Vongo Joins Forces With Toshiba to Deliver Next Generation of Portable Entertainment

Vongo Joins Forces With Toshiba to Deliver Next Generation of Portable Entertainment

New gigabeat(R) PMC Models Named First Portable Media Devices Certified for Vongo(SM)

Unique Partnership Extends Value of Internet Video Beyond the PC

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Starz Entertainment Group LLC (SEG) today announced that Vongo has partnered with Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C ("Toshiba") to offer consumers breakthrough portability for their digital entertainment. Vongo, SEG's subscription-based Internet video download application, will serve as a leading content provider for Toshiba's new line of gigabeat Portable Media Center (PMC) products, which will be available in capacities of 30GB* and 60GB*. The market availability of the new line of gigabeat devices was announced earlier today by Toshiba. The partnership will provide consumers with greater choice and flexibility for their overall entertainment experience.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060619/LAM043-a)
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060619/LAM043-b)

Vongo, which launched at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show and emerged from beta earlier this month, is the first subscription-based service of its kind that allows consumers to download major Hollywood films and other video content over the Internet for playback on Windows-based PCs, laptops, portable devices as well as on a TV. Members may download movies and video selections onto three eligible devices of their choice for each Vongo account, allowing for multiple-viewing options and family enjoyment.

Vongo's compatibility with the new line of gigabeat products extends the value of Internet video beyond the PC and enables Vongo subscribers to take their movies and other video entertainment on the go, whenever and wherever they want. Based on the Microsoft Portable Media Center v2.0 software, the new line of gigabeat products are the first portable media devices certified for the Vongo service.

"Vongo is video on the go. For Vongo, it is all about bringing greater value to our subscribers and improving their entertainment experience. The partnership with Toshiba and its new line of gigabeat PMC devices provides further evidence of how Vongo is revolutionizing portable content and driving portability in this emerging digital entertainment space. Consumers have said they want movies, music and photos all in one place and available to take with them wherever they go -- now they can," said Bob Greene, executive vice president of advanced services for SEG. "Building on our recent service announcement, Vongo continues to look for new partnerships and opportunities to increase the value proposition. We look forward to making more partnership announcements in the future, ultimately making Vongo a crucial element for movie and entertainment enjoyment."

As a leading Internet video content provider, Vongo is making strides in the emerging and fast-paced world of digital entertainment. Through its partnerships with Hewlett-Packard (HP), AT&T, Microsoft and now Toshiba, Vongo is helping to build an open digital entertainment ecosystem incorporating devices, content and technology. Together with its partners, Vongo is shaping how the consumer experiences movies, digital media and other video entertainment.

"At Toshiba, we are proud to bring the new gigabeat line to market as the first of the new generation of Portable Media Center devices," said Yoshi Uchiyama, Group Vice President of Toshiba's Digital Audio Video division. "By offering digital content from leading content providers, such as Vongo, on the new line of gigabeats, we as CE innovators are one step closer to providing the consumer with the ultimate entertainment experience."

The gigabeat PMC is available with 30GB and 60GB of storage capacity, a 2.4" diagonally measured QVGA color screen with 320 x 240 resolution, a new more tactile PlusTouch(TM) button and thanks to the Windows Mobile Portable Media Center software, one of the most intuitive interfaces available today, as well as an FM Tuner built in and the ability to transfer digital images for viewing directly from most digital cameras. The gigabeat PMC models are available now at $299.99 (30GB - MES30VW) and $399.99 (60GB - MES60VK) respectively.

Vongo subscribers have unlimited access to more than 1,600 movie and video selections as well as a live, streaming Starz TV channel for a monthly cost of $9.99 and is currently offering a 14-day free trial for new subscribers. Additionally, select popular pay-per-view titles are available for $3.99 a movie. In addition to Windows-based PCs, laptops and portable devices, Vongo subscribers can also transfer their Vongo content onto a TV for optimal viewing. Vongo is currently available as a free download for broadband subscribers in the United States at www.vongo.com.

As one of the largest content aggregators in Hollywood, Starz Entertainment Group has access to thousands of theatrical films that it makes available on Vongo including "Sin City," "The Aviator," "Hostage," "The Incredibles," "Are We There Yet?," "Herbie: Fully Loaded," "Bewitched," and "Flightplan" and coming later this year, "Rent," "Chicken Little," and "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."

Starz Entertainment Group is the exclusive subscription provider of first-run, classic and favorite films from leading Hollywood studios including Walt Disney Pictures, Miramax Films, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Films, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Tri-Star, Screen Gems, Revolution Studios and more. Select recent films are available exclusively from Universal Pictures and New Line Cinema and library and classic titles are provided by a wide array of Hollywood studios.

Additional programming available to Vongo subscribers includes full-length music concerts (INXS: Live Baby Live, The Hives: Live from Las Vegas, Jay-Z: I Will Not Lose, The Who: Live in Boston, Phil Collins: A Life Less Ordinary), TV series (The Green Hornet, Edgemont) and extreme sports (Warren Miller's Storm, Warren Miller's Journey, Real Action Sports, Ride Guide).

* When referring to hard drive capacity 1 GigaByte = 1 billion bytes. Available capacity will be less with pre-loaded content and operating system. Actual formatted capacity may vary.

About Starz Entertainment Group

Starz Entertainment Group LLC (SEG) is a premium movie service provider operating in the United States. SEG offers 16 movie channels including the flagship Starz(R) and Encore(R) brands with approximately 14.6 million and 26.4 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment Group airs more than 1,000 movies per month across its pay TV channels and offers advanced services including Starz HDTV, Starz On Demand and Vongo(SM). Starz Entertainment Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation that is attributed to Liberty Capital Group (NASDAQ:LCAPA)(NASDAQ:LCAPB), www.starz.com.

About Toshiba America Consumer Products

Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C. is owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, a world leader in high technology products with subsidiaries worldwide. Toshiba is a pioneer in DVD and DVD Recorder technology and a leading manufacturer of a full line of home entertainment products, including flat panel TV, rear and front projection and direct view televisions, combination products and portable devices. Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C. is headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey. For additional information please visit www.tacp.toshiba.com. Toshiba respects the rights of others. Our products are only intended for lawful recording, storage and playback of authorized content and any other lawful use.

Contacts:
Eric Becker
Starz Entertainment Group
720-852-4065
eric.becker@starz.com

David Coates/Kate Powers
Brodeur for Starz Entertainment Group
617-587-2927/617-587-2010
dcoates@brodeur.com/kpowers@brodeur.com

Alejandro Arango
Brodeur for Toshiba
(617) 587-2034
aarango@brodeur.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060619/LAM043-a
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060619/LAM043-b
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN2, PRN3
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Starz Entertainment Group LLC; Toshiba

CONTACT: Eric Becker of Starz Entertainment Group, +1-720-852-4065,
eric.becker@starz.com; or David Coates, +1-617-587-2927, dcoates@brodeur.com,
or Kate Powers, +1-617-587-2010, kpowers@brodeur.com, both of Brodeur, for
Starz Entertainment Group; or Alejandro Arango of Brodeur, +1-617-587-2034,
aarango@brodeur.com, for Toshiba

Web site: http://www.starz.com/
http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/
http://www.vongo.com/

-------
Profile: intent