Tuesday November 9, 7:03 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME to be Enhanced with Smashing Web Content, Groovy Chat Features & Shagedelic Interactivity for Pay-per-view, Powered by HyperTV
New Line Television & ACTV's HyperTV Networks Make Entertainment History with First Feature-Length, Interactive TV/Web Experience
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 9, 1999-- New Line Television and HyperTV Networks, a subsidiary of ACTV, Inc. (NASDAQ: IATV - news), today announced an agreement to enhance the pay-per-view airings of AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME with the first ever feature-length, interactive TV-Internet convergence experience. HyperTV(TM), ACTV's patented software solution for the creation and delivery of TV-Internet convergence programming, will enable people who buy AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME on pay-per-view to ``play along' with the movie on their computer while they watch it on their TV. New Line Television will back the January 1, 2000 premiere of their blockbuster with the biggest pay-per-view promotion ever.
AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME had the most successful opening weekend in history for a comedy, and has proven to be a marketing phenomenon, generating over $205 million at the box office.
``Austin Powers is one of those rare movie franchises that transcends the screen and becomes part of pop culture,' said David Spiegelman, Executive Vice President Domestic Television Distribution, New Line Cinema. ``The pay-per-view launch demanded something outside-the-box that offered viewers a first-of-its-kind experience. We are excited to take pay-per-view to the next level. By incorporating an interactive element via the Web, our viewers will experience a motion picture at home from an entirely new perspective. ACTV offers New Line the opportunity to maximize the potential audience since HyperTV can provide an interactive experience regardless of which cable or satellite pay-per-view provider delivers the movie into the home. HyperTV and Austin Powers bring an exciting new entertainment platform to pay-per-view.'
The Austin Powers/HyperTV experience will be available at no additional charge to pay-per-view consumers by downloading a free HyperTV plug-in from the official Austin Powers Web site (http://www.austinpowers.com). Once viewers download the plug-in, they will be able to log-on to automatically receive and interact with Web content that is synchronized to correspond with any pay-per-view airing of Austin Powers between January 1 and February 29, 2000.
``The synchronized Web content and other interactive HyperTV features will provide Austin Powers fans with cutting-edge TV-Internet convergence programming, and provide substantial added value to their pay-per-view experience,' said Bruce Crowley, President, HyperTV Networks, Inc. ``New Line has a history of innovation, and the Austin Powers / HyperTV venture is another example of New Line's aggressive, forward-thinking approach to providing movie fans with an improved entertainment experience.'
To experience Austin Powers/HyperTV programming, consumers need to have a television set, access to pay-per-view programming via cable or satellite, and a computer with an Internet connection located in the same room. According to a survey by Paul Kagan Associates and Showtime Networks, nearly one in five U.S. households currently exhibits convergent behavior, simultaneously viewing television and accessing the Internet, representing more than 20 million convergent households in the U.S -- a number that continues to rapidly increase.
TEAM Services has been retained by New Line to collaborate on creative production as well as assist with consumer marketing efforts. ``A movie-based, HyperTV pay-per-view experience is ideally suited for Austin Powers. This property and its audience are a perfect match to this convergent entertainment platform,' explained Bonnie Werth, President and CEO, TEAM Services.
About HyperTV(TM)
ACTV's patented HyperTV software solution enables TV networks, programmers and advertisers to automatically deliver to consumers compelling interactive Web content, Web-based advertising messages, e-commerce, and community chat features that are synchronized with a live or pre-recorded television program. The HyperTV software is 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 fully compatible with analog or digital television and broadband delivery infrastructures.
As next generation digital set-top boxes, cable modems and other consumer devices are deployed, viewers will be able to enjoy a HyperTV experience with each of the elements -- video, audio, synchronized Web content, Web-based ads, e-commerce and chat -- simultaneously delivered directly to their television screen or to their desktop computer.
HyperTV provides viewers with a richer interactive experience and allows them to become part of a dynamic virtual community, while allowing programmers and advertisers to extend their brand identity, access lucrative e-commerce revenue streams, develop one-to-one relationships with viewers, and differentiate their program offerings today. HyperTV also has a database capability that allows TV networks, programmers and advertisers to capture valuable permission-based marketing information.
About New Line Cinema
Founded in 1967, New Line Cinema is the entertainment industry's leading independent producer and distributor of theatrical motion pictures. New Line licenses its films to ancillary markets including cable and broadcast television as well as to international venues. The company, which is a subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., operates several divisions including in-house theatrical distribution, marketing, home video, television, acquisitions, production, licensing and merchandising units.
About ACTV, Inc.
ACTV, Inc. (NASDAQ: IATV - news) 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 Digital, Inc. (NASDAQ: LDIG - news) and General Instrument Corporation (NYSE: GIC - news). ACTV Entertainment and HyperTV Networks, Inc., are subsidiaries of ACTV, Inc. Visit ACTV's Web site at actv.com
About TEAM Services Marketing & Promotion, Inc.
TEAM Services, a leading pay-per-view marketing and promotions firm, offers clients a unique turn-key operation that includes strategic development and project management, distribution negotiation, sponsorship acquisition, in-house audio, video and print creative production, sweepstakes and contest administration, trade advertising and public relations, and comprehensive cable and satellite affiliate marketing.
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.
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Contact:
Bratskeir & Company
(for ACTV)
Mike Rosen
212/679-2233, ext. 213
or
New Line Cinema
Steve Elzer
310/967-6654
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