Five Industry Leaders Demonstrate Technology That Allows Consumers to Individualize Interactive TV Today. Now There is No Need to Wait For Next-Generation Technology to Enjoy Interactive TV
LOS ANGELES, Nov 27, 2000 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Liberty Livewire Corp. (Nasdaq: LWIRA chart, msgs), said today that it has joined with ACTV, Inc. (Nasdaq: IATV chart, msgs), Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT chart, msgs), OpenTV (Nasdaq and AEX: OPTV chart, msgs) and Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI; Nasdaq: UEIC chart, msgs) to demonstrate existing technology that marries television and the Internet into an interactive television experience that consumers can enjoy now without waiting for the deployment of advanced technology.
At a press conference 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, and at ongoing demonstrations at the CCTA Western Show to be held Nov. 29-Dec.1 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the five companies will show the reality of current-technology interactive television, including an individualized, wireless, hand-held application.
"As five leading principals in key positions along the interactive technology pipeline, we want to interject a voice of reality amid the chatter that interactive TV continues to be elusive," said David Beddow, CEO of Liberty Livewire. "Certainly, while the deployment of advanced technology will enhance the interactive experience, any suggestion that interactive awaits new-technology solutions is unfounded. We are demonstrating that the interactive experience is already here," Beddow said.
Beddow urged cable operators to embrace and promote currently available interactivity to their subscribers. "Narrow band interactivity can be used as a major marketing tool and will give cable operators a competitive advantage when deploying broadband interactive TV in the future," said Beddow. "There is a natural evolution from the experience of simultaneously watching TV while surfing the Web."
Interactive TV is available today in a variety of configurations, according to Beddow:
-- A two-box, two-screen experience utilizing ACTV's HyperTV(R)
software in which television programming is delivered via a TV
set and synchronous Web content is delivered via an
Internet-connected PC located in the same room.
-- A richer content experience when the PC is connected via a
cable modem
-- A one-box, one-screen environment using OpenTV digital TV
software in current-technology digital set-top boxes,
including Motorola's DCT-2000 or DCT-5000+ platforms; or
-- An enhancement of the one-box, multi-screen system which
features UEI's wireless, hand-held touch screen control device
- the Mosaic - which downloads the interactive content to
individualize the interactive experience.
Beddow noted that about 44 million American households already have a TV and computer in the same location, allowing them to watch a television program while experiencing specially authored interactive elements of the program via their computers with ACTV's HyperTV(R) technology, either through dial-up, DSL or cable modems.
Beddow said Motorola has shipped over 11 million digital set-tops, and with the easy addition of OpenTV digital TV middleware, millions could be watching television programs and experiencing interactivity today.
"An important element in our demonstration at the Western Show," Beddow said, "is Universal Electronic's Mosaic, an advanced handheld wireless device that allows users to control multiple home entertainment components, and experience interactive TV via its touch screen, which also serves as a hand-held monitor.
"Liberty Livewire has positioned itself as a key player in the interactive programming industry with its major independent post production facilities for television and film, its transmission capabilities through satellite and other means, as well as its relationships with AT&T to host interactive programs to millions of simultaneous users," Beddow said.
In one interactive arrangement currently available, HyperTV(R) with Livewire -- the joint venture between ACTV and Liberty Livewire -- uses ACTV's patented HyperTV enhanced media technology to integrate the interactivity of the Internet received via a home computer with the traditional TV viewing experience. In this `two-box, two-screen' format, HyperTV enables TV networks, programmers and advertisers to deliver compelling interactive Web content, Web-based advertising, e-commerce and community chat features which are synchronized to live or pre-recorded TV programming (or any other video-based programming). ACTV will also showcase one-screen HyperTV interactive experiences during The Western Show.
"Today, HyperTV serves the growing `two-screen' audience and existing `one screen' enhanced media platforms, while we wait the proliferation of advanced set-tops and other devices that foster `one screen' interactive television," said Bruce Crowley, President of ACTV's Enhanced Media Services subsidiary. "In addition, our software-based SpotOn iTV ad service and One To One TV programming capabilities tap the power of current-generation digital set-tops already deployed in the marketplace that also make `one screen' interactivity a reality today. We're glad to be among other leaders in our industry in paving the way for the continued growth and success of interactive TV as advanced systems reach critical mass among consumers."
Noting that Motorola has shipped over 11 million interactive digital cable set-tops to more than 100 different broadband network operators, Geoff Roman, Corporate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Motorola's Broadband Communications Sector, said: "Motorola is proud to be a leader in delivering advanced digital technology that is necessary to bring new, revenue-generating interactive applications to millions of subscriber households."
Under the one-box, one-screen scenario currently available, OpenTV, whose software for digital interactive TV is deployed in more than 11 million digital set-top boxes worldwide, enables customers to access electronic programming guides, order pay-per-view movies, as well as execute more complex functions such as e-mail, video-on-demand and Internet access. In addition, Motorola and OpenTV recently announced they will collaborate on several projects to promote interactive television.
"Through our worldwide deployment, OpenTV has proven that interactive television is a reality today," said James Ackerman, president and COO OpenTV. So we are pleased to join other industry leaders to further show our dedication in creating a compelling interactive experience for America's viewers today. Together our comprehensive approach heightens the quality of the TV viewing experience and gives cable operators unmatched choice and convenience."
"Using our patented two-way data communication feature, viewers can optimize their personal interactive experience by downloading interactive content from the digital set-top box onto UEI's hand-held wireless Mosaic touch screen device," said Camille Jayne, Executive Chairman of the Board of wireless technology developer UEI. "In addition to operating as many as 15 audio-visual devices, viewers can use UEI's Mosaic to individually access the interactive Web content, or explore interactive options such as e-commerce, games and e-mail in the palm of their hand without interfering with others' TV viewing experience. When they're done, they can again sync Mosaic into what's on the TV," Jayne said.
About Liberty Livewire
Liberty Livewire Corporation provides a wide range of traditional audio and video post-production, transmission, library services, Internet hosting, and audio/video distribution services via satellite and fiber to worldwide clients in the feature film, television and advertising industries. The company also provides interactive television service under the brand name HyperTV(R) with Livewire. The company has locations in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, London, San Francisco, Singapore and Barcelona. Liberty Livewire is a majority-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Group, which holds interests in a broad range of video programming, communications, technology and Internet businesses in the United States, Europe, South America and Asia.
About ACTV, Inc.
ACTV, Inc.'s (Nasdaq: IATV chart, msgs) patented enhanced media technologies are incorporated into the company's Enhanced Media Services, Inc. subsidiary. The enhanced media technologies are marketed under the brand names HyperTV(R) and Bottle Rocket, among other products and services. ACTV also created interactive, one-to-one digital television with its proprietary One To One TV(sm) software and programming capabilities. SpotOn(sm), 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.
Based in New York City, 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 chart, msgs), Motorola (NYSE: MOT chart, msgs) Broadband Communications Sector, OpenTV (Nasdaq and AEX: OPTV chart, msgs), and Liberty Livewire Corporation (Nasdaq: LWIRA chart, msgs). For more information, visit actv.com.
About Motorola
Motorola, Inc. is a global leader in providing integrated communications solutions and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 1999 were $33.1 billion. For more information, visit Motorola's Web site at www.motorola.com.
About OpenTV
OpenTV is the world's leading interactive television and media solutions company. OpenTV builds a complete software and infrastructure platform that enables digital interactive television and brings on-demand content to other digital communications devices. OpenTV solutions are crafted to meet the needs of all digital communications networks and include operating middleware, content applications, content creation tools, professional services expertise and strategic consulting.
OpenTV software has been shipped with or installed in more than eleven million digital set-top boxes worldwide and has been selected by 35 digital cable, satellite and terrestrial Communications Networks in over 50 countries, including BSkyB in the United Kingdom; TPS and Noos in France; PrimaCom in Germany; Via Digital in Spain; Stream in Italy; DIRECTV(TM) Latin America LLC; and EchoStar's DISH Network in the U.S. In addition, more than 31 digital set-top box manufacturers have licensed OpenTV's software, and OpenTV's authoring tools are licensed to more than 650 independent developers and content service providers.
Worldwide headquarters for OpenTV is located in Mountain View, Calif. Information on OpenTV is available at www.opentv.com.
About Universal Electronics
Universal Electronics Inc., based in Southern California, develops software, and builds and markets pre-programmed, easy-to-use wireless control devices and chips principally for home entertainment equipment and the subscription broadcast market. The company's product lines include such wireless interface technologies as combination keyboard/remotes and touch-screen remotes. UEI licenses its patented technologies and database of infrared codes to companies selling into the cable and satellite industries, and to original equipment manufacturers. The company also sells its universal remote control products to distributors and retailers in Europe, Asia, South America and Australia under the One For All(R) brand name. Additional information about UEI may be found on the Internet by visiting uei.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe-Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words and expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development, ordering, delivery and market acceptance of products and technologies identified in this release, maintaining the exclusivity identified in this release, and other factors described in the companies' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The actual results that the companies achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statement due to such risks and uncertainties. The companies undertake no obligations to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release. |
