HORSHAM, Pa., Oct. 17, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Music Choice, the largest provider of commercial-free digital music via cable and satellite, and distributor of an exclusive Concert Series through a nationwide network of cable systems, today announced an increase of 1.2 million new Music Choice customers for the quarter ended September 30, 2002. Music Choice has realized a total increase of 3.3 million new customers year-to-date bringing the total cable and DIRECTV(r) homes with Music Choice to 25.2 million.
"We are very pleased to report that Music Choice is now in one of every four homes in the United States, with more people getting their music from Music Choice than any other music source," stated David Del Beccaro, President and CEO of Music Choice.
Music Choice enhanced its commercial-free music channels in 2002 with new screens featuring album art, music news, artist facts, music history, new releases and TV screen ads to accompany the great selection of uninterrupted music that distinguishes Music Choice as a leader in the digital audio space. Music Choice also offered the first full-time platform for interactivity on music channels to cable operators. Any operator with interactivity can take full advantage of the Music Choice offering that enables their customers to shop for music and respond to promotions and advertisements using their television remote control. The interactive TV channels already exist in more than 4.6 million DIRECTV(r) homes.
In the third quarter of 2002, Music Choice introduced a new interactive channel for DIRECTV(r) and cable operators that allows customers to browse through a variety of different artists and albums from their favorite genres, and purchase multiple CD titles 24 hours a day, seven days a week from the comfort of their own homes. The channel has an easy-to-navigate interface and purchases are made through the convenience of the remote control. Customers simply select the CDs they want to purchase, add them to the shopping cart and complete transactions using a four-digit PIN to charge the credit card they have registered by signing up to shop on the DIRECTV INTERACTIVE Center.
About Music Choice
Music Choice is the largest digital audio service, providing cable and satellite customers with 54 channels of commercial free CD-quality music in a wide variety of music genres and original programs 24 hours a day. Music Choice produces an exclusive concert series through a nationwide network of cable systems. The MUSIC CHOICE(r) audio service reaches 25 million households and the Music Choice Concert Series airs in 30 million homes nationally. Headquartered in Horsham, PA, Music Choice is a partnership among subsidiaries of Microsoft Corporation, Motorola, Inc., Sony Corporation of America, Warner Music Group, Inc., EMI Music and several leading U.S. cable providers: Adelphia Cable Communications, Comcast Cable Communications, AT&T Broadband, Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable. MUSIC CHOICE(r) is a registered trademark of Music Choice. Visit the Music Choice website at www.musicchoice.com.