Skip to main content

InvestorsNovember 11, 2002

Digeo, Charter Launch Most Widely Deployed Interactive Games Channel in North America

Share Article:

New Suite of Two Way TV US' Games Now Available to More Than 650,000 Charter

Customers

KIRKLAND, Wash. and ST. LOUIS, Nov. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Remote controls are being transformed into joysticks as Digeo, Inc. and Charter Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHTR) launch an interactive television channel dedicated exclusively to games. Called i-Games, the new channel features games that viewers play by simply using their remotes. The interactive games channel is the latest addition to the Digeo(TM) Basic iTV service, currently available to more than 650,000 Charter Digital Cable(R) customers across the country under the brand name Charter i-Channels.

i-Games features two games developed in conjunction with Two Way TV US (Nasdaq: TWTV): "Picnic Antics" and "Deal With It." Both games are played using buttons on viewers' remote controls. "Picnic Antics" is an entertaining single player puzzle game that requires viewers to feverishly fend off ants invading a picnic by destroying them as fast as they appear. "Deal With It" features a cunningly devised poker board on which players must race against the clock and strategically place cards dealt by the game to construct a winning hand. The interactive games channel will eventually host strategy, trivia and board games, and display local and national high scores. For Charter customers, i-Games can be reached via the Charter welcome screen at channel 001 or via direct tuning on channel 960.

Charter i-Channels, introduced less than a year ago, has quickly grown into the nation's most widely deployed interactive television offering. Boasting a total of eight channels, including News, Weather, Sports, Entertainment, Shopping, Money and now Games, these channels provide consumers with instant access to local and national content.

Since the service began rolling out a few weeks ago, the Games i-Channel has generated nearly two million screen views, representing roughly 30 percent of all weekly i-Channel usage, making it the most popular and heavily trafficked i-Channel to date.

Currently the i-Channels service, which is available in 18 Charter markets, boasts more than four million weekly screen views, with 20 percent of viewers using it 13 times per week. The markets are: Birmingham, Ala.; Charleston, W.Va.; Chicopee, Mass.; Fort Worth, Texas; Glendale, Calif.; Johnstown, Pa.; Kingsport, Tenn.; Long Beach, Calif.; Miami Beach, Fla.; Monterey Park, Calif.; Morristown Tenn.; University and Highland Park, Texas; Riverside, Calif.; San Luis Obispo, Calif.; Turlock, Calif.; Victorville, Calif.; Whittier, Calif.; and Worcester, Mass.

Many experts predict that games will be among the most appealing applications for interactive television. "We're excited to extend the functionality of the Charter i-Channels beyond information on-demand into new application areas such as games," said Steve Silva, Charter's executive vice president and chief technology officer. "This launch further reveals the capability of digital cable to deliver more entertainment value to our customers."

"The interactive games channel is yet another example of why digital cable is the best medium for home entertainment," said Digeo chief executive Jim Billmaier. "We continue to develop new channels and services that will boost the value of digital cable for operators and consumers."

"Digeo's Games i-Channel is a phenomenal opportunity to showcase our games for a broad audience in a completely new way, while offering consumers additional fun and innovative iTV-based games," said Bruce Bauer, CEO of Two Way TV US.

About Digeo, Inc.

Digeo's media center products and services transform cable TV into the ultimate home entertainment experience. Digeo's Moxi(TM) service puts digital cable at the heart of home entertainment by providing consumers with easy access to popular features such as personal video recording and high-definition TV, as well as music jukebox, photos, and games-all accessed from multiple rooms in the house using a fun and easy on-screen menu.

Digeo also delivers the most widely deployed cable iTV service in North America. The Digeo(TM) Basic iTV service, now available to over 650,000 Charter subscribers nationwide, offers on-demand weather updates, sports statistics, news stories, games and more.

Digeo is backed by Paul Allen's Vulcan Inc., as well as Mayfield Partners, Cisco Systems and AOL Time Warner. The company has offices in Kirkland, Wash., Palo Alto, Calif. and Longmont, Colo. For more information, please visit www.digeo.com.

About Charter Communications

Charter Communications(R), A Wired World Company(TM), is among the nation's largest broadband communications companies, currently serving some 6.7 million customers in 40 states. Charter provides a full range of advanced broadband services to the home, including cable television on an advanced digital video programming platform, via Charter Digital Cable(R) and high- speed Internet access marketed under the Charter Pipeline(R) brand. Commercial high-speed data, video and Internet solutions are provided under the Charter Business Networks(TM) brand. Advertising sales and production services are sold under the Charter Media(TM) brand.

A Fortune 500 and Nasdaq 100 company, Charter was the 2001 recipient of the Outstanding Corporate Growth Award from the Association for Corporate Growth, the 2001 R.E. "Ted" Turner Innovator of the Year Award from the Southern Cable Telecommunications Association, and the 2001 Fast 50 Award for Growth from the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association. More information about Charter can be found at www.charter.com.

About Two Way TV US

Two Way TV US, with an unrivalled level of interactive expertise, offers broadcasters, networks, and developers the widest range of interactive and enhanced TV products and services. TWTV leads the advancing age of Interactive TV with its library of games, ranging from enhanced television specials to on demand content. Its portfolio of over 100 games and eTV formats designed and copyrighted for television provides tried-and-tested interactive formats off- the-shelf.

Two Way TV US is an interactive television technology solutions provider. Two Way TV's intellectual property portfolio creates a powerful technology for the production and support of live, competitive, real-time interactive gaming services that can be interfaced with multiple underlying broadcast platforms. Further information about TWTV US can be found at www.twowaytvus.com.

CONTACT: Gina Aumiller Bender of Digeo, +1-650-838-6014, or
gina@digeo.com; Andy Morgan of Charter, +1-314-543-2217, or
amorgan@chartercom.com; or Bruce W. Bauer of Two Way TV US, +1-323-852-6176,
or bbauer@twowaytvus.com; or Derek Norton of Watertower Group,
+1-310-701-3111, or dnorton@watertowergroup.com, for Two Way TV US.
                     Make Your Opinion Count - Click Here
               http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X03169332

SOURCE Charter Communications, Inc.; Digeo, Inc.

-0- 11/11/2002

/CONTACT: Gina Aumiller Bender of Digeo, +1-650-838-6014, or gina@digeo.com; Andy Morgan of Charter, +1-314-543-2217, or amorgan@chartercom.com; or Bruce W. Bauer of Two Way TV US, +1-323-852-6176, or bbauer@twowaytvus.com; or Derek Norton of Watertower Group, +1-310-701-3111, or dnorton@watertowergroup.com, for Two Way TV US/

/Web site: http://www.twowaytvus.com /

/Web site: http://www.digeo.com /