Pioneer Digital Technologies' Passport DCT(TM) Navigation Software Achieves Motorola Acadia Validation for New Product Release

Pioneer Digital Technologies' Passport DCT(TM) Navigation Software Achieves Motorola Acadia Validation for New Product Release

New, User-Friendly Features Including Title Search, Extended Channel Banner, Enhanced Graphics & Headend-Configurable Services Menu

BURBANK, Calif., Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Pioneer Digital Technologies, Inc., the leading provider of interactive program guides for multiple cable platforms, today announced that its Passport DCT(TM) 2.5 software navigation system with new feature upgrades has received Motorola's Horizon Program Acadia validation for Motorola digital set-tops. This latest Passport DCT edition introduces a variety of product improvements and new user-friendly features including intelligent title search, QuickInfo(TM) extended channel banner, enhanced graphics and a headend-configurable services menu. The new look and feel of Passport DCT 2.5 takes on a similar look to Pioneer's recently released Passport Echo product for DVR set-tops.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020628/PIONLOGO)

"We are continuously working with our customers to create navigation user interfaces that provide our customers with the most value from the deployment of advanced services while leveraging their current installed base of legacy set-tops," said Neil Jones, senior vice president, Pioneer Digital Technologies, Inc. "With this latest release of Passport DCT, operators can provide additional functionality to their customers and give them easy access to all of their service offerings."

Passport DCT 2.5 unique feature upgrades include:

* Title Search delivers a virtual keyboard interface allowing for easy
title entry and seamless program searches with a remote control.
* Quick Info allows viewers to use quick clicks of the 'Info' button on
the remote to see an extended channel banner, enabling full-screen
video viewing while also providing instant access to complete
information available for any program listing in the channel lineup.
* Enhanced Graphics introduces a sleek graphical interface with new rich
color scheme and dimensional detail.
* Scaled Video Support enables the display of "Picture-in-Graphics" in
the IPG Time, Theme and Title views on DCT 700, 2500, 5100, 6200
set-tops.
* Enhanced HD Output Format Controls allow viewers to select the aspect
ratio and video output format from the settings menu for HD capable
Motorola set-tops such as the DCT5100 and DCT6200.
* Subtitle Support within the guide enables the consumer to easily
select from a variety of languages to enable broadcasted subtitles
including English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.
* Secondary Audio Programming is user-configurable support of secondary
audio soundtracks that enables subscribers to watch particular
programs in an alternate broadcasted language, such as Spanish when
available.
* Closed Captioning allows viewers to enable or disable the display of
closed captions; select an analog and a digital closed caption
service; and customize the text style appearance of digital closed
captions.
* Latin American Markets supports an operator-configurable setting used
to force the display of on-screen subtitles; offers a configurable
parental control for Latin American ratings; and allows for the
modification of pricing information fields to support the display of
non-U.S. currencies.



For cable operators, Passport DCT 2.5 introduces its new QuickMenu(TM) feature, a headend-configurable menu of any of the operator's services including premium and interactive services or Passport menus which can be launched quickly by the subscriber with the remote. Cable operators can add value to and differentiate their service by customizing the QuickMenu into categories of their choice to help subscribers navigate a broad offering of programming and drive interest for key services including Video-On-Demand, Pay-Per-View, Premium channels and Music. Passport DCT 2.5 also supports Broadcast Messaging, a feature that allows messages to be sent from the cable headend to set-tops in the field, supporting cable operator marketing and communications efforts.

For more information on Passport DCT 2.5, visit: www.pioneerdigital.com.

About the Motorola Horizon Program


Motorola created the Horizon Program to facilitate independent software vendor (ISV) partners in the development and implementation of interactive TV solutions, including IPGs, VOD, personal video recording (PVR), Internet access, gaming, targeted advertising, e-mail, and commerce applications. These applications enable broadband network operators to create additional cash flow and decrease customer churn. ACADIA validation is used as a benchmark for broadband network operators as they choose the software, content, and applications to deliver to their subscribers. The ACADIA Application Integration Center, a wholly owned subsidiary of Motorola Broadband, is the supporting facility for the Horizon Program. It provides resources and expertise to take applications and other software solutions from prototype to commercial deployment. ACADIA is an independent development and integration entity, with a staff completely dedicated to supporting the Motorola Horizon Program.

About Pioneer Digital Technologies, Inc.

Pioneer Digital Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of interactive navigation software to the cable television industry. More than 7 million copies of its Passport(TM), Passport DCT(TM), and Passport Echo(TM) navigation and application suites are deployed nationwide to cable systems on a variety of digital cable set-top platforms, from basic standard definition digital set-tops to advanced high-definition digital video recorder set-tops. Today it is the only company with guides in both of the major headend platforms, compatible with virtually every deployed digital cable set-top box in the Americas. For more information, visit www.pioneerdigital.com.

Pioneer Corporation, the parent company of Pioneer Digital Technologies, Inc., is a leader in optical disc technology and a preeminent manufacturer of high-performance audio, video, computer and cable equipment for the home, car and business markets. The company focuses on four core business domains including DVD, display technologies, Digital Network Entertainment(TM) and components. Founded in 1938 in Tokyo, Pioneer Corporation (NYSE:PIO) employs more than 36,000 people worldwide. Its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

For further information, please contact Lisa A. Ruiz, +1-310-320-2010, lisa@bobgoldpr.com, for Pioneer Digital Technologies, Inc.; or Amy Friend of Pioneer Digital Technologies, Inc., +1-310-952-2507, amy.friend@pioneer-usa.com.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020628/PIONLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Pioneer Digital Technologies, Inc.

CONTACT: Lisa A. Ruiz, +1-310-320-2010, lisa@bobgoldpr.com, for Pioneer
Digital Technologies, Inc.; or Amy Friend of Pioneer Digital Technologies,
Inc., +1-310-952-2507, amy.friend@pioneer-usa.com

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


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