GMST news:
Gemstar-TV Guide International and Nielsen Media Research Announce Strategic Partnership for Interactive TV Research
PASADENA, Calif. & NEW YORK, Apr 11, 2001 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. (Nasdaq: GMST chart, msgs), the nation's premier provider of Interactive Program Guide (IPG) services, and Nielsen Media Research Inc., the world's premier television audience research company, today announced the signing of a strategic partnership to bring the most comprehensive interactive television research information to the advertising community.
Terms of the agreement provide for collaboration between the two parties to develop state-of-the-art research information products from the proprietary data captured by Gemstar-TV Guide International's Interactive Program Guides (IPGs), including the TV Guide Interactive(SM) and GUIDE Plus+(R) IPG systems.
John A. Dimling, president and chief executive officer of Nielsen Media Research, said: "I am confident that this partnership between the premier provider of interactive television services and the premier provider of television audience measurement will result in the implementation of sophisticated new measurement and reporting systems for all forms of interactive television -- cable, broadcast and satellite -- thus providing a standard of excellence for all users of the data on a global basis.
"Nielsen Media Research is proud of our new relationship with Gemstar-TV Guide International, a pioneer and leader in interactive television."
"We are extremely pleased to partner with Nielsen Media Research in this endeavor to measure the exciting opportunities that interactivity can bring to television viewing," said Henry C. Yuen, chairman and CEO of Gemstar-TV Guide. "This project will not only allow us to establish the credibility of the Gemstar-TV Guide IPGs as an advertising and t-commerce tool, but will also provide critical information, which can help us to continuously improve our offer to enhance the consumer experience."
Peter C. Boylan III, co-president and co-chief operating officer of Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc., said: "Nielsen Media Research is truly the pioneer and leader in television research, with more than 50 years of television measurement experience.
"This new relationship will enable us to independently and objectively demonstrate to the global advertising community the tremendous importance and effectiveness of our IPG products in broadband digital television. The relationship further demonstrates our commitment to partnering with other leading companies as it relates to the development of our IPG business and being first to market with cutting-edge products.
"Nielsen Media Research has a significant global presence, including its relationship with VNU (its parent company, which also includes ACNielsen), that fits beautifully with our global expansion plans with our various IPG products."
About Nielsen Media Research
Nielsen Media Research is the leading provider of television audience measurement and related services in the United States and Canada. Its National People Meter Service provides audience estimates for all national program sources, including broadcast networks, cable networks, Spanish language television and national syndicators. Local rating services estimate audiences for each of 210 television markets in the United States, including electronic metered service in 49 markets.
Nielsen Media Research also provides competitive advertising intelligence information through Nielsen Monitor-Plus, and Internet usage and advertising information through Nielsen//NetRatings. Nielsen Media Research is a subsidiary of Netherlands-based VNU, one of the world's leading publishing and information companies. Additional information is available at www.nielsenmedia.com.
About Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc.
Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc., (Nasdaq: GMST chart, msgs) 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+(R) system, the interactive program guide ("IPG") marketed under the GUIDE Plus+(R) and TV Guide Interactive(SM) brands and the electronic book ("Gemstar eBook(TM)"); 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; the Media and Services Sector, which operates the TV Guide(R) 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 various devices, including televisions, VCRs and 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 Gemstar eBook is a reading device that can store tens of thousands of pages, and permits a user to purchase and receive instant delivery of any book, magazine or newspaper over a standard telephone line.
The company's media properties are used by 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, Hughes Network Systems, Matsushita, Microsoft, Mitsubishi, Motorola, Philips, Sony, Time Warner, Thomson multimedia, Zenith and others.
The company has more than 160 issued U.S. patents in the general area of audio-visual technologies, with more than 3,900 claims and more than 195 issued foreign patents; continues to actively pursue a worldwide intellectual property program; and currently has more than 300 U.S. and more than 800 foreign patent applications pending.
Note to Editors: Gemstar, TV Guide, Gemstar eBook, GUIDE Plus+, TV Guide Interactive, VCR Plus+ and PlusCode are trademarks of Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. Other product names used herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective companies.
Except for historical information contained here, the matters discussed in this news release contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any such forward-looking statements are detailed in the company's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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