LodgeNet, HBO Sign Industry-First Agreement for HBO HD

LodgeNet, HBO Sign Industry-First Agreement for HBO HD

Only Hotels With sigNETure HDTV Systems Will Offer a High-Definition Television Experience for Blockbuster Movies and Original Features From HBO HD

NEW YORK, May 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ:LNET), one of the world's largest providers of interactive television and broadband solutions to hotels, 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.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000310/LODGELOGO )

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."

About LodgeNet

LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation ( http://www.lodgenet.com/ ) is one of the world's largest providers of interactive television and broadband solutions to hotels, including resort and casino hotels, throughout the United States and Canada as well as select international markets. These services include on-demand movies, music and music videos, on-demand videogames, Internet on television, and television on-demand programming, as well as high- speed Internet access, all designed to serve the needs of the lodging industry and the traveling public. LodgeNet provides service to more than one million interactive guest pay rooms and serves more than 6,000 hotel properties worldwide. LodgeNet estimates that during 2004 approximately 275 million travelers had access to LodgeNet's interactive television systems. LodgeNet is listed on NASDAQ and trades under the symbol LNET.

About HBO

Home Box Office, Inc., is the premium television-programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., providing two 24-hour premium television services, HBO and Cinemax. Together, both networks reach approximately 39 million subscribers in the United States via cable and satellite delivery. Home Box Office's international joint ventures bring HBO branded services to more than 50 countries around the globe.

LodgeNet and sigNETure HDTV are service marks or registered trademarks of LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation. All rights reserved. Pro:Idiom is a trademark of LG Electronics USA, Inc. Other trademarks may be the property of their respective owners.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000310/LODGELOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation

CONTACT: Ann Parker, Director of Corporate Communications, of LodgeNet
Entertainment Corporation, +1-605-988-1000, communications@lodgenet.com

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

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