3DsoundSurge Press Release: NBC to Use Dolby E Technology

NBC to Use Dolby E Technology

Will Enable Viewers of NBC's Digital Programs to Get Theater Quality Surround Sound

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 27, 2000--Dolby Laboratories, the world leader in audio technology, announced that NBC has made a decision to use its Dolby E and Dolby Digital equipment and technology for the distribution of multichannel and stereo sound with Digital Television (DTV) programming.

NBC will use Dolby E encoders at the Network to encode the audio, enabling NBC viewers who receive digital programming to receive full Dolby theater-like sound at home. In addition, Dolby will provide technical assistance to NBC and its affiliates to ensure a smooth transition to multichannel sound.

``We're excited to have this opportunity to use our technology with NBC,'' said Tom Daily, Marketing Manager, Broadcast Products, for Dolby. ``The thrilling Dolby Digital sound added to the spectacular video resolution of DTV formats creates an unparalleled home theater experience.''

NBC began using Dolby Digital equipment for DTV broadcasts beginning with the first high definition ``Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' in April of 1999. NBC currently broadcasts Digital Television in 24 markets.

``New Dolby E products provide the technology we need to broadcast multichannel audio out to our audiences,'' said Jim Starzynski, Principal Engineer, Technical Planning and Engineering, NBC. ``Dolby's help and technical expertise will be valuable in supporting NBC's goal to provide the best technical programming to our viewers and listeners.''

About Dolby E

Dolby E was designed to ease the transition for DTV broadcasters from two-channel to multichannel audio. Unveiled at 1999's NAB convention, the DP571 Dolby E Encoder and DP572 Dolby E Decoder enable broadcasters to distribute up to eight channels of high-quality audio, as well as Dolby Digital metadata, via a single AES/EBU pair, and via two audio tracks on digital video tapes, digital audio tapes, or video servers. Dolby E-encoded audio can withstand the multiple encode/decode cycles required in TV audio production and distribution, and its frames match video frames for smooth, glitch-free edits.

Dolby E-encoded audio does not reach the consumer; it is re-encoded with Dolby Digital, the coding used for ATSC DTV broadcasts, DVD-Video discs, and other consumer media, just prior to transmission.

About Dolby Digital

Dolby Digital, Dolby Laboratories' 5.l-channel discrete audio encoding/decoding technology, has become the sound standard for virtually every new digital consumer format, including Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), Digital Cable, and Digital Broadcast television. It is also quickly becoming the standard for Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS). Dolby Digital sound technology allows six discrete channels of audio to be stored or transported in less spectrum than a single channel of pulse code modulation (PCM) audio found on traditional compact discs. With more than 42 million products incorporating Dolby Digital in consumer use today, Dolby Digital combines high quality multichannel sound with extraordinary spectrum efficiency.

About Dolby Laboratories

Dolby Laboratories is the developer of signal processing systems used worldwide in applications that include motion picture sound, consumer entertainment products and media, broadcasting and music recording. Based in San Francisco with European headquarters in England, the privately held company also has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Shanghai, and Tokyo.

Contact:

     Dolby Laboratories
     Jim Arnold or Adam Anderson, 415/645-5000
     jja@dolby.com
     Catherine Unwin, (44) 1793 842133
     cmu@dolby.co.uk
     or
     Shandwick International
     Lynne Daily-Hentemann, 310/203-0550
     ldaily@shandwick.com