Hotel Online  Special Report

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Lodgenet, HBO Sign Industry-First
Agreement for HBO HD
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Only Hotels with SIGNETURE HDTV Systems Will Offer a
High-Definition Television Experience for Blockbuster
Movies and Original Features from HBO HD 

NEW YORK, NY, May 18, 2005 � 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. 

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 HDTVSM 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:IdiomTM 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 (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.

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Contact:

LodgeNet
Ann Parker
Director of Corporate Communications
LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation
605-988-1000
[email protected]


 
Also See: Industry-First Subscription Sports Programming Comes To Guest Room TVs; NBA League Pass And Other Daily Subscription Packages Expected To Increase Hoteliers� RevPAR And Traveler Satisfaction / March 2005
Savvy Hoteliers Can Leverage Guest In-Room Viewing Trends To Drive Revenues, Repeat Business / January 2005
Hotel del Coronado Taps LodgeNet for Single Source Solution / December 2004
HDTV In The Guest Room: How To Enter The New World Of Digital TV With Confidence / September 2004
Radisson Encore Hotel Serves Up Customized In-room Service: Laptop, TV Internet for Corporate Travelers, TV Wedding Highlights for Leisure Guests / August 2004
LG Electronics And LodgeNet Develop First HDTV Satellite Programming Solution For Hotels / June 2004
Lodgenet Announces Major Milestones; More Than One Million Rooms Served Overall, Nearly Half Of Company's Interactive Room Base Now Digital, On-Screen Controls Enhancing Entertainment In 435,000 Guest Rooms, Digital Control Rights Secured From All Major Studios / June 2004
Doubletree Novi Doubles In-Room Entertainment Revenue, Enhances Guest Service With Interactive TV Upgrade / May 2004
IT Security: Pebble Beach Company Powers Toward a Perfect 10; Parent Company Of Three-Time Conde Naste Winner Uses Advanced Security Tools For High-Speed Internet Access / April 2004


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