On Command Signs Distribution Agreement With Best Western International
22 November 2003 - 3:52AM
PR Newswire (US)
On Command Signs Distribution Agreement With Best Western
International Agreement Between In-Room Entertainment Provider and
World's Largest Hotel Brand Opens Door for Pay-Per-View Services to
More Than 2,200 U.S. Hotels DENVER, Nov. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/
-- On Command Corporation (BULLETIN BOARD: ONCO) , a leading
provider of in-room interactive entertainment for the hotel
industry and its guests, announced today an agreement with Best
Western International, Inc., whereby the hotel chain will market
and sell On Command's video-on-demand, pay-per-view equipment to
its 2,200 independently owned and operated properties. Best Western
International is the world's largest hotel company operating under
a single brand name. The agreement covers more than 2,200 domestic
U.S. hotel properties and encompasses more than 180,000 rooms. The
parties intend to enter into a second agreement to cover Best
Western hotels in Canada. Under terms of the deal, Best Western
International has a three-year exclusive right to distribute to
U.S. Best Western-branded hotels On Command's video-on-demand
digital in-room entertainment systems, which include On Command's
Roommate(TM) and MiniMate(TM) platforms and Canvas(TM) software.
"This is an important step for Best Western and On Command," said
Stephen Guillot, vice president of system sales for On Command.
"The majority of BWI properties do not offer any form of on-demand
in-room entertainment. With On Command's digital system and
satellite update capability, we bring the full benefits of
increased revenue from hundreds of movies, short form television
shows and music programming to BWI hotel operations." On Command's
proprietary Canvas software and menu system bring a number of key
benefits to the on-demand, pay-per-view system. Launched in
February of this year, and now operating in nearly 200,000 hotel
rooms, Canvas provides a user interface that improves menu system
navigation and speed of presenting content to the hotel guest. The
system also operates On Command's Motion Control technology, which
enables hotel guests to pause, rewind, fast forward and save
movies, which creates a better environment for watching movies
on-demand. "We evaluated several options for our hotels," said Rich
Bennett, managing director of Best Western Supply. "On Command has
the most advanced menu system software in terms of communicating
all on-demand services available to hotel guests. We are extremely
excited that we have found a video-on-demand technology solution
that meets our brand standards for years to come." About On Command
On Command Corporation (http://www.oncommand.com/) is a leading
provider of in-room entertainment technology to the lodging and
cruise ship industries. On Command is a majority-owned subsidiary
of Liberty Satellite & Technology, Inc. (OTC:LSTTAOTC:LSTTB)
(BULLETIN BOARD: LSTTA, LSTTB) . On Command entertainment services
include: on-demand movies; television Internet services using
high-speed broadband connectivity; television email; short form
television features covering drama, comedy, news and sports;
PlayStation video games; and music-on-demand services through
Instant Media Network, a majority-owned subsidiary of On Command
Corporation and the leading provider of digital on-demand music
services to the hotel industry. All On Command products are
connected to guest rooms and managed by leading edge
video-on-demand navigational controls and a state-of-the art guest
user interface system. The guest menu system can be customized by
hotel properties to create a robust platform that services the
needs of On Command hotel partners and the traveling public. On
Command and its distribution network services more than 1,000,000
guest rooms, which touch more than 300 million guests annually. On
Command's direct served hotel properties are located in the United
States, Canada, Mexico and Spain. On Command distributors serve
cruise ships operating under the Royal Caribbean, Costa and
Carnival flags. On Command hotel properties include more than 100
of the most prestigious hotel chains and operators in the lodging
industry: Accor, Adam's Mark Hotels & Resorts, Fairmont, Four
Seasons, Hilton Hotels Corporation, Hyatt, Loews, Marriott
(Courtyard, Renaissance, Fairfield Inn and Residence Inn),
Radisson, Ramada, Six Continents Hotels (Inter-Continental, Crowne
Plaza and Holiday Inn), Starwood Hotels & Resorts (Westin,
Sheraton, W Hotels and Four Points), and Wyndham Hotels &
Resorts. Certain of the above statements, other than statements
relating to the historical performance of On Command, constitute
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and
other important factors that could cause the actual results,
performance, or achievements of On Command, or industry results, to
differ materially from future results, performance, or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such
risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others:
general economic and business conditions and industry trends; the
regulatory and competitive environment of the industry in which On
Command operates; uncertainties inherent in new business
strategies; new product launches and development plans, including
the future profitability of such added services and the large
capital expenditures involved; rapid technological changes; the
acquisition, development and/or financing of telecommunications
networks and services; the development and provision of new
services, including the customer acceptance and use rates; future
financial performance, including availability, terms and deployment
of capital; the ability of vendors to deliver required equipment,
software and services; availability of qualified personnel; changes
in the nature of key strategic relationships with hotel chains and
their franchises, including the renewal of existing agreements on
favorable terms; and competitor responses to On Command's products
and services, and the overall market acceptance of such products
and services. These factors are also discussed in On Command's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its
recent filings on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. These forward-looking
statements (and such risks, uncertainties and other factors) speak
only as of the date hereof, and On Command expressly disclaims any
obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions
to any forward-looking statement contained herein, to reflect any
change in On Command's expectations with regard thereto, or any
other changes in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any
such statement is based. DATASOURCE: On Command Corporation
CONTACT: Tad Walden, Corporate Communications, +1-720-873-3321, ,
or Bernie Dvorak, Investor Relations, +1-720-873-3420, , both of On
Command Corporation Web site: http://www.oncommand.com/
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