"Wednesday November 8, 8:18 am Eastern Time
Press Release
Grey Global Group Joins ACTV's Digital ADCO for SpotOn, Addressable Interactive TV Advertising
ITV Ad Service with Full-Motion Video is Compatible with Currently Deployed Digital Set-Tops
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 8, 2000-- ACTV, Inc. (NASDAQ: IATV - news) today announced that MediaCom, Grey Global Group's (NASDAQ: GREY - news) media service partner, will work with ACTV on the development of addressable television messaging via SpotOn(sm).
SpotOn, a service of ACTV subsidiary Digital ADCO, Inc., is the leading end-to-end, software-based and TV-centric system that enables the delivery and accounting of highly targeted and interactive TV advertising, featuring full-motion video. SpotOn is compatible with all of the leading digital interactive platforms and set-top terminals, including those currently deployed. Grey Global Group (NASDAQ: GREY - news) is a leading marketing services company whose partner companies include MediaCom, Grey Worldwide and Grey Direct.
``With SpotOn, we can use much of the content that already exists, and apply these new, exciting addressable and interactive marketing utilities on top of what already has proven to be popular content: today's traditional TV product,'' said Alec Gerster, Chairman, MediaCom.
In contrast to other new technologies that allow viewers to zap out TV commercials, the SpotOn service focuses on making TV advertising more meaningful and useful for viewers. SpotOn is designed to deliver targeted commercials based on viewers' interests, allowing them to see ads that are truly relevant while providing access to value-added information and special offers from the advertisers. The goal of SpotOn is to dramatically improve the effectiveness of TV advertising and, for the first time, bring real accountability to an advertiser's media buy. SpotOn can be delivered via digital cable, digital satellite, or digital broadcast television.
``We are excited about the potential represented by SpotOn,'' said Russ Booth of MediaCom. ``If we can allocate our messages precisely, we expect our clients will have a greater return on the value of their advertising expenditures. Even the simplest segmentation can have dramatic results.''
``MediaCom was one of the first agencies to explore the value of true interactive TV,'' said Art Cohen, Senior Vice President of Advertising and E-commerce, ACTV, Inc. ``We look forward to collaborating with them as we introduce SpotOn and believe our joint efforts will help shape the future of television advertising.''
About SpotOn(sm)
ACTV created its Digital ADCO subsidiary with Motorola Broadband Communications Sector to redefine traditional TV advertising. SpotOn is founded on an array of system technologies, including ACTV's patented One To One TV(sm) software and Motorola's digital interactive platform. ACTV, Motorola and OpenTV (Nasdaq and AEX: OPTV) recently joined forces for the international deployment of SpotOn.
SpotOn allows viewers to choose and interact with television commercials; it empowers advertisers to deliver commercials to households most likely to respond to them; and it allows television network operators to generate new advertising and TV commerce revenues.
SpotOn services are provided to cable and satellite system providers, advertising interconnects, broadcast and cable television networks and programmers, and leading consumer product advertisers, advertising agencies, and media buyers. For more information, visit spoton.tv.
About ACTV, Inc.
ACTV, Inc. (Nasdaq: IATV - news), with headquarters in New York City, pioneered enhanced media with its patented convergence technology, which it markets under the brand name HyperTV® (http://www.hypertv.com). The company also created interactive one-to-one digital television with its proprietary One To One TV software and programming capabilities. SpotOn, the advertising application of One To One TV, is a service of ACTV subsidiary Digital ADCO, Inc.
ACTV has developed an extensive patent portfolio that broadly covers the core methodologies for enhancing television, radio and other audio visual programming with an array of synchronous and non-synchronous Internet-based functions, and for the creation and delivery of interactive, one-to-one digital television.
ACTV has key strategic relationships with many of the dominant players in the Internet, television and digital technology fields, including Liberty Digital, Inc. (Nasdaq: LDIG - news), Motorola (NYSE: MOT - news) Broadband Communications Sector, OpenTV (Nasdaq and AEX: OPTV), and Liberty Livewire Corporation (Nasdaq: LWIRA - news). For more information, visit actv.com.
About Grey Global Group
Grey Global Group, with over $9 billion in annual billings, ranks among the largest global marketing communications companies in the world. Grey Global Group operates branded independent partner companies in many Communications specialties including public relations/public affairs, direct marketing, Internet communications, healthcare marketing, and on-line and off-line media services. Grey Worldwide, the core advertising agency, with 408 offices in 90 countries around the world, ranks among the top ten advertising agencies in the world and is ranked as the largest advertising agency in the United States.
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 companies, are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements which may accompany the forward-looking statements. In addition, the companies disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
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Contact:
For ACTV, Inc:
Bratskeir & Company
Mike Rosen, 212/679-2233
(ACTV Media Relations)
mrosen@bratskeir.com
or
Brainerd Communicators
Kim Holt, 212/986-6667
(Financial Media)
holt@braincomm.com
or
ACTV, Inc.
Bill Roll, 212/217-1600
wroll@actv.com
or
For MediaCom:
Steve Ellwanger, 203/291-6986
mediasteve@pop.snet.net
or
For Grey Global Group:
Jan Sneed, 212/546-2422
jsneed@grey.com"
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