2002, with shipments totaling approximately 2.5 million units. The CEA predicts that nearly four million additional units will be sold in 2003, and that the total consumer investment on DTVs since they became available will reaching over $15 billion.
Showtime Networks has already committed to airing seven of its original series and many of its original movies in HDTV. The series will include returning hits such as QUEER AS FOLK, The Chris Isaak Show and JEREMIAH, as well as newly announced additions to the line-up, THE L WORD, DEAD LIKE ME, which premieres June 27th at 10 p.m.; FREE FOR ALL, which premieres July 11th at 11 p.m. and the limited series OUT OF ORDER, which premiered June 2nd at 10 p.m. The series and films will be broadcast in 1080i, a resolution six times the quality of traditional television.
SHOWTIME Original Pictures airing in HDTV for June and July include Our Town, Soldier's Girl, THE INCREDIBLE MRS. RITCHIE and Jasper, Texas. Other original movies airing in HDTV in 2003 include STEALING SINATRA, THE MALDONADO MIRACLE, COAST TO COAST and SPINNING BORIS. SHO HDTV is available to over 36 million multichannel video households via Charter, Comcast, Cox, DIRECTV, Dish Network, and Time Warner Cable.
Theatricals airing in HDTV for June and July include "American Psycho 2," "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," "Legally Blonde," "Vanilla Sky," "We Were Soldiers," "Clockstoppers," "Changing Lanes," "Rollerball" and "No Man's Land" among others.
Showtime Networks was the first premium television network to launch a series fully produced in high definition in 2002. The company was also the first network to launch Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound in conjunction with HDTV in 2000, and currently broadcasts this distinct audio enhancement on all of its 32 channels. In addition, the company has also made strides in other multimedia arenas and is currently the only U.S. television network doing program synchronous Interactive Television (ITV) on all SHOWTIME programming, on all leading platforms.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom Inc., owns the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL" and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME® TOO", SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE® and TMC xtra. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HDTV®, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND". SNI operates and manages the premium television network SUNDANCE CHANNEL®, which is owned by SNI, Robert Redford and Universal Studios. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME® PPV. Additionally, the advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME EXTREME® is available in Spain through a joint venture with Media Park and the advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME is available in Turkey through a joint venture with UK-based Zone Vision.
