BellSouth Announces Major Home Entertainment Initiative, Building an Even Bigger Bundle of Services.Business Editors ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2000 BellSouth is Positioned to be One of the Largest Full Service Telecommunications and Entertainment Providers in the Country BellSouth Corporation (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : BLS See Bureau of Labor Statistics. ) today moves one step closer to its goal of becoming a single source provider of high-quality telecommunications and entertainment services by signing a long-term satellite service agreement with GE Americom, a GE Capital company. With this move, BellSouth is more rapidly positioned to offer a full-suite of digital home entertainment, information and communications services to all of its customers, while emerging as the industry leader in convergence. Through advanced satellite technology, BellSouth will have the capability to deliver digital TV entertainment and interactive information to over 14 million households in its current telecommunications markets and potentially 50 million households in neighboring states outside the southeastern United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . The company plans to start rolling out its new digital television service to its top markets in less than a year, expanding throughout the Southeast by the first half of 2002. BellSouth currently offers a complete suite of services including voice, video, wireless, paging, Internet and data services, available all on a single bill. BellSouth also provides its customers one call for their service needs, one-stop shopping for additional products and services, and award-winning service from the communications company Communications Company is a communications unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are part of Combat Logistics Regiment 37 , 3rd Marine Logistics Group (3MLG) and III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF). The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. that has been chosen as the superior provider of customer service for four consecutive years by J.D. Power and Associates. "We are leading the industry in providing customers end-to-end communications needs," said Bob Frame, president, BellSouth Entertainment. "For the past two years, BellSouth has been successfully delivering high-quality, digital home entertainment to customers in many southeastern markets. With today's action, BellSouth's entertainment landscape has expanded considerably." "Establishing this long-term relationship with BellSouth reflects GE Americom's commitment to be the satellite solutions provider of choice. We are delighted to bring all of our operational, engineering and market expertise into play thereby making a strategic contribution to BellSouth's exciting plan to deliver seamless telecommunications and entertainment services to their customers," said John F. Connelly, chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , GE Americom. Strong Customer Demand for Existing Entertainment Services Spurs Growth Currently, BellSouth delivers home entertainment service in 11 Southeastern markets. BellSouth's digital customers enjoy more than 160 channels of programming, including local broadcast channels, news and information, movies, sports and music, all with superior picture and sound quality, extensive viewing control options and awardwinning customer service. Subscribers to BellSouth's entertainment service can also access a large selection of the latest hit movies through the company's user friendly near video-on-demand service. The service also features an on-screen on·screen or on-screen adj. & adv. 1. As shown on a movie, television, or display screen. 2. Within public view; in public. interactive program guide to help BellSouth users navigate through an exciting array of entertainment options. The convenient guide allows customers to easily find programs, establish viewing preferences and block unwanted programming with state-of-theart parental control features. BellSouth has had an overwhelming response to its video entertainment service, which has been rolled out to a limited number of markets. Despite limited availability When customers of the PSTN make telephone calls, they commonly make use of a telecommunications network called a switched-circuit network. In a switched-circuit network, devices known as switches are used to connect the caller to the callee. , the company has signed more than 120,000 customers a clear sign of the marketplace's high demand for high-quality home entertainment options, from a company they know and trust. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Frame, BellSouth's decision to embrace satellite technology is due to satellite's expansive coverage capabilities, speed to market, and variable costs. GE Americom emerged as the most desirable provider to support BellSouth's long-term video entertainment initiatives due to its highest-in-the-industry quality, complementary capabilities, satellite service and operational experience and capacity, along with its heritage of and commitment to service excellence. Additionally, the partnership with GE Americom offers BellSouth an extremely cost-effective lease of satellite capacity to serve all BellSouth customers over a two-to-three year roll-out period. For customers, the agreement allows BellSouth to continue to meet all of their entertainment needs, from offering a robust digital entertainment package to delivering and installing all necessary equipment, and providing superior customer service, all from one company, on one bill. "This initiative further demonstrates the company's ability to be a total communications solutions provider offering a superior end-to-end customer experience," says Sue McLaughlin, president, BellSouth Consumer Services Consumer Services refers to the formulation, deformulation, technical consulting and testing of most consumer products, such as food, herbs, beverages, vitamins, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, hair products, household cleaners, [paints, plastics, metals, waxes, coatings, minerals, . Moreover, BellSouth's digital entertainment package will be the conduit for advanced interactive services. As early as 2002, the service platform will support hundreds of video channels, as well as an advanced interactive guide and digital music. The service platform's technology will also have the capability to support e-commerce applications, caller ID A telephone company service that sends the caller's telephone number between the first and second ring of the call. If the calling number is not blocked, the calling number is displayed on the handset or base station of the called party. , games, e-mail, Internet browsing and near video-on-demand. BellSouth will utilize existing customer service channels to sign up new customers for its digital entertainment TV service, including BellSouth Entertainment call centers, BellSouth telephony call centers, BellSouth Mobility BellSouth Mobility, LLC headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, was a BellSouth subsidiary. BellSouth Mobility operated wireless networks using many different wireless communication standards. The most widely used of these technologies is called Digital AMPS, or D-AMPS. Retail Stores and the bellsouth.com web site. Current BellSouth entertainment customers' service will not be disrupted, and they will continue to enjoy a robust selection of digital television channels, including local programming. The announcement with GE Americom is the latest in a series of innovative technology introductions by BellSouth, including its recent portal partnership with MyWay.com Corporation, a majority-owned operating company operating company A business that engages in transactions with outsiders. of CMGI CMGI Commonly Maintained Grounds Infrastructures CMGI College Marketing Group Information (Services) , Inc. About BellSouth BellSouth is a $25 billion communications services company. It provides telecommunications services, Internet, data and e-commerce applications, wireless communications, entertainment services, and online and directory advertising to nearly 39 million customers in 19 countries worldwide. About GE Americom With over twenty years' experience, GE American Communications, Inc. is recognized as a pioneer and a leading provider of global satellite communications solutions. GE Americom's key customers include ABC Radio Networks, AT&T Alascom, British Telecom, Cidera, Deutsche Welle, Discovery, Disney, Gannett, Gilat, ICG ICG indocyanine green. , Merlin, NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. , the New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times, NHK NHK Nippon Hoso Kyokai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) NHK Nihon Hoso Kyokai (Japanese Broadcasting Association) NHK Nihon Hikikomori Kyokai (anime) , PaxNet, PBS PBS in full Public Broadcasting Service Private, nonprofit U.S. corporation of public television stations. PBS provides its member stations, which are supported by public funds and private contributions rather than by commercials, with educational, cultural, , TELE Greenland, TV Europa, TimeWarner/Turner Broadcasting and Viacom. GE Americom is a GE Capital business. GE Capital, with assets of over US$345 billion, is a global, diversified financial services company with 28 specialized businesses. A wholly-owned subsidiary of General Electric Company, GE Capital, based in Stamford, CT, provides equipment management, mid-market and specialized financing, specialty insurance and a variety of consumer services. GE is a diversified services, technology and manufacturing company with operations worldwide. |
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