FYI: Not sure if anyone has seen this yet. More info about wink at www.wink.com.
Fox Enters into Agreement with Wink to Enable Enhanced Television Broadcasts
Enhanced Network Programming and Advertising Begins Fall 1999
LOS ANGELES, Thursday, July 29, 1999 -Fox Broadcasting Company, a subsidiary of The Fox Entertainment Group, has entered into a multi-year agreement with Wink Communications, Inc. to add Wink technology that will enable planned FOX interactive programming and advertising applications. Starting Fall 1999, FOX Television Network will begin broadcasting Wink interactive program enhancements that work directly on cable and satellite set-top boxes, as well as select TV sets currently being distributed throughout the U.S.
"Wink affords Fox a unique opportunity to offer interactive enhancements for our most popular programming, and we look forward to improving the entertainment experience for our viewers," said Larry Jacobson, President, FOX Television Network. "We are also tremendously interested in the e-commerce capabilities Wink provides both the network and its advertisers, as we expect to pursue those opportunities aggressively."
Maggie Wilderotter, President and CEO of Wink Communications said, "We are thrilled that Fox will be creating and airing Wink-enhanced programming and advertising. Fox's exciting programming and creative leadership hold great promise for compelling interactive enhancements, and present great opportunities for advertisers interested in leveraging a large and committed audience toward electronic commerce on television."
Wink technology allows networks, producers and advertisers to enhance TV with interactive overlays, which provide additional information and appear as small text and graphics at the bottom of the TV screen. Already the most popular network among the key young adult and teen "early adopters," FOX is also widely recognized as televising much of the entertainment, sports and news worlds' most innovative programming. Given its new Wink licensing agreement, FOX will now apply Wink's TV-based e-commerce capabilities to 30-second interactive advertisements, creating new opportunities for marketers and their audience to share information, access products, and enjoy potential discounting, among other applications.
Wink provides a complete system for interactive television by producing the software and tools to create and deliver interactive television and the software necessary to collect and route viewer transactions. Wink software resides inside cable and satellite receiver boxes, as well as some newly produced TV sets. Audiences interested in activating the Wink interactive technologies and functionality do so simply by pressing the designated button upon their remote control at any time a Wink interactive icon appears onscreen, signifying a possible interactive application.
Wink differs from television-based Internet services as it enhances and is broadcast with existing programming and advertisements, requires no network infrastructure upgrades, and is a free service to viewers. Major broadcast, cable and satellite providers have agreements in place to offer Wink to viewers.
About Fox Broadcasting Company, Inc.
Based in Los Angeles, FOX Broadcasting Company (FOX) includes several of Fox Entertainment Group's major U.S.-based broadcast entities, such as the FOX Television Network, FOX Kids Network and FOX Sports. Established in 1987, the FOX Television Network has now become the nation's most popular entertainment and information network among key young adult and teen audiences, and is widely-recognized for such innovative programming as ALLY McBEAL, FAMILY GUY, FOX NFL SUNDAY, KING OF THE HILL, THE SIMPSONS, FUTURAMA and THE X-FILES.
About Wink Communications, Inc.
Wink Communications, based in Alameda, California, provides a complete end-to-end system for low-cost electronic commerce on television. Wink Enhanced Broadcasting allows advertisers, merchants and broadcast and cable networks the ability to create interactive enhancements to traditional television advertisements and programs. With a click of the remote control during an enhanced program or ad, viewers can use Wink to access program-related information, participate in votes and polls and play along with games and trivia tests.
Wink capability is currently available to viewers in cable markets in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Missouri, and Tennessee.
Wink Enhanced Broadcasting has been available in Japan since October 1996 and in the United States since June 1998. A complete list of industry leaders who have adopted the Wink technology and additional information regarding Wink Communications is available at wink.com.
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Contact:
Wink Communications
Katie Sullivan
katie.sullivan@wink.com
510.337.6960
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