"Tuesday February 6, 8:30 am Eastern Time
Press Release
MTV2 and ACTV Enhance Music Videos with Real-Time Delivery of Synchronized Web Content and Chat
FUSION, Powered by HyperTV®, Debuts on MTV2 and MTV2.com
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 6, 2000-- MTV Networks and ACTV, Inc. (Nasdaq: IATV - news) today announced the official debut of FUSION on MTV2 and MTV2.com. FUSION synchronizes the delivery of Web content to viewers' computers while they are watching MTV2 on their television. In addition, FUSION allows viewers to interact with one another and establish a virtual community around the MTV2 television content.
The synchronized Web content was developed for MTV2 by ACTV's Enhanced Media Services and is powered by HyperTV® with Livewire, ACTV's partnership with Liberty Livewire Corporation (Nasdaq: LWIRA - news).
FUSION is part of The MTV2 Box Block, which airs every Monday through Friday from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM (ET) and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (ET) on MTV2. To participate in FUSION, MTV2 viewers need to have their TV and a computer with an Internet connection located in the same room. Viewers register and download ACTV's free HyperTV plug-in from the MTV2 (www.MTV2.com) or HyperTV (www.hypertv.com) web sites. Once downloaded, viewers log-on to www.mtv2.com and click on Box FUSION, during any of the above mentioned day and times to automatically receive and interact, free of charge, with Web content whose delivery is synchronized to enhance music videos as they air on MTV2.
``We're excited to partner with ACTV to create interactive content that enhances our MTV2 programming,'' commented David Cohn, General Manager, MTV2. ``We believe FUSION will be a big hit with our audience, combining three of their passions, music, the Internet and television.''
``MTV is one of the most powerful brands in the world and we're excited to be part of MTV2's compelling, new programming lineup,'' said Bruce J. Crowley, president of ACTV's Enhanced Media Services. ``Together, MTV2 and ACTV are taking the lead in evolving the relationship with a younger generation of multi-tasking viewers beyond the traditional television viewing experience.''
FUSION participants are able to play along with original content that is ``pushed'' over the Internet in real-time, matching up to the videos as they air on MTV2. As viewers watch their favorite videos, they can chat with other viewers logged-on to the FUSION environment. The participant can answer trivia questions as they come across the screen, accrue points, and compete with other users to win prizes. Or, viewers can just sit back and enjoy dynamic, state-of-the-art web pages that come across the screen about their favorite artists and videos.
Whether viewers are looking for biographical data, tour itineraries, or lyrics, each FUSION broadcast offers extensive material accompanying the video as it airs.
In addition to FUSION, The MTV2 Box Block provides a localized music playlist to markets that receive MTV2 through analog cable and low-power transmission. Music videos are programmed based on online voting in that community. The more votes a video gets, the more often it will play in rotation on the network during the four-hour programming block.
The MTV2 Box Block continues the tradition of The Box Music Network, whose localized, interactive capabilities have been integrated into the newly re-launched MTV2. The Box and ACTV teamed to launch Box FUSION in December 1999, creating the first and only fully programmed TV/Web convergence network.
MTV2.com also offers music fans exclusive downloads, streaming video, photo flipbooks, plus all the artist, album and program information from MTV.com. And every Monday through Saturday from 8-9pm ET, fans experience the ultimate in interactive entertainment on Control Freak, the breakthrough convergence program where the users become the VJs, voting in real time for the videos that air on MTV2.
About MTV Networks
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE: VIA - news, VIA.B - news), owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: Music Television, MTV2, VH1, Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite, TV LAND, TNN, CMT and the The Digital Suite From MTV Networks, a package of nine US digital services, all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide. In addition, MTV Networks operates The MTVi Group and Nickelodeon Online, a portfolio of leading Internet properties built to address every interest of today's music fan and Internet-savvy kid.
About ACTV, Inc.
ACTV, Inc., (Nasdaq: IATV - news) is a digital media company providing proprietary software-based technologies, content and services for enhanced media, interactive advertising and personalized programming applications. The company's technologies are supported by an extensive patent portfolio covering the core methodologies of enhancing TV, radio, and other audio/visual programming and for creating interactive, addressable digital television. Based in New York City, ACTV has strategic relationships with key players in the Internet, television and digital technology fields, including Liberty Digital, Motorola Broadband Communications Sector, OpenTV and Liberty Livewire Corporation. For more information, visit actv.com.
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:
Contacts For ACTV, Inc:
Bratskeir & Company
Mike Rosen
(ACTV Media Relations)
212-679-2233, ext. 213
mrosen@bratskeir.com
or
Brainerd Communicators
Kim Holt
(Financial Media)
212-986-6667
holt@braincomm.com
or
ACTV, Inc.
Ted O'Donnell/Bill Roll
(Investor Relations)
212-217-1600
ir@actv.com
or
Contacts For MTV Networks:
MTV2
Jeannie Kedas
(212) 848-4629
jeannie.kedas@mtvstaff.com
or
MTV2
Irene Fu
(212) 258-8762
irene.fu@mtvstaff.com"
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