Tuesday October 31, 2:53 pm Eastern Time
Press Release
Gemstar-TV Guide International Signs 100th Cable MSO to Long-Term IPG Licensing Agreement
TV GUIDE INTERACTIVE Now Reaches 5 Million Cable Subscribers
PASADENA, Calif. & TULSA, Okla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 31, 2000-- Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. (Nasdaq:GMST - news) today announced that it has entered into its 100th long-term cable MSO (multiple system operator) licensing agreement for Gemstar-TV Guide's Interactive Program Guide (IPG) service and has reached 5 million subscribers with its digital-cable-based TV GUIDE INTERACTIVE service.
The TV GUIDE INTERACTIVE service, with advanced features and interactive advertising capabilities, is now available in cable systems passing over 42 million homes with 31 million basic subscribers in 48 states.
``This is a historic milestone for the company as it underscores our continued market leadership in the interactive program guide arena,'' said Peter C. Boylan III, co-president and chief operating officer of Gemstar-TV Guide International.
``Our IPG platforms have unprecedented reach and are growing rapidly as our MSO customers roll out their digital cable service with tremendous success. TV GUIDE INTERACTIVE service provides advertisers and programmers with exciting new opportunities to reach consumers with their interactive messages which reinforce video advertisement and promote programming at the critical point of decision as viewers determine what to watch on TV.''
About Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc.
Gemstar-TV Guide International is a leading global technology and media company focused on consumer entertainment.
The company has four major business sectors: the Technology and Licensing Sector, which is responsible for the development, licensing and protection of intellectual property and technology; the company's technology includes the VCR Plus+® system, the interactive program guide (``IPG'') marketed under the GUIDE Plus+® and TV Guide Interactive(SM) brands and the electronic book (``eBook''); the Interactive Platform Sector, which owns, operates and derives recurring income from advertising, interactive services, content sales and e-commerce on the company's proprietary IPG and eBook platforms; and the Media and Services Sector, which operates the TV Guide® magazines, TV Guide Channel(SM) and other television media properties, as well as a media sales group that services all of the company's media platforms; and the Investments & Holdings Sector, which operates a variety of businesses, including the startup Television Games Network.
The IPG is built into televisions, VCRs or is downloaded to set top boxes (cable, satellite, telco, Internet) and presents a multi-day television program guide on the television screen from which the consumer can view, select, tune to or record programs. The eBook is a reading device which can store tens of thousand of pages and permits a user to take instant delivery of any book, magazine or newspaper they purchase over the telephone.
The company's media properties reach more than 100 million U.S. homes on a weekly basis. The company's products and services are available in more than 60 countries worldwide.
The company's services, technology and intellectual property are licensed to major technology, media and communication companies in the consumer electronics, Internet, personal computer, satellite, cable television and telco industries.
Licensees and customers include AOL, AT&T, Cablevision, Charter, Comcast, Cox, DirecTV, Matsushita, Microsoft, Mitsubishi, Motorola, Philips, Sony, Time Warner, Thomson Multimedia, Zenith and others.
The company has more than 140 issued U.S. patents in the general area of audio-visual technologies with more than 3,000 claims, more than 170 issued foreign patents and continues to actively pursue a worldwide intellectual property program and currently has more than 300 U.S. patent and more than 800 foreign patent applications pending. |
