Liberate Technologies and Star TV Form Agreement to Provide Interactive
Television to Hong Kong
Liberate TV Navigator Technology Expected to Be Fully Deployed by Q1 2000
SAN CARLOS, Calif., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Liberate Technologies
(Nasdaq: LBRT) today announced that Star TV, a subsidiary of The News
Corporation Limited and the premier provider of television services across
Asia, has signed an agreement to use Liberate TV Navigator(TM) in technical
trials for interactive television in Hong Kong.
The technical trials, which have been approved by Hong Kong's
Telecommunications Regulatory Authorities, will be conducted between November
1999 and February 2000.
Star TV has made an application for a pay television license for the
operation of a new television portal called DTV, offering a fully integrated
service of multi-channel television, digital radio, e-mail, web browsing and
e-commerce, through a single remote control and infrared keyboard.
Subject to satisfactory governmental licensing arrangements, the DTV
service is intended for launch in early 2000.
By adding Star TV to its portfolio of blue-chip customers, Liberate is
extending the reach of its interactive television and information appliance
technologies. Liberate TV Navigator will allow Star TV to combine interactive
applications with television programming and to leverage the vast pool of
developers using open Internet, broadcast, and consumer electronics standards.
"Star TV currently offers some of the most advanced digital broadcasting
services in the world to our customers. Combined with Liberate's powerful
Internet-based capabilities, we will now be able to provide the ultimate
experience in home entertainment-the ability to view, respond and
interact-with the television," said Daniel Cheung, Managing Director DTV & EVP
Hong Kong and Taiwan for Star TV.
"Star TV's commitment to providing its customers with a broad range of
entertainment and information services, and the company's wide international
reach represents an important success both for Liberate and the interactive
television market as a whole," said Mitchell Kertzman, president and CEO of
Liberate Technologies. "With a potential market of more than 300 million
viewers in some of the most technologically savvy regions of the world, Star
TV's endorsement of the Liberate platform and aggressive deployment plans will
help it to build and maintain customer loyalty as well as make interactive
television a standard service offering worldwide."
About Star TV
Star TV is a subsidiary of The News Corporation Limited. The Star TV
network offers both subscription and free-to-air television services, reaching
more than 300 million viewers across Asia, India, and the Middle East. Star
TV broadcasts more than 30 channels in seven languages for a multitude of
markets, making Star distinct among broadcasters. The Star TV channels offer
the region's widest television choice, whether it be music, news, sporting
events, Asian and international dramas and films, and cultural and information
programs.
About Liberate Technologies
Founded in April, 1996, Liberate (Nasdaq: LBRT) is a leading provider of a
comprehensive software platform for delivering enhanced Internet content,
services and applications to information appliances, such as television
set-top boxes. Liberate's software allows network operators, such as
telecommunications companies, cable and satellite television operators and
Internet service providers, or ISPs, and information appliance manufacturers
to provide consumers access to Internet-based applications and services from
anywhere at anytime.
Investors in Liberate include: Acer, America Online, Comcast, Cox
Communications, General Instrument, Hambrecht & Quist, Lucent Technologies,
MediaOne, Netscape, Nintendo, Oracle, Rogers Communications, Sega, Shaw
Communications, Sony, and Sun Microsystems.
"Safe Harbor" Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
1995:
Information in this release that involves Liberate Technologies'
expectations, beliefs, hopes, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the
future are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
All forward-looking statements included in this release are based upon
information available to Liberate Technologies as of the date of the release,
and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement.
These statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results
could differ materially from our current expectations. Factors that could
cause or contribute to such differences or risks associated with our business
are discussed in the Company's registration statement on Form S-1 declared
effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on July 27, 1999,
and in the other reports filed from time to time with the SEC.
SOURCE Liberate Technologies
-0- 11/18/1999
/CONTACT: Tom Neumayr of Liberate Technologies, 650-701-4065,
tneumayr@liberate.com, or Rebecca Smith of Brodeur Porter Novelli,
617-587-2060, rsmith@brodeur.com/
(LBRT)
CO: Liberate Technologies; Star TV; News Corporation Limited
ST: California, China
IN: ENT CPR
SU:
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