Will I be able to use my current DSS[SUP]®[/SUP] system with the new DIRECTV interactive product?
In March 1996 DIRECTV announced an agreement with Microsoft Corporation to deliver interactive broadcast services to personal computers.
DIRECTV licensed Microsoft Corp. to develop a PC-based platform that will receive existing DIRECTV video programming packages and future interactive data services. DIRECTV granted Microsoft a DSS-manufacturer license and will also authorize various PC manufacturers to build a broadcast-enabled PC capable of receiving DIRECTV signals. Thomson Consumer Electronics also licensed Microsoft for the DSS system digital compression technology. Microsoft is developing specifications for a version of the DSS system decoder that can be integrated into new Microsoft[SUP]®[/SUP] Windows[SUP]®[/SUP] 95-based PCs. The specifications will also apply to upgrading certain classes of the installed base of existing multimedia computers.
DIRECTV subscribers with a digital broadcast-enabled personal computer will be able to access all of the video programming packages currently available on DIRECTV, in addition to a new category of interactive broadcast programming in the form of data-enhanced television and data services. The new data services will use the DIRECTV broadband digital transmission system and will include information accompanying video broadcasts, selected Internet content, multimedia magazines and other data subscriptions. Users will be able to download transmitted files in a matter of seconds, making this PC-based platform a very powerful delivery system of information and entertainment.
Target date to bring this new product and service to market is estimated for late 1997. The new product will be available for PC-based systems for the initial product roll-out. Upgrade kits and adapters for DIRECTV subscribers who own a Pentium-based multimedia PC are expected to follow shortly thereafter. Consumers will be able to purchase this product at authorized computer stores and consumer electronics retailers nationwide. Pricing will be established closer to the product's introduction to the marketplace.
In March 1996 DIRECTV announced an agreement with Microsoft Corporation to deliver interactive broadcast services to personal computers.
DIRECTV licensed Microsoft Corp. to develop a PC-based platform that will receive existing DIRECTV video programming packages and future interactive data services. DIRECTV granted Microsoft a DSS-manufacturer license and will also authorize various PC manufacturers to build a broadcast-enabled PC capable of receiving DIRECTV signals. Thomson Consumer Electronics also licensed Microsoft for the DSS system digital compression technology. Microsoft is developing specifications for a version of the DSS system decoder that can be integrated into new Microsoft[SUP]®[/SUP] Windows[SUP]®[/SUP] 95-based PCs. The specifications will also apply to upgrading certain classes of the installed base of existing multimedia computers.
DIRECTV subscribers with a digital broadcast-enabled personal computer will be able to access all of the video programming packages currently available on DIRECTV, in addition to a new category of interactive broadcast programming in the form of data-enhanced television and data services. The new data services will use the DIRECTV broadband digital transmission system and will include information accompanying video broadcasts, selected Internet content, multimedia magazines and other data subscriptions. Users will be able to download transmitted files in a matter of seconds, making this PC-based platform a very powerful delivery system of information and entertainment.
Target date to bring this new product and service to market is estimated for late 1997. The new product will be available for PC-based systems for the initial product roll-out. Upgrade kits and adapters for DIRECTV subscribers who own a Pentium-based multimedia PC are expected to follow shortly thereafter. Consumers will be able to purchase this product at authorized computer stores and consumer electronics retailers nationwide. Pricing will be established closer to the product's introduction to the marketplace.
