LodgeNet Entertainment
Corporation today announced it has
entered into the first-ever agreement with Home Box Office, Inc. for the
distribution of HBO HD programming specifically to the lodging industry. While presenting at the Bear Stearns Global Credit Conference, LodgeNet
President and CEO Scott C. Petersen indicated the agreement grants
LodgeNet the rights to distribute HBO HD through its sigNETure HDTV(SM)
guest room television platform. Guests in sigNETure HDTV served rooms will
enjoy the complete lineup of HBO HD entertainment—including Hollywood
blockbusters and compelling original programming—in addition to
high-definition programming available from local broadcasters.

“Local broadcast networks offer some in-room options for high-definition
entertainment, but premium channels like HBO HD represent a totally
different world of high-definition programming that we are opening
specifically to hoteliers for the first time,” said Petersen. “With
high-definition Hollywood hits and original HBO programming like
‘Deadwood’, ‘The Sopranos’ and ‘HBO Championship Boxing’ delivered
securely to the glass, hoteliers can increase the ‘WOW factor’ of their
HDTV investment. It takes the value beyond the impact of the flat-panel
screen, to what guests can actually enjoy on that screen.”

The groundbreaking agreement was made possible by the Pro:Idiom(TM)
digital content protection solution developed by LG Electronics in
collaboration with LodgeNet.

“In a high-definition environment, protection of premium digital content
is mandatory,” explained Joe Snee, Vice President, Lodging for HBO.
“Through their work with TV manufacturers and content providers including
HBO, LodgeNet has proven they take this issue seriously and are committed
to an industry standard solution that ensures the end-to-end integrity of
digital programming. We look forward to continuing to captivate hotel
guests with terrific HBO programming, now in high-definition, through this
agreement.”
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