Sony's Newest Generation of Digital Satellite Systems Leads Industry With Advanced Features.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 15, 1996--As one of the pioneers in an industry of digital home entertainment technologies, Sony Electronics Inc. announces the availability of its next generation of Digital Satellite Systems.

Three new models deliver brilliant digital pictures and high fidelity sound, as well as offer a host of sophisticated, consumer-friendly features. All three systems incorporate one-button record with a VCR mouse, Sony's 32-bit microprocessor for fast on-screen menu operation of the company's Enhanced Express Navigator(TM) with Direct Tuning(TM) on-screen menu system, and the SignalSeeker(TM) LED, another Sony first which enables an individual to easily install the antenna dish with the aid of an LED that flashes at 20 advancing speeds as it detects proximity to the satellite signal.

Leading the industry in true home audio/video integration with features designed to intimately link Sony-brand DSS systems with compatible home entertainment components, Sony introduces its one-button record feature with VCR mouse that lets you highlight a future program in any one of the Guides or List Menus and set it to record. The VCR mouse can control most brands of VCRs to start and stop timer recording coupled with the ten-event programmable timer, the Sony-brand DSS receiver will turn on, select the channel and automatically turn off so consumers can record shows even when they're not at home.

Sony also features S-Link(TM) audio/video integration that allows remote command signals to be passed through other infrared controlled A/V components resulting in one-button system operation and easy system integration.

"Sony's newest digital satellite systems reflect our heritage of bringing advanced technology together with the needs of the end user," explained Greg Gudorf, Director, DSS Department, Sony Electronics Inc., "With innovative and intuitive features, including digital audio out and our Universal Joystick Remote, Sony-brand DSS continues to offer useful and exciting benefits to consumers."

Advanced DSS Steps Up Home Entertainment Features

for Quality Viewing and Recording

Designed for ultimate synergy with other home entertainment products, Sony's advanced SAS-AD2, features a dual-output LNB satellite antenna which allows easy addition of a second satellite system for use in multi-room applications.

The SAS-AD2 offers a unique advanced feature with its digital audio output for true digital-to-digital recording on MiniDisc or DAT formats as well as for outstanding real-time audio.

The advanced satellite receiver offers an interactive, flexible graphical user interface with Sony's Enhanced Express Navigator(TM) with Direct Tuning(TM) System. Direct Tuning moves the viewer directly from channel guides to a selected program with a minimum of keystrokes, while the on-screen guide features a Display Options Menu that allows viewers to choose among eight background colors, three transparency levels, numerical and alphabetical order of stations and a jump loop to allow the user to quickly flip between up to five channels.

The Enhanced Express Navigator with Direct Tuning offers a host of other flexible program management features. These include:

- Master Guide, a 3x3 on-screen program grid that allows access to custom controls, along with various program guides and set-up screens that put customized user commands at the consumer's fingertips. Master Guide gives a detailed description of the highlighted program, name and providing station as well as a program synopsis. - Category Guides to display choices by type of programming such as sports, music and movies with sub-categories like westerns and comedies. - Auto Program automatically skips all stations not subscribed to. - Custom Guide deletes rarely used channels from the up/down scanning sequence. - Favorite Station Guide allows the set up of five individual guides, with each showing up to seven most frequently watched channels.

All these options are easily managed on this advanced unit by Sony's Remote Commander(R) UHF/RF remote control. With many of the codes required to operate most brands of TVs, VCRs, and cable converter boxes, the Remote Commander control may also be programmed to operate other infrared remote devices. The universal joystick remote operates with point-and-click simplicity. LED indicators for DSS, TV and cable indicate which device the remote is operating. The DSS receiver's hideaway design also offers UHF/RF remote control to operate the receiver from another room.

Available now, the manufacturers suggested retail price for the SAS-AD2 is $749.99.

Second New Model Features Dual Output LNB, One-Button Record

Also delivering digital picture quality and sound, Sony's second new model, the SAS-BD2 includes many of the same features as the advanced unit, one-button record with VCR mouse, ten event programmable timer including Enhanced Express Navigator with Direct Tuning on-screen menu system, fast 32-bit microprocessor, Signal-Seeker LED, and S-Link integration.

In addition, the SAS-BD2 offers the same dual output LNB so that a second receiver may be added to the system at a later date.

Operating with the Remote Commander remote control, the SAS-BD2 also navigates through Sony's Enhanced Express Navigator menu system with many of the same features as the advanced unit, offering selectable screen colors with Transparency option and current channel picture and sound.

Immediately available the manufacturers suggested retail price for the SAS-BD2 is $649.99.

Basic Model Rounds Out One-Button Record On Every Model

With the same quality engineering as the other Sony digital satellite systems, Sony's new entry-level single-output LNB SAS-BS2 offers many of the same features as more advanced DSS models, including one-button record with VCR mouse and ten event programmable VCR timer, a 32-bit microprocessor, Enhanced Express Navigator, SignalSeeker LED, Remote Commander remote control and S-Link capability.

Unique in the industry, the SAS-BS2 is the only entry-level receiver to feature one-button record capability with VCR mouse.

"These full-featured digital satellite systems bring excitement to home entertainment," concluded Gudorf, "With digital quality picture and sound and user-friendly features, Sony's next generation DSS again offers incomparable value." In stores now, the manufacturers suggested retail price for the SAS-BS2 is $549.99.

DSS and DIRECTV are registered trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation. U.S. Satellite Broadcasting and USSB Entertainment Plus is a trademark of United States Satellite Broadcasting Company, Inc.

CONTACT: Donna Austi

Technology Solutions, 212-696-2000 ext. 288

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