Unclewest and all: I am feeling somewhat overwhelmed by all the competing companies that are claiming to be THE leaders in the same areas. In fact I am feeling pretty stupid. Is this just a natural response of trying to peer into the forming tornado and having lack of clarity? I am glad to be an early investor in GMST anyway.
I respectfully submit the following article and ask: Doesn't it seem like there are a lot of redundancies in players (companies) claiming to be the leaders in each others efforts? And who really has the lock on important IPR and patents? (I think we all agree here that GMST qualifies) So far I am long only in GMST, ACTV, and LBRT (through ORCL). I'm thinking I'd better take a harder look at WGAT. Other opinions???? Suggest another one to look at ... LDIG (potential to be to the IATV market as CMGI has been to the Internet).
Thanx, Scott
biz.yahoo.com
Wednesday December 15, 6:02 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
ICTV and ACTV Ink Deal to Expand Interactive TV/Web Services
Agreement Will Enable ACTV's Innovative HyperTV(R) Solution To Deliver Synchronized Web Content Directly To TV Sets Through ICTV's Platform
LOS GATOS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 15, 1999-- ICTV today announced an agreement with ACTV, Inc. (NASDAQ:IATV - news), that will enable ACTV's patented HyperTV© software solution for TV/Web convergence to deliver its unique capabilities directly to TV sets utilizing ICTV's new digital platform. HyperTV enables TV networks, programmers and advertisers to automatically deliver to consumers interactive Web content, Web-based advertising messages, e-commerce and community chat features that are synchronized to correspond with a live or pre-recorded TV program.
ICTV's new digital interactive services platform is based upon shared use of powerful Pentium-based PC clients located at the cable operator's headend. These clients are switched from user to user on an as-needed basis, resulting in amortization of lifetime client cost over multiple users. Each PC is connected to both the Internet and local content servers over 100 Mbps ethernet. ICTV does not require any software in the set-top box and only relies upon the presence of an MPEG decoder. The ICTV platform can deliver full Broadband InterneTV to any MPEG-base digital set-top. This means MSOs with older thin set-tops or those MSOs who have already purchased thicker set-tops can offer all the advantages of InterneTV without costly upgrades. ICTV's system also adjusts to expanding operating requirements, which eliminates expensive investments in quickly obsolete equipment.
Michael Collette, ICTV's Senior Vice President of Marketing, sees great promise in HyperTV. ``One of the things that makes broadband exciting is the ability to maintain the dramatic value of real-time TV. With HyperTV on the ICTV platform, networks and programmers can create and deliver interactive experience that retain and enhance this dramatic element and keep all the content in one place -- on the TV. We see HyperTV having broad applications for movies, games, news, sports, sitcoms, advertising and most other TV genres,' said Collette.
Under the terms of the agreement, ICTV will integrate HyperTV into ICTV's digital broadband interactive services platform, allowing viewers to enjoy a HyperTV experience delivered directly to the TV. This agreement formalizes and expands the relationship between the two companies and provides a strong basis for future innovation that will bring creative and entertaining interactive content to cable operators and viewers.
ICTV is already a licensee of the ``bookmarking' technology obtained by ACTV when it acquired the assets of Catch TV. This key patented technology enables a TV viewer to ``bookmark' information from the Internet that is related to a TV program or advertisement. Viewers can access that content at their leisure on the ICTV system.
By combining this and other asserts of CatchTV into HyperTV, advertisers can now maximize their television ad dollars by targeting consumers with the direct-response, one-to-one marketing capabilities of the Web. In addition, viewers can interact as little or as much as they'd like with the complementary Web content without feeling pressured to immediately view the content, memorize URLs or miss the current TV programming.
According to Bill Samuels, Chairman and CEO of ACTV, ``ICTV's new digital platform has tremendous potential for delivering cutting-edge functionality and rich content from HyperTV to a broad TV-viewing audience. We look forward to working together to bring TV viewers a compelling interactive TV/Web experience.'
About ICTV
Headquartered in the heart of California's Silicon Valley, ICTV provides cable operators with the only platform capable of providing true broadband Internet access to cable-connected television sets. ICTV is the only company to provide cable operators with a digital platform for high-speed Internet access to cable-connected televisions. ICTV can be found on the World Wide Web at ictv.com.
About HyperTV©
HyperTV provides viewers with a richer interactive experience and allows them to become part of a dynamic virtual community, while allowing networks, programmers and advertisers to more effectively leverage the power of the Web to extend their brand identity, access lucrative e-commerce revenue streams, develop one-to-one relationships with viewers, and differentiate their programs offerings today. HyperTV also has a database capability that captures valuable permission-based marketing information.
The HyperTV software is a browser plug-in for newer versions of either Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer, the most popular web browsers. HyperTV has no hardware, chip or platform dependency and can operate on any of today's principal PC operating systems. It is fully compatible with analog or digital television and broadband delivery infrastructures.
Currently, HyperTV offers a ``two-screen' solution for TV/Web convergence, targeting the more than 20 million convergent households in the U.S. today -- people who watch TV while they surf the Web on their computer.
HyperTV has already begun to gain widespread acceptance by the entertainment industry. More than 50 hours of programming during TBS Superstation's ``15 DAYS OF 007' James Bond movie festival was enhanced by ``Cyber Bond,' powered by HyperTV. Turner Network Television's (TNT) special concert event airing Dec. 19, ONE LOVE: THE BOB MARLEY ALL-STAR TRIBUTE, features cutting-edge TV/Web convergence activities, powered by HyperTV. On Dec. 31, The Box Music Network, an MTV Networks company, will launch BOX FUSION, the first fully-programmed TV/Web convergence service, powered by HyperTV. Beginning in January, New Line Television will enhance the pay-per-view airings of AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME with a shagedelic, feature-length HyperTV experience. Showtime Networks has also reached an agreement for HyperTV programming. |
