HBO and Dolby Laboratories announced today that HBO’s live concert event, “Britney Spears: Live from Las Vegas,” will be broadcast in Dolby ® Digital 5.1 sound on November 18, 8:00 p.m. (ET). This marks the first HBO concert to be offered with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound.
Britney Spears performs her first live, full-length television concert from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. This no-holds-barred performance promises to break new boundaries in the superstar singer’s skyrocketing career, and will feature songs from her new album Britney, as well as many of her greatest hits.
“A Britney Spears’ concert encompasses an entire venue-not just what is seen on stage-and Dolby Digital 5.1 will bring the full experience into the living room,” said Bill Chase, vice president of East Coast production for HBO. “The sound quality will deliver a realistic, concert event that HBO subscribers can enjoy in the privacy of their own home.”
“Film and music aficionados often own home theater systems and subscribe to premium cable channels, so it is only natural that premium cable service include the highest caliber audio available to take advantage of these already existing home theaters,” said Tom Daily, Dolby’s marketing director, Professional Products. “Dolby Digital 5.1 is the perfect means to provide superior audio to this market.”
Dolby has provided HBO with the DP570 Multichannel Audio Tool, DP571 Dolby E Encoder, DP572 Dolby E Decoder, and DP563 Dolby Surround Encoder. Dolby engineers will also be on hand during the broadcast to provide technical assistance.
To enjoy the full Dolby Digital 5.1 channel audio experience, viewers must have a DBS or digital cable set-top box with a Dolby Digital output, a receiver equipped with Dolby Digital decoding (look for the Dolby Digital logo on the front), and a 5.1 home theater speaker set-up. To find out more information about enjoying the home theater experience, please visit www.dolby.com/ht.
Dolby Laboratories estimates that by the end of 2001, ten million US households will have a set-top box capable of playing Dolby Digital 5.1 via DBS and/or digital cable. Dolby also estimates that more than nine million US households will be equipped with Dolby Digital 5.1 home receivers. As the number of Dolby 5.1-channel devices continues to rise, more networks are broadcasting in Dolby Digital 5.1 sound.
Other networks currently broadcasting in Dolby Digital 5.1 include ABC, DirecTV, Dish Network, HBO HDTV, PBS, Showtime, and STARZ! For a listing of programs broadcast in Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, please see Home Theater section at www.dolby.com/ht.