News just hit on IATV:
newsalert.com
September 15, 1999 12:15
Showtime Networks & HyperTV Networks to
Enhance Television Programming With
Synchronized Web Content and Community Chat
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 15, 1999--
HyperTV(TM) To Provide An Unparalleled TV-Internet Convergence
Experience For Showtime's Sci-Friday Lineup and Boxing Franchises
Showtime Networks Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA) and
HyperTV Networks, Inc., a subsidiary of ACTV, Inc. (NASDAQ: IATV), today
announced an agreement to enhance Showtime's television programming with the
delivery of synchronized and relevant Web content and community chat made
possible by ACTV's patented HyperTV(TM) software solution for TV-Internet
convergence.
SHO.com and HyperTV Networks will collaborate on the development and delivery
of unique TV-Internet convergence programming content for viewers of
Showtime's Sci-Friday programming lineup and boxing franchises. Initially, a
targeted pilot group of Showtime viewers will be able to enjoy a HyperTV
experience during specific programs airing in the fourth quarter of 1999. Based on
consumer response, the companies will consider the further integration of
HyperTV with additional airings of programming within Showtime's Sci-Friday
lineup and boxing franchises.
"We're real believers in using the Internet to provide a more comprehensive,
interactive experience for our viewers while providing a return path to the
network," said Tom Hayden, senior vice president, strategy and development,
Showtime Networks. "HyperTV will enable us to create convergent applications that
can build new relationships with the growing number of our viewers who currently
have a television and computer co-located in the same room. We believe the
combined expertise of Showtime and ACTV will enable us to deliver a superior
entertainment experience to our viewers."
To experience Showtime's HyperTV programming, all consumers need is a
standard television set and a computer with an Internet connection. HyperTV
Networks will develop customized "skins" for Showtime's HyperTV interface,
bringing the look and feel of the network's programming to the convergence
experience. The free HyperTV plug-in will be offered to viewers through SHO.com.
"Showtime has been way ahead of the industry curve when it comes to interactivity
and TV-Internet convergence programming," said Bruce Crowley, president,
HyperTV Networks. "Together, we expect to create a new genre of entertainment
that will enable Showtime to better leverage the power of the Internet to expand its
audience. We believe HyperTV offers television programmers the most effective
and cost-efficient way to extend their brands to the Web without eroding their
television audience, while vastly improving the traditional television experience for
their viewers."
According to a survey by Showtime Networks and Paul Kagan Associates, nearly
one in five U.S. households already exhibit convergent behavior, simultaneously
viewing television and accessing the Internet. This represents more than 20 million
convergent households in the U.S. and that number continues to rapidly grow.
ACTV recently announced it had completed stress-testing for its first HyperTV
point-of-presence (POP), ensuring that it can consistently support up to 100,000
simultaneous users of HyperTV without crashing the system. The servers for the
HyperTV POP, located at Exodus Communications' (NASDAQ: EXDS) New York
Internet Data Center, will utilize Exodus' secure, high-speed and redundant
network architecture to deliver its content over the Internet. The HyperTV Network
is being built utilizing clustering technology, which offers ACTV scalability to rapidly
increase its ability to support additional HyperTV users in increments of 100,000.
The patented HyperTV software is designed to be a browser plug-in for newer
versions of either Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer, the most
popular web browsers. HyperTV is software-based, without hardware, chip or
platform dependency, and can operate on any of today's principal PC operating
systems. It is also fully compatible with analog or digital television and broadband
delivery infrastructures. Programmers don't have to alter their existing delivery
systems to begin providing their viewers with a HyperTV experience. As next
generation digital set-top boxes, cable modems and other consumer devices are
deployed, viewers will be able to enjoy a HyperTV programming experience with
each of the elements -- video, audio, synchronized Web content and chat --
simultaneously delivered directly to their television screen or desktop.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE:
VIA). SNI owns the premium television networks SHOWTIME, THE MOVIE
CHANNEL, and FLIX. SNI operates and manages the premium television network
SUNDANCE CHANNEL, which is owned by SNI, Robert Redford and Universal
Studios Inc. SNI also markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for
exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis.
ACTV, Inc. (NASDAQ: IATV) is a leader in interactive digital television with its
proprietary "Individualized Television" and "Individualized Advertising" software
and programming capabilities. The company has also pioneered TV-Internet
convergence programming with its patented HyperTV(TM) software solution. ACTV
offers superior, practical solutions for television programmers, advertisers, cable
operators, educators, and consumers looking to leverage the emergence of digital
television and the broadband delivery infrastructure.
ACTV has relationships with many of the dominant players in the Internet,
television and digital technology fields, including key strategic investments from
Liberty Media Group (NYSE: LMG.A, LMG.B) and General Instrument Corporation
(NYSE: GIC). ACTV Entertainment and HyperTV Networks, Inc., are subsidiaries of
ACTV, Inc. Visit ACTV's Web site at actv.com.
Disclaimer: This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined by
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements
include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events
or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements which are
other than statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to
uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, product and service demand
and acceptance, changes in technology, economic conditions, the impact of
competition and pricing, government regulation, and other risks defined in this
document and in statements filed from time to time with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. All such forward-looking statements, whether written or
oral, and whether made by or on behalf of the Company, are expressly qualified
by the cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements which may
accompany the forward-looking statements. In addition, the company disclaims
any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances after the date hereof.
CONTACT: Mike Rosen
Bratskeir & Company
(for ACTV)
212-679-2233, ext. 213
mrosen@bratskeir.com
Joan Ziff/Jocelyn Brandeis
Showtime Networks
212-708-1590/212-708-1579
joan.ziff@showtime.net
jocelyn.brandeis@showtime.net |
