CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS ORDERS UP CHARTER MUSIC TO-GO
High-Speed Internet Customers Can FillPortable Music Players with Unlimited Songs
January 16th 2006
ST. LOUIS, MO – January 16, 2006 – Charter Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHTR) today launched Charter Music To-Go enabling consumers to utilize the latest portable music technology. Charter Music To-Go is a new tier added to Charter Music, Charter’s popular premium music service. This launch provides Charter High-SpeedTM Internet customers a new way to enjoy Charter Music through a subscription-based service to download music to portable devices. Charter Music To-Go customers now have access to a music library of more than two million songs from which to download and play music.
“Charter Music To-Go provides our customers with even more choice and flexibility,” said J. Schelstrate, Charter Senior Director of High-Speed Internet. “Once they discover how easy it is to access their favorite digital music anytime and anywhere, they’ll wonder how they ever got along without it.”
In addition to the ability to purchase music downloads individually, Charter Music To-Go enables customers to download personalized playlists to more than 25 compatible MP3 players as part of their subscription. The music is available to the customer for the duration of the subscription. Charter Music To-Go is available to high-speed Internet customers for $9.99 per month.
Charter Music To-Go provides customers with access to exclusive song titles, music videos, editorial play lists, album artwork, artists’ discographies and biographies, and exposure to hot new artists, all of which are available in CD quality audio.
Charter Music To-Go features:
- Enormous Music Catalog: Over two million tracks from all four major record labels – Sony BMG Music Entertainment, EMI, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group – as well as tracks from over 25,000 independent labels.
- One Low Monthly Price: Customers can discover and experience music without incurring additional costs for each track and album they want by providing an “all-you-can-download” subscription for one low monthly price. Unlike other online music offerings, it’s unlimited—there is no cost per tune. The music is available to the customer for the duration of the subscription.
- Easy-To-Use: Provides customers with an easy way to download music, create personalized playlists and manage music between their PC and portable device.
- Music Anywhere: Enables Charter Music To-Go customers to transfer unlimited tracks, albums and unique user-created playlists from their PC onto their compatible portable device or MP3 player included in the flat monthly fee.
- Music to Burn: Customers who want to purchase and “burn” a music track onto a CD can do so by purchasing the song for 99 cents per tune.
Charter Music is powered by MusicNet, the world’s leading business-to-business digital music service provider. MusicNet offers the single largest available online subscription music library, including licensed tracks from all major record labels as well as thousands of independent labels.
Synacor, a leading provider of private-label portal technology, is handling the integration of all premium online content services for www.charter.net. Synacor’s software platform supports the integration of a variety of premium online services accessible via a single user-ID, password and interface, along with the ability for Charter to add these services directly to the cable bill.
“Charter continues to prove its commitment to its high-speed Internet customers,” said Ron Frankel, Synacor President and Chief Executive Officer. “With the addition of the new Music To-Go service, Charter is opening up new channels for their customers to experience music, creating a convenient, one-stop shop for all their digital music needs.”
About Charter Communications
Charter Communications, Inc., a broadband communications company, provides a full range of advanced broadband services to the home, including cable television on an advanced digital video programming platform via Charter Digital™, Charter High-Speed™ Internet service and Charter Telephone™. Charter Business™ provides scalable, tailored and cost-effective broadband communications solutions to organizations of all sizes through business-to-business Internet, data networking, video and music services. Advertising sales and production services are sold under the Charter Media® brand. More information about Charter can be found at www.charter.com.
About Synacor
Synacor develops portals that enable Internet Service Providers (ISP) to easily bundle a wide variety of free and subscription-only, value-added services into their platform. Synacor has integrated with over 30 online content and service providers to offer a highly valued bundle to consumers. The company has developed the most extensive catalog of subscription services available from one source today. Their private-label technology platform reinforces the brand of the ISP, allowing them to easily bundle, provision, support, and bill for multiple services offered as part of a single rate code. Today, the company’s portal and bundled services are available to over 12 million online subscribers. For more information visit www.synacor.com.
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Contact:
Charter Communications:
Press:
David Andersen
314/543-2213
Synacor:
Scott Samson
310/320-2010
Scott@bobgoldpr.com
Analysts:
Mary Jo Moehle
314/543-2397
