"Showtime Also Will Use Wink Technology to Market PPV Movies and Events And Create Wink-Enhancements for the Showtime Networks"
full story: newsalert.com
NEW YORK, March 3, /PRNewswire/ -- Cable viewers soon will have the opportunity to sign up for Showtime with a simple click of the remote control. Showtime Networks Inc. ( showtimeonline.com ) and Wink Communications Inc. today announced a programming relationship that will allow viewers with access to Wink technology to subscribe on impulse to the popular premium network. Using Wink Enhanced Broadcasting (TM) technology, Showtime will create an interactive feature for its services with a built-in revolutionary sign-up capability. The feature will run on a number of networks. In addition, Showtime will use Wink technology to market pay-per-view and enhance its programming with unique interactive additions.
Showtime is the first premium network to embrace Wink. Terms of today's deal were not disclosed.
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"We also see Wink's technology as a means to offer additional value to a Showtime subscription by providing viewers with easy, on-demand access to program specific content, such as scheduling information and movie information," said Jeff Morris, Senior Vice President, New Media and Technology Development, Showtime Networks Inc.
Programming enhancements can allow viewers to see plot lines, character histories, and future play times. Viewers can also be enabled to participate in contests, polls, and other interactive activities and events. Showtime will begin to incorporate programming enhancements into their telecasts during the second quarter of this year.
Wink interactive enhancements work directly over TV sets and cable set-top boxes. The technology is being rolled-out by major cable operators, cable set-top box manufacturers and consumer electronics manufacturers. Wink is the worldwide standard for Enhanced Broadcasting that allows TV networks, producers and advertisers to enhance broadcast television with interactive overlays and special information channels that are tied to regular broadcasts.
The technology is different from Internet-over-TV as it enhances and is broadcast with existing shows and commercials, adds very little or no cost to the television set or set-top box, and requires no subscription fees for consumers.
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In the US, General Instrument Corp., Scientific-Atlanta, and Pioneer are building a range of analog and digital equipment to support Wink Enhanced Broadcasting. In Japan, Sony, Matsushita (Panasonic), Toshiba and JVC already are selling TV sets and related products that receive and record Wink broadcasts. Wink enhancements require no dramatic upgrades to existing cable, telecommunications, broadcast or direct satellite infrastructure. |
