OpenTV and ACTV Complete Integration of Software for Interactive Applications
From SunZoomSpark
PostID 108611 On Wednesday, June 27, 2001 (EST) at 7:33:19 AM
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biz.yahoo.com
Wednesday June 27, 7:31 am Eastern Time
Press Release
OpenTV and ACTV Complete Integration of Software for Interactive Applications
ACTV's Interactive TV Products Available on OpenTV Enabled Set-Top Boxes
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 27, 2001-- OpenTV (Nasdaq and AEX: OPTV), the world's leading interactive television and media solutions company, and ACTV Inc. (Nasdaq: IATV - news), a digital media company specializing in interactive television and enhanced media technologies, today announced that ACTV's proprietary technology has been integrated into OpenTV's interactive television platform.
OpenTV's interactive television middleware for both today's and tomorrow's next generation set-top boxes is expected to include support for SpotOn(TM), the targeted advertising solution that is jointly marketed by ACTV, OpenTV and Motorola through ACTV's Digital ADCO subsidiary; One to One TV, ACTV's individualized programming technology; and HyperTV®, ACTV's system for synchronizing television programming with online content.
The integration provides ACTV's enhanced TV and individualized programming solutions to be available through digital set-tops that use the OpenTV middleware. The initial integration effort is on the Pace Set-Top Box, and the companies plan to integrate their combined technologies on additional set-top boxes over the next several months.
OpenTV's interactive television middleware is currently deployed in more than 16 million cable, satellite, and digital terrestrial set-top boxes, and enjoyed by over 40 million viewers worldwide, including subscribers of EchoStar in the U.S., BSkyB in the United Kingdom, ntl in France, and DIRECTV Latin America.
The integration of ACTV technology is expected to create new revenue-generating opportunities for service providers. For example, with SpotOn(TM) targeted advertising, advertisers can target messages seamlessly to individual set-top boxes, allowing viewers to watch television commercials that match their needs. Neighbors watching the same program can see different commercials based on their demographic information.
''As a longtime partner providing interactive TV solutions, we are excited to include the innovative technology of ACTV in our current and future OpenTV platforms,'' said James Ackerman, CEO of OpenTV. ''We believe that SpotOn(TM), One to One TV and HyperTV® solutions will prove to quickly create greater value for OpenTV customers.''
''OpenTV's established leadership position worldwide will allow us to capitalize on the current population of digital set-top boxes while positioning us for growth on future interactive platforms,'' said ACTV president and CEO David Reese. ''We look forward to promoting SpotOn(TM) and One to One TV across OpenTV's customer base while pursuing new broadband opportunities for HyperTV®.''
About ACTV Inc.
ACTV Inc. (Nasdaq: IATV - news) is a digital media company providing proprietary products, tools, and technical and creative services for interactive TV advertising, personalized programming applications and enhanced media. Based in New York City, ACTV's brands include SpotOn(TM), One to One TV, Advision, Intellocity, HyperTV® with Livewire and BottleRocket. For more information, visit actv.com .
SpotOn(TM) is a subsidiary of Digital ADCO, a joint venture between ACTV Inc., Motorola and OpenTV. Digital ADCO was created to achieve worldwide adoption of its targeted advertising application, SpotOn(TM). SpotOn(TM) utilizes multiple digital channels to deliver advertising messages that are tailored to individual household demographics.
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 16 million digital set-top boxes worldwide and has been selected by 43 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 and USA Media in the U.S. In addition, 32 digital set-top box manufacturers have licensed OpenTV's software, and more than 1,100 developers have joined the company's OpenAdvantage developer program.
Worldwide headquarters for OpenTV is located in Mountain View, Calif. Information on OpenTV is available at www.opentv.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 that are other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding the potential market for this integrated product and the number of future STBs in which the integrated technologies will be ported. 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 that 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:
OpenTV
David Benton, 650/230-8003
dbenton@opentv.com
or
MS&L for OpenTV
Erin McCormack, 323/866-6040
erin.mccormack@mslpr.com
or
ACTV Inc.
Ted O'Donnell, 212/217-1600 (Investor Relations)
ir@actv.com
or
Brainerd Communicators for ACTV
Kim Holt, 212/986-6667 ext. 728 (Media Relations)
holt@braincomm.com
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