Scientific-Atlanta's Explorer 2000 Advanced Digital Set-Top Will Support ACTV's 'Individualized Television
NEW YORK and ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 25, 1999--
Viewer Calls the Shots - Switching Between Different Camera Angles, Getting Additional Information or Statistics, and Even Interacting with the Television Program
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. (NYSE: SFA) and ACTV, Inc. (NASDAQ: IATV) today announced that ACTV's patented "Individualized Television" digital programming capabilities will be available on Scientific-Atlanta's Explorer(R) 2000 advanced digital set-top boxes. ACTV uses proprietary software technologies to create "Individualized Television," which takes traditional television programming into the digital age by allowing viewers to switch seamlessly among multiple, real-time feeds of video, audio and data.
Using Scientific-Atlanta's Explorer 2000 advanced digital interactive set-top box and remote control, a viewer can switch between the regular programming feed and a multitude of personal options and features. ACTV's proprietary software remembers viewer commands and responses to on-screen prompts, enabling the television to "talk back" to an unlimited number of viewers with individually-tailored television programming and targeted advertising content. "Individualized Television" can enhance a variety of television genres, including sporting events, news, game shows, children's programming and advertising. For sporting events, ACTV's "Individualized Television" offers more than 60 viewing options like Star Cam, which focuses on a featured player; Instant Replay on demand; in-depth statistics; scoring summaries; and relevant video feature stories and interviews.
"Scientific-Atlanta, through its revolutionary digital network and advanced digital set-top, the Explorer 2000, has taken leaps to advance the era of digital interactive television. By joining our CreativEdge(TM) program, ACTV will make its interactive programming compatible with the Explorer 2000," said Michael Harney, Scientific-Atlanta's corporate vice president and general manager of Digital Subscriber Networks. "We are excited to be working with ACTV to change the way cable subscribers interact with their televisions."
ACTV is participating in Scientific-Atlanta's CreativEdge Developers Program, which encourages third-parties to develop applications that work on the Explorer platform. Developers receive technical support services, software discounts and certification services to verify reliable operation on the cable network. The program is part of Scientific-Atlanta's strategy to support a range of software applications and services which bring additional value to cable operators in the form of new revenue opportunities.
"'Individualized Television' will change the way consumers experience television in a digital world," said Dave Alworth, executive vice president of ACTV Entertainment. "We're pleased to be working with Scientific-Atlanta to bring 'Individualized Television' into a greater number of digital cable homes."
The Explorer 2000 set-top complies with expected OpenCable specifications and has high-throughput, two-way communications and sufficient processing power, memory and graphics capable of enabling a variety of interactive applications for cable subscribers, including Internet access, video-on-demand, home shopping and IP-based applications. Scientific-Atlanta's interactive digital network is based on an open architecture that allows for an infinite number of applications and services to be added to the network without changes in network infrastructure.
Scientific-Atlanta has received purchase orders or commitments for its interactive digital network from 14 cable operators in the United States and Canada, representing more than 75 systems which have more than 16 million cable subscribers. These cable operators include Time Warner, TCI, Cox, Comcast, Adelphia, Marcus Cable, Rogers and Videotron.
ACTV has a long-term programming agreement with FOX Sports Net. The agreement allows ACTV to offer "Individualized Television" digital programming services, featuring FOX Sports Net's professional and collegiate sports coverage, to any of FOX Sports Net's regional networks. ACTV plans to launch enhanced regional digital cable networks across the country under the FOX Sports Net Plus brand name and expects to offer other marquee digital programming via a joint venture with Liberty Media Corporation.
New York-based ACTV is a leading developer of patented software technologies and multimedia programming content for the rapidly emerging digital television and Internet platforms. The company has relationships with major players in cable and television, and the leaders in digital technology, including: Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LBTYA, LBTYB); FOX Sports Net; Tele-Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: TCOMA); Cablevision's (AMEX: CVC) Rainbow Sports; TCI Music's The Box Music Network (NASDAQ: TUNE, TUNEP); and The Sarnoff Corporation. ACTV Entertainment and ACTV Net are subsidiaries of ACTV, Inc. ACTV's Web site can be found at actv.com
Scientific-Atlanta (http://www.sciatl.com) is a leading supplier of broadband communications systems, satellite-based video, voice and data communications networks, and worldwide customer service and support.
Explorer is a registered trademark and CreativEdge is a trademark of Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. All other products or brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Disclaimer: 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 Company, are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements which may accompany the forward-looking statements. In addition, the company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
CONTACT:
Bratskeir & Company (for ACTV)
Mike Rosen, 212/679-2233, ext. 213
mrosen@bratskeir.com
or
Scientific-Atlanta
Kerri Dimke, 770/903-6306
kerri.dimke@sciatl.com |
