LIBERATE TECHNOLOGIES: Telewest Communications chooses Liberate software to deploy interactive television services; Plans to target 2.5 million homes beginning Q1 2000
Too bad PowerTV didn't snag this order...
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2000 2:20 PM
- M2 Communications
FEB 15, 2000, M2 Communications - London, England and San Carlos, California -- Telewest Communications plc and Liberate
Technologies today announced that Telewest plans to deploy interactive television services for its residential customer base using the
Liberate TV Platform. Telewest Communications is Britain's leading integrated broadband communications company, delivering
multi-channel television, telephone and Internet services. Telewest is currently selling digital television capability to a base of 2.5 million
digital-ready homes, and anticipates rolling out interactive service offerings in Spring of this year. Liberate is a leading software provider for
delivering enhanced television content to set-tops, and provides an end-to-end solution that is based on Internet standards.
Peter Hall, managing director of product development at Telewest commented: "The Liberate platform allows us to provide a wide range of
applications and services to our subscriber base. This includes e-mail, banking and e-commerce solutions that will enable our customers
to harness the power of enhanced TV." He continued, " By deploying a solution based on open standards, we can customise our service
to incorporate our brand qualities and adapt quickly to changing market developments."
Telewest is using the Liberate TV Navigator client and Liberate Connect server software to enable its new interactive television system.
Liberate TV Navigator lets network operators deliver applications to set-top boxes that integrate the Web's interactivity with the richness of
TV-based content. Liberate Connect offers a services management platform to deploy applications that support the network operator's
distinct services and brand identities.
"As the leading broadband cable operator in Britain, Telewest's selection of Liberate significantly builds our presence in the most
advanced digital market in the world," said Mitchell Kertzman, president and CEO of Liberate. "With Liberate, Telewest can deliver to its
viewers a variety of enhancements to the TV experience that reflect its market leadership."
Liberate has established a proven record of success with leading cable, telecommunications, satellite and Internet service provider
companies. The Liberate TV Platform provides enhanced TV capabilities that offer maximum flexibility and a broad array of applications.
As the leading Internet-based platform for interactive television, providing HTML and JavaScript support, Liberate continues to drive open
standards. Liberate is a founder of ATVEF (Advanced Television Enhancement Forum), and a member of ATSC (Advanced Television
Systems Committee), Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) project, OpenCard, W3C (Worldwide Web Coalition), as well as OpenCable.
About Telewest Telewest Communications is Britain's leading integrated broadband communications company. Telewest's broadband
cable networks now pass more than 4.6 million homes, with more than 1.5 million households choosing Telewest for their multi-channel
television, telephone and Internet services. In the business sector Telewest's voice and data telecommunications links are used by over
54,000 companies and other public and private sector organisations. Revenues for the nine months ended 30 September, 1999, were
UKP576 million, up 14.7 per cent from 1998. In the same period earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA)
grew 33.3 per cent to UKP165 million. Telewest's ordinary share capital is listed on the London Stock Exchange and on the US NASDAQ
National Market System.
About Liberate Technologies Liberate Technologies (Nasdaq:LBRT) is a leading provider of a complete software platform for delivering
Internet-enhanced content and applications to information appliances, such as television set-top boxes and game consoles.
Liberate's Internet-based client and server software allows network operators, such as telecommunications companies, cable and satellite
television operators and Internet service providers to provide consumers access to network operator-branded applications and services.
Headquartered in San Carlos, California, the company has sales offices in the U.S. and the U.K.
Liberate investors include: Acer, America Online, Comcast, Cox Communications, General Instrument, Hambrecht & Quist, Lucent
Technologies, Netscape, Nintendo, MediaOne Ventures, Oracle, Rogers Communications, Sega, Shaw Communications, Sony, Sun
Microsystems, and Wind River Systems.
Liberate, Liberate TV Platform, Liberate TV Navigator, Liberate Connect and the Liberate logo are trademarks of Liberate Technologies. All
other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
"Safe Harbor" Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Information in this release that involves Liberate
Technologies' expectations, beliefs, hopes, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based upon information available to Liberate
Technologies as of the date of the release, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement. These
statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results could differ materially from our current expectations. Factors that
could cause or contribute to such differences or risks associated with our business are discussed in the Company's registration
statement on Form S-1 declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on July 27, 1999, and in the other reports
filed from time to time with the SEC. |
