Television
First-of-its-Kind National HD VOD Service Transforms HDTVs into Digital Canvases, Bringing da Vinci, Monet and More to Viewers' Living Rooms
PHILADELPHIA, PA and SEATTLE, WA
High-definition televisions (HDTVs) -- already known for delivering crystal-clear pictures that enhance the experience of watching movies, sports and TV programs -- are doing something brand new: bringing fine art masterpieces and stunning photographs to the living rooms of Comcast customers nationwide with GalleryPlayer On Demand. Comcast, the country's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services, and GalleryPlayer (http://www.galleryplayer.com), the recognized leader in high-definition digital art and photography, are delivering a new service that transforms the way customers use and interact with their HDTVs.
Customers can select from themed collections of art and photography drawn from more than 45 world-class museums, leading publishers, artists and photographers, including:
These images change every minute and are accompanied by synchronized music which transforms the television set into a digital canvas. Most of the featured works have never before been available in HD.
"With HD on demand, Comcast is proud to bring many of the best-known works of art into customers' homes, even if they live hundreds or thousands of miles from the museums where those images are displayed," said Page Thompson, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Video Services for Comcast. "Now, holiday party hosts can transform their HDTVs into picture frames for great art, and make the sets unique, attention-getting conversation starters."
Added Bruce Worrall, Chief Operating Officer of GalleryPlayer, "We've made the world's finest art and photography easily accessible to consumers for the first time, and in a format that completely transforms the way they use their HDTVs. GalleryPlayer imagery is on display at some of the world's finest museums, and we believe it will look stunning in Comcast customers' homes as well."
GalleryPlayer On Demand is available at no additional charge to Comcast Digital Cable customers with HD service as part of Comcast's signature ON DEMAND service. Serving as an ideal complement for parties, social functions and family events, themed image collections include the Art of Leonardo da Vinci; Autumn Splendor; Space Spectacular; Serene Beaches; the World's Most Loveable Dogs; the Spectacular Beauty of Storms; African Safari Adventure; and Explore Italy. Collections to be featured in coming months include the Art of Claude Monet; Angels in Art; and highlights from the Museum of Modern Art.
"GalleryPlayer gives us the opportunity to share remarkable National Geographic images with the public and provides a new and exciting venue for the talented photographers we work with to showcase their work," said Maura Mulvihill, Vice President, Image Collection for National Geographic.
GalleryPlayer, which has created proprietary and patented HD technology systems and tools used for scanning, developing, curating, protecting, building and delivering high-impact HD images, enables consumers to view art and imagery on a level of quality that has never before been available.
Comcast was one of the first video providers to offer HD and VOD services. The company's industry-leading high-definition lineup offers the most HD viewing choices available, including 100 hours of HD ON DEMAND programming; affiliates of all major broadcast networks; comprehensive sports coverage with ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD and regional sports networks across the country; every available premium HD network, including HBO, Cinemax, Starz and Showtime; and the most popular HD cable networks, including Discovery HD, MHD, TNT HD and Universal HD. Comcast's ON DEMAND service offers a growing library of more than 8,000 programs each month, available when customers want to watch them -- with the ability to fast forward, rewind and pause selections.
About GalleryPlayer
GalleryPlayer, Inc.(R) is the recognized leader in providing the world's finest high-definition art and photography to HDTVs and PC displays. GalleryPlayer delivers rights-protected, high-definition imagery that transforms any screen into a stunning showcase for viewing renowned artwork and breathtaking photographic imagery. GalleryPlayer's Smart Display Technology automatically sizes each image to fit screens with crystal clear clarity that only HD can provide.
GalleryPlayer's unique user experience combines HD imagery with interesting facts, credits and synchronized music. GalleryPlayer's proprietary, patented technology is designed for the efficient production, presentation, rights management, promotion and cross-platform distribution (via cable, the internet and widescreen DVDs) of HD rights-protected imagery. GalleryPlayer currently has license agreements with over 45 content partners, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Geographic, Time Life, the Andy Warhol Foundation, Corbis and many others. For more information, visit http://www.galleryplayer.com.
About Comcast
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (http://www.comcast.com) is the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 24.1 million cable customers, 11 million high-speed Internet customers, and 2.1 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.
Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, AZN Television, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One and four regional Comcast SportsNets. Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.