Charter Communications - Bay City Launches Wink Enhanced Broadcasting Wink Expands Deployment in Charter Systems
ALAMEDA, Calif., Feb 22, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Charter
Communications Bay City, MI and Wink Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: WINK) today
announced that the deployment of Wink Enhanced Broadcasting(TM) on the General
Instrument CFT2200 advanced analog set-top began in December. Bill Shreffler,
regional vice president, Charter Communications and Melinda White, vice
president, Cable Sales, Wink Communications, announced the deployment today.
(Photo: newscom.com )
"We are pleased to be able to offer Wink Enhanced Broadcasting to our
customers," said Bill Shreffler. "Wink enables Charter customers to interact
with their favorite programs, make purchases, and access new information using
the latest television technology. We believe Wink adds significant value to our
customers."
"The Charter Bay City launch provides Charter customers with a new and enriching
viewing experience. We appreciate Charter's expanding support and commitment to
add interactive television and e-commerce opportunities, to better serve their
customers," said Melinda White.
Charter Communications has already deployed Wink Enhanced Broadcasting in St.
Louis, MO, Maryville, IL, Kingsport, TN and Fort Worth, TX.
Wink Enhanced Broadcasting gives viewers a free and convenient way to interact
with programs and advertisements while they continue to watch TV. By clicking
their remote control during an enhanced program or advertisement, the viewer can
access program-related information such as weather, sports updates, trivia and
play along games, request product samples, coupons and other free offers from
advertisers and make purchases instantly.
Wink's technology enables programmers and advertisers to enhance TV with
interactive overlays that appear as supplemental text and graphics on the TV
screen, relating to the TV broadcast. When Wink is available to a television
viewer, a small symbol appears on the viewer's TV screen, indicating that the
show or commercial is Wink enhanced. The viewer can choose to interact with the
show or ad by using his or her existing remote control. Wink is free to the
user, requiring no infrastructure upgrades or additional hardware in the home
for viewers with Wink enabled digital or advanced analog cable boxes.
Wink's complete end-to-end system for enhanced television provides software to
create and deliver the interactive enhancements, and collect and route viewer
requests through the Wink Response Network. Wink differs from Internet access on
television, in that it enhances existing programs and commercials. Wink has
agreements in place with major cable and satellite operators, Microsoft,
Liberate and manufacturers of consumer electronics equipment to distribute Wink
Enhanced Broadcasting to viewers.
About Charter Communications
Charter Communications is a Wired World(TM) company offering a full range of
traditional cable television services. The company has also begun to offer
services including digital cable television, high-speed Internet access and
paging and is introducing interactive video programming. All of these services
are important steps toward the realization of the Wired World vision where
cable's ability to transmit voice, video and data at high speeds will enable it
to serve as the primary platform for the delivery of new services to the home
and workplace. Charter is the fourth largest operator of cable television
systems in the United States, serving approximately 6.2 million customers, after
giving effect to a pending acquisition. The chairman of Charter Communications
is Paul G. Allen. Jerald L. Kent is the company's president and CEO. More
information about Charter can be accessed on the Internet at www.chartercom.com.
About Wink Communications, Inc.
Wink Communications, Inc. based in Alameda, California, provides a complete
end-to-end system for low-cost electronic commerce on television. Wink Enhanced
Broadcasting allows advertisers, merchants, and broadcast and cable networks the
ability to create interactive enhancements to traditional television
advertisements and programs. With a click of the remote control during an
enhanced program or ad, viewers can use Wink to access program-related
information, purchase or request information about advertised products,
participate in votes and polls, and play along with games and trivia tests.
Wink capability is currently available to viewers in cable markets in
California, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Tennessee and
Texas. Wink Enhanced Broadcasting has been available in Japan since October 1996
and in the United States since June 1998. A complete list of industry leaders
who have adopted the Wink technology and additional information regarding Wink
Communications is available at wink.com.
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor"
for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this press
release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written
statements made or to be made by the company) contains statements that are
forward-looking, such as statements relating to anticipated future revenues of
the company and success of current product offerings. Such forward-looking
information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly
affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may
differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by
or on behalf of the company. For a description of additional risks and
uncertainties, please refer to the company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commissions.
NOTE: Wink is a registered trademark of Wink Communications, Inc. All other
products or brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.
SOURCE Wink Communications, Inc.
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