GMST--(ATYT) GEMSTAR and ATI Sign Interactive Program Guide Agreement For PC-TV Tuner Cards
BUSINESS WIRE - April 10, 2000 09:15
PASADENA, Calif., Apr 10, 2000 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Gemstar International Group Ltd. (Nasdaq:GMST) today announced it has entered into a long-term licensing agreement with ATI Technologies (Nasdaq:ATYT) under which ATI will incorporate Gemstar's interactive program guide ("IPG") technology into a major portion of ATI's line of PC-TV Tuner cards.
ATI will offer the latest version of Gemstar's guide technology ("PC-TV version" of the GUIDE Plus+(R) system) integrated with ATI's latest version of its tuner control software, the Multimedia Center. The PC-TV version of the GUIDE Plus+ system, like its television counterpart, is a no-fee service to the consumer. ATI customers will be able to enjoy many of the electronic programming guide features found in Gemstar's television versions of the GUIDE Plus+ system, such as direct tuning from the program listings, the ability to continue watching TV in the picture-in-picture window while using the guide, and sorting the listings by theme. The PC-TV version of the GUIDE Plus+ system will offer enhanced sorting and searching functions using multiple-logical criteria such as keyword, actor name, show title, sports events, movie genre, time and date. These customized searches can be named, stored and automatically updated all at the user's option.
The PC-TV version of the GUIDE Plus+ system also allows the user to create and print out his or her personal watch and record schedules, and to automatically link to the Internet for additional information. The PC-TV based electronic program guide also includes an interactive crossword puzzle and Gemstar's VCR Plus+(R) system PlusCode(R) numbers to easily record any show.
"ATI is delighted to partner with Gemstar on this exciting new technology," said Phil Eisler, senior director of component marketing at ATI. "The addition of Gemstar's powerful interactive program guide will be a key feature in ATI's convergence product line."
"Gemstar is excited to offer consumers yet another convenient means of enjoying the electronic program guide, which is rapidly becoming indispensable in today's 'five-hundred-channel universe,'" said Henry C. Yuen, chairman and chief executive officer of Gemstar. "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with ATI, the leading PC/TV Tuner Card company, to extend Gemstar's GUIDEPlus+ technology into the multi-media PC sector."
About ATI Technologies Inc.
ATI Technologies Inc., the world's largest supplier of 3D graphics and multimedia technology, designs, manufactures and markets innovative and award-winning multimedia solutions and graphics components for the personal computer, set-top box and consumer electronics appliance markets. An ISO 9002 company, ATI is the world's leading supplier of video and 2D/3D graphics accelerators to OEM and retail customers. Founded in 1985, ATI employs more than 1,800 people at headquarters in Thornhill, Ontario, and in offices in the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Barbados, Malaysia, Japan and Hong Kong. ATI is a public company whose shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange and NASDAQ.
About Gemstar
Gemstar develops, markets and licenses proprietary technologies and systems aimed at making technology user-friendly for consumers. Gemstar's technology and intellectual property are licensed to major companies in the consumer-electronics, satellite, cable and personal computer industries, including Aiwa, Akai, America Online (AOL), Americast, Cox, Daewoo, Funai, GTE, Hitachi, Hughes Network Systems, JVC, LG Electronics (Goldstar), Matsushita (Panasonic, Quasar), Microsoft Corporation, Mitsubishi, Orion, Philips (Magnavox, Philips), Quadravision, Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp, Shintom, Sony, Southern New England Telephone, Thomson Multimedia (GE, Proscan, RCA, Thomson), Toshiba, Uniden, US West and Zenith. Gemstar has more than 90 issued U.S. patents in the general area of audio-visual technologies with over 1,875 claims, and over 90 issued foreign patents. The Company continues to pursue a worldwide patent-prosecution program and has more than 120 pending U.S. patent applications and more than 320 pending foreign patent applications.
Gemstar is a leading provider of electronic program guide services, which allow a user to view a television program guide on screen, obtain details about a show, sort shows by themes or categories, and select shows for tuning or recording, all through the remote control. In the United States, data for Gemstar's electronic program guide services are carried on the ABC, Fox, CBS, NBC, UPN and PBS networks. Gemstar's electronic program guide has been built into a number of models of new televisions, VCRs and TV/VCR combination units. Gemstar's electronic program guide is also licensed to cable, telco and MMDS service providers, and has been integrated into direct broadcast satellite receivers, digital and advanced analog cable set-top boxes, PCTV and other Internet devices and computer operating systems such as Windows 98.
Gemstar's VCR Plus+(R) instant programming system is a world standard for VCR programming. The VCR Plus+ system allows a user to record a television show simply by entering a number -- the PlusCode(R) number -- printed in television program guides. The PlusCode numbers are published by more than 1,800 newspapers and television program guides worldwide, with a combined circulation of over 330 million. The VCR Plus+ system has been licensed to virtually every major television and VCR manufacturer and is now available in 40 countries and on six continents, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, continental Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America and South Africa.
On October 4, 1999, Gemstar announced that it had entered into a merger agreement with TV Guide, Inc. (Nasdaq:TVGIA) in a stock-for-stock purchase transaction under which TV Guide will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Gemstar. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2000 subject to governmental approval.
Except for historical information contained here, the matters discussed in this news release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including the timely availability and acceptance of new products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, the management of growth, and the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including the reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q.
GUIDE Plus+, VCR Plus+ and PlusCode are trademarks of Gemstar. Other product names used herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective companies.
Distributed via COMTEX. |
