CableLabs applauds HDTV program services.

LOUISVILLE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 12, 1997--Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. (CableLabs(R)) applauds Home Box Office and MSG Networks for their announced intentions to deliver high definition television (HDTV) services beginning next year.

The cable industry, largely through CableLabs(R), has been involved in the country's process of achieving a standard for HDTV since its inception. More recently, the industry, again through CableLabs, has been conducting a series of technical and CEO-level talks with the computer industry concerning that industry's efforts to develop and offer high definition services and receivers.

"From the early days of working with the Advanced Television Test Center to conducting field trials over cable and broadcast facilities, CableLabs at the direction of the cable television industry has participated in and expended significant resources in the HDTV process," said Dr. Richard R. Green, president and CEO of CableLabs.

"We soon will see the fruits of our labors in North American homes with quality that surpasses what the motion picture studios provide in theaters," said Green.

The CableLabs Board of Directors authorized the CableLabs' HDTV activity; comments from CableLabs Executive Committee members follow.

"It takes both technology and programming to make HDTV a reality," said Brian L. Roberts, president of Comcast Corporation. "Comcast is prepared to make the technological commitment. Of course, we would welcome more programmers to help fill the digital pipeline we're building. I want to thank HBO and MSG Networks for being the first to step up to the challenge, and we look forward to working with them."

"The energy expended on HDTV by the cable industry has not gone unrewarded," said Robert Miron, president of Advance/Newhouse Communications and a member of the CableLabs Executive Committee. "High definition television is yet another high quality service we expect to deliver to our customers," he said.

"We applaud HBO's leadership in committing to provide an HDTV feed. Cable has long been in the business of providing the clearest possible pictures to its customers and we expect to remain in the forefront as HDTV becomes a reality," said Joseph Collins, Chairman and CEO of Time Warner Cable.

Said Jim Robbins, Cox Communications president and CEO: "We're enthusiastic about working with HBO to ensure we provide the best product for our mutual customers. We feel strongly that cable's hybrid fiber-coax network is the best positioned platform to deliver advanced services like HDTV."

In addition to laboratory testing of the proposed HDTV systems, the cable industry participated in the field testing of the Grand Alliance HDTV system through CableLabs, using a total of eight cable systems in the Charlotte, N.C., area that were donated for test purposes by Time Warner Cable and by Vision Cable Communications.

CableLabs is a research and development consortium of cable television system operators representing more than 85% of the cable subscribers in the United States, 75% of the subscribers in Canada, and 12% of cable subscribers in Mexico. CableLabs plans and funds research and development projects that will help cable companies take advantage of future opportunities and meet future challenges in the television industry. It also transfers relevant technologies to member companies and to the industry. In addition, CableLabs acts as a clearinghouse to provide information on current and prospective technological developments that are of interest to the cable industry.

CONTACT: CableLabs, Louisville

Mike Schwartz, 303/661-9100