Comcast Enhances Broadband Service with New Speeds and More Apps for 2005

Comcast Enhances Broadband Service with New Speeds and More Apps for 2005 Comcast Kicks Off the New Year With Formal Announcement of New Speeds - And Unveils Plans for New Online Services for All High-Speed Internet Customers PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast, the nation's number one broadband provider, is upgrading its two residential speed tiers, as it prepares to introduce a full suite of innovative online services and products throughout 2005. The speed enhancements include increases in both upstream and downstream speeds to enable faster uploads and downloads of large files (photos, videos, music), more online and multiplayer gaming, easier home networking, and new innovative online services. These speed increases will be offered to customers at no additional charge. Comcast's current 3Mbps downstream / 256kbps upstream tier will be upgraded to 4Mbps / 384kbps, and its 4Mbps downstream / 384kbps upstream tier will jump to a faster 6Mbps / 768kbps. The speed increases will be automatic, which means customers are not required to download any special files or upgrade their connections. The speed upgrades will be executed on a market-by-market basis, and are targeted to be complete by the end of Q1 2005. "Today, we're preparing our customers for the next generation of Comcast High-Speed Internet by upgrading our speed tiers for all of our customers at no additional charge. We will continue to differentiate our service in 2005 by introducing innovative built-for-broadband applications that leverage the power of our 100% Pure Broadband(TM) network and provide value in our six key customer areas of interest: communication, music, movies, gaming, sports and kids," said Greg Butz, senior vice president, marketing & business development for Comcast Online. "This mirrors our successful 2004 strategy, which enabled us to set an industry record for customer growth as we began to showcase why 'it's not just speed but what you can do with it.'" Comcast's Winning Strategy: It's Not Just Speed, But What You Can Do With It Comcast set the industry benchmark for speed in late 2003, when it announced it was doubling its downstream speed from 1.5Mbps to 3Mbps, for all customers, at no additional charge. Comcast then quickly followed up this news with the introduction of its award-winning, built-for-broadband portal - Comcast.net - followed by a series of new services, applications and content partnerships ... all focused on enabling Comcast's large base of broadband customers to take advantage of their new speeds. These services targeted Comcast's six key customer areas of interest (gaming, kids, communication, sports, movies and music) to showcase the benefits and value of a broadband lifestyle and included: -- Comcast Video Mail - which enables Comcast High-Speed Internet customers to easily create video messages up to 45 seconds in length, using their personal computer and a webcam. -- Comcast PhotoShow Deluxe - which allows users to create multimedia slideshows as a special way to share their digital photos. -- EA SPORTS Fantasy Football presented by Comcast High-Speed Internet - which goes beyond the traditional Fantasy Football experience by packaging the service with Comcast Video Mail and its online Sports Channel. -- Games on Demand - which leverages the speed and convenience of Comcast High-Speed Internet, to offer gamers over 100 titles in categories ranging from action to education, with new titles added every month. This strategy proved its success in 2004, culminating in a record Q3 when Comcast added over 549,000 high-speed Internet customers - the highest number ever for any broadband ISP. Mirroring this successful 2004 strategy, today's announcement paves the way for new product introductions throughout 2005. Comcast's 2005 roadmap includes the infusion of video into many new and existing applications, including Video Instant Messaging. Comcast also plans to continue expanding its online Music Channel - to become the most comprehensive online music offering to date. More than 62 percent of Comcast High-Speed Internet customers actively engage in online music, and music content is among the most popular on the Comcast.net consumer portal, accounting for 100 percent of the Top 10 Video Searches on the site. Comcast also is planning enhancements to its online Sports, Kids, Gaming, and Fantasy Sports offerings. About Comcast Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA)(NASDAQ:CMCSK) (http://www.comcast.com/) is the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 21.5 million cable customers and more than 6.5 million high-speed Internet customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable networks and in the provision of programming content. The Company's content businesses include: Comcast SportsNet, E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, Outdoor Life Network, G4techTV and International Channel Networks as well as a minority investment in TV One. The Company 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. Source: Comcast Corporation CONTACT: Jeanne Russo, Comcast, +1-215-981-8552, Jeanne_Russo@comcast.com Web site: http://www.comcast.com/ ------- Profile: International Entertainment