MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 22, 2000 — WebTV Networks, Inc., is offering two free months of service* to new WebTV® Plus interactive service subscribers between now and April 30.
During the promotion, consumers who buy a Sony, Philips, RCA or Samsung WebTV Plus receiver and register for one month of paid service will be credited with two free months of service after mailing in a coupon to be found in stores, newspapers or online at http://www.webtv.com/ . The promotion is available in the 50 states and the District of Columbia and will be supported with print and radio advertising as well as in-store displays.
The Microsoft® WebTV Network TM Plus interactive service offers over 500 hours of interactive television programming each week; Internet access, including Web browsing, chat and e-mail; a searchable 14-day interactive program guide; one-touch VCR recording; and picture-in-picture technology. Interactive television allows viewers to play along with game shows, access additional news, check out sports statistics, vote in polls, chat with other fans and buy products while watching their favorite shows.
WebTV Network’s interactive television programming partners include NBC News, NBC Sports, Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, Columbia TriStar Television (
“Wheel of Fortune® ”
and
“JEOPARDY!® ), Big Ticket Television (”
JUDGE JUDY
”
), Home & Garden Television, The Weather Channel, MSNBC, HBO, E! Entertainment Television, Game Show Network and MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, with new partners and programs to come.
The estimated retail price of a WebTV Plus receiver is approximately $199. WebTV Plus service is offered at $24.95 per month and can be ordered directly from the user’s WebTV Plus receiver.
The two free months of service apply only to the WebTV Plus interactive service. The customer’s WebTV service account must be in good standing to redeem the credit. One month of paid service is required, and the offer is not combinable with any other WebTV or Microsoft offers. Coupons must be received by May 15. Further information about the promotion can be obtained by calling (800) 275-4766.
About WebTV Networks and Microsoft
WebTV Networks, Inc., is a leading provider of enhanced TV services using Internet and digital technologies. WebTV Networks offers a range of enhanced TV services for set-top boxes, satellite products and other TV-related devices. Today, these services include the WebTV Classic Internet service, the WebTV Plus interactive service, and WebTV Personal TV service. WebTV Networks owns and operates a network of TV services and provides enabling software and hardware reference designs to consumer electronics manufacturers.
WebTV Networks, based in Mountain View, Calif., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corp. Microsoft incorporates WebTV technologies in the Microsoft TV software platform, which it licenses to television network operators worldwide.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software – any time, any place and on any device.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft® Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages.
