From the registration form filed today...
ACTV has developed proprietary and patented software technologies that we
call Individualized Television and HyperTV(TM). These software technologies
enable the creation of interactive programming for both digital television and
for applications merging television and the Internet.
ACTV's Individualized Television software technology provides the tools
needed to create live or pre-recorded television programming that individualizes
what the viewer sees and hears. The proprietary software can remember all of the
choices the viewer keys in with his TV remote control, allowing the television
to literally respond to each viewer with tailored programming and advertising
content. Using a standard digital remote control, television viewers switch
channels seamlessly and instantly among multiple, real-time feeds of live or
pre-recorded video, audio and data. Because there is no observed gap between the
viewer's selection and the display on the television, viewers do not realize
that they have changed channels, but perceive they are watching one channel that
is responsive to their choices. In fact, Individualized Television is a
multi-channel telecast of several elements of related programming material such
as instant replay on demand, an isolation camera on a star player, and
statistical data. To receive our individualized programming a viewer needs a
standard digital television set-top box that is compatible with our
Individualized Television software technology.
The first commercial digital application of Individualized Television will
be a subscription television network that presents regional sports programming.
We plan to launch the network in 1999 in the region served by Fox Sports
Southwest. Fox Sports Southwest distributes programming to more than 5 million
households in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and nine New Mexico counties.
The southwest regional network will feature individualized telecasts of Houston
Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, and San Antonio Spurs professional basketball games,
Dallas Stars professional hockey games, and Texas Rangers and Houston Astros
major league baseball games. Additional programming will include college sports
events from the Southeastern, Southland and Western Athletic conferences. We
have an agreement with Tele-Communications Inc., to distribute and market our
regional network to its digital television subscribers in Texas.
ACTV's first national individualized programming will be developed and
managed through a joint venture formed in September 1998 with Liberty Media
Corporation, called LMC IATV Events, LLC. LMC IATV Events, through an exclusive
license from ACTV, has the right to produce and distribute telecasts of major
events incorporating our individualized programming enhancements. As
consideration for granting such a license, ACTV received a fixed one-third
equity interest in the joint venture, with no obligations to make additional
capital contributions. |
