Tuesday May 15, 8:13 am Eastern Time
Press Release
Game Show Network Synchs Up With SpotMagic and ACTV to Take ``Mall Masters'' Interactive
Effective April 30, 2001, Fans of the GSN Original Game Show ``Mall Masters'' Can Play Along Using Their Personal Computers or Set-Top Boxes
CULVER CITY, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--May 15, 2001-- Game Show Network (GSN) continues to provide interactive programming with an enhanced version of its original game show, ``Mall Masters.''
Interactive ``Mall Masters'' provides two play-along options: synch-to-broadcast and set-top box. Using SpotMagic's SpotSimulcast technology, GSN is providing players with real-time PC interaction and two-screen game play. Additionally, the network has teamed up with ACTV to allow viewers and fans of ``Mall Masters'' who are equipped with WebTV Plus set-top boxes to play along with the broadcast.
The enhanced ``Mall Masters'' debuted at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. ET on Monday, April 30, 2001, and airs Monday through Friday, re-running Monday's show on Sundays at 7:30 p.m. ET.
``We are pleased to be working with SpotMagic and ACTV/HyperTV to bring interactive `Mall Masters' options to our viewers,'' stated Kristin Peace, vice president, programming, GSN. ``GSN is committed to creating iTV versions of all our original programming and maintaining our leadership position in this space. SpotMagic and ACTV are great partners whose technology for PC and set-top box play-along, respectively, is very impressive.''
```Mall Masters' is a fast-moving show; the television experience for a show like this is more fun when you can play along. The audience competes with contestants and other national viewers, and the interactivity really engages the audience,'' said John Armstrong, founder, SpotMagic Inc.
To play along using SpotMagic's SpotSimulcast technology, GSN fans need to visit and click on the ``Mall Masters'' icon to download the free ``Game Show Network Tuner'' to their PC desktop. Then, a mouse click launches the ``Mall Masters'' SpotSimulcast experience. Viewers can play along with the show, keep scores and interact with GSN's Web site.
Web TV Plus set-top box users can go interactive with ``Mall Masters'' using ACTV-fueled play-along applications. For set-top box players, a game screen appears with instructions, and play mirrors the exact format of the show. Questions appear on-screen with the on-air game, and interactive players must enter their answers before the contestants. Once the answer is given on ``Mall Masters,'' the player will be notified of a correct or incorrect answer, exactly like the in-studio contestants.
``Mall Masters,'' a high-energy game show hosted by Chris Harrison, is set in the Mall of America in Minneapolis. Contestants on ``Mall Masters'' compete by answering multiple-choice questions in a number of store-related categories, as well as poll questions. In fact, the 40 million plus people who visit the Mall each year are key to ``Mall Master's'' poll material. Their ideas -- on everything from favorite pizza toppings to social behavior -- are polled and form the criteria for this opinion-based game show.
ACTV Inc. (Nasdaq:IATV - news) is a digital media company providing technical and creative services, tools and proprietary products for enhanced media, interactive TV advertising and personalized programming applications. 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 Corp. For more information, visit actv.com.
ACTV's Enhanced Media Services division includes HyperTV, which enables the synchronization of television programming and online content, and Bottle Rocket, which creates customized and licensed online games.
SpotMagic's technology has been designed as a universal software component for the enhanced media industry featuring national scalability, fast action and ease of use for producers and consumers alike. Advanced features like simple click-on access and dependable interactivity synched with programming content, along with the ability to produce interactive insertions for even a live telecasts using rich media like video, offer a fundamental breakthrough in convergent technologies. For information about SpotMagic, log on to spotmagic.com.
Game Show Network is the premier programming service exclusively dedicated to the exciting world of games, game playing and game shows. Game Show Network is jointly owned and operated by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Liberty Digital Inc. Game Show Network offers a wide array of programming including game show favorites from its diverse library, and new interactive game shows where viewers can become contestants in their own homes. Game Show Network can be found on the World Wide Web at gameshownetwork.com.
Liberty Digital Inc. is a diversified new media company focused on the development of interactive television programming with interests in interactive television technology, e-commerce and content businesses. Liberty Digital's Series A common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol ``LDIG" For more information, visit libertydigital.com.
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a division of Sony Corp. of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corp. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution, television production and distribution, worldwide channel investments, home entertainment acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities, development of new entertainment products, services and technologies, and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web spe.sony.com.
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Contact:
Game Show Network
Carrie Gerlach, 310/244-8897
or
SpotMagic Inc.
Gary Fiset, 415/403-7377, ext. 105
or
Brainerd Communications
Kim Holt, 212/986-6667
Holt@braincomm.com
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