GMST--TV Guide, Inc. and SeaChange International to Provide Integrated Video-On-Demand Offering in Future Versions of TV Guide Interactive Partnership to Ensure Intuitive Access to Interactive Television
PR NEWSWIRE - April 24, 2000 08:00
TULSA, Okla., Apr 24, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- TV Guide, Inc. (Nasdaq: TVGIA) has partnered with SeaChange International (Nasdaq: SEAC) to bring to the market a version of the TV Guide Interactive electronic program guide (TVGI) with a fully integrated video-on-demand (VOD) service. The integration will combine the TVGI application, already used by more than 3.5 million digital cable subscribers in over 1,100 cable systems in the US, Canada and Mexico, with SeaChange's ITV system, which enables cable operators to leverage their digital networks to provide VOD. This is the first major integration for TV Guide Interactive in the VOD area and will be the market's first fully integrated interactive program guide/VOD offering.
TV Guide Interactive, an advanced interactive program guide, enables viewers to easily navigate the multi-channel digital cable universe. Using a remote control and TV Guide Interactive, digital cable subscribers can plan and control their television viewing experience with program listings by genre, detailed program information and popular features like Reminders, Parental Control pay-per-view ordering and Favorite Channel settings. SeaChange's ITV System provides video-on-demand television through digital networks, allowing movies and other programs and services to be selectively viewed, with standard VCR functions like fast-forward, pause, and rewind. Integration of the two services will provide the electronic link for television viewers to easily navigate through a rich selection of interactive television applications. The integrated application is expected to be available in the third quarter of this year.
"We have been successful within the cable industry by providing the easiest, most effective interactive program guide to navigate the digital television environment. We chose SeaChange as an integration partner because they bring expertise in video-on-demand and server technology. We feel confident that this deal offers us and our cable partners a technically sound, integrated solution," said Pete Boylan, President and COO of TV Guide, Inc.
SeaChange's ITV System, which has been selected by a number of cable operators around the world, is a software-based platform for storing vast amounts of digital programming for personal viewing. Designed for reliability and scalability, the ITV System's open architecture supports the development of applications that merge broadband and the Internet.
"We're intent on ensuring the success of personal television -- making it reliable and easy to use," said Bill Styslinger, president and CEO, SeaChange International. "TV Guide is a popular icon in this business and we'll work well together in helping television evolve in very exciting ways."
"Our goal is to provide a program guide application that is open for integration with many varying functions desired by our MSO partners. We are moving ahead with this integration because video-on-demand is an important business opportunity for our customers and SeaChange is positioning itself to be a leading provider of VOD platforms for cable industry," stated Todd Walker, Sr. VP of TV Guide Interactive.
About the companies
TV Guide is a global diversified media and communications company that operates four primary business units: TV Guide Television Group, TV Guide Interactive Group TV Guide Magazine Group, and United Video Group. TV Guide markets and distributes products in the United States to over 100 million cable and satellite homes every week. TV Guide also markets its products internationally in 45 countries. TV Guide magazine and TV Guide Channel are the largest print and electronic guidance products in the world. TV Guide has unparalleled consumer reach with the following products and cable/satellite services:
-- TV Guide magazine -- 11 million circulation -- 34.4 million weekly readers -- TV Guide Channel -- 54 million subscribers(1) -- 27 million weekly viewers -- TV Guide Interactive -- 34 million homes passed -- 3.2 million subscribers -- TV Guide Online -- 82.2 million page views/month -- >2.8 million unique users per month -- The Cable Guide -- 4 million subscribers -- 8.7 million weekly readers -- Sneak Prevue -- 34 million subscribers -- WGN -- 47 million subscribers -- KTLA -- 3 million subscribers -- WPIX -- 3.6 million subscribers -- Denver 6 Services -- 3 million subscribers
(1) Nielsen Media Research Universe Estimate 11/99
TV Guide operates several other business units including:
Superstar/Netlink Group, LLC -- SpaceCom Systems -- Television Games Network -- SSDS -- TV Guide Media Sales -- TV Guide Affiliate Sales -- TV Guide Enterprise Solutions -- TV Guide International -- TV Guide Distribution, Inc. -- Infomedia SA Luxembourg.
On Oct. 4, 1999, TV Guide, Inc. and Gemstar International Group Limited (Nasdaq: GMST) announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which TV Guide, Inc. will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Gemstar.
For up to date information about TV Guide companies, please access our Internet home page at www.tvguideinc.com. TV Guide trades on the NASDAQ stock market under the symbol TVGIA.
SeaChange International, Inc.:
Serving 27,000 television channels for television companies worldwide, SeaChange International, Inc. is the leading provider of MPEG-2 digital video systems. SeaChange's products, incorporating the Company's patented software and hardware technologies, automate the management and distribution of video streams including advertisements, movies, news updates and other broadcast- quality video programming requiring precise execution. Founded in 1993, SeaChange is headquartered in Maynard, Massachusetts and can be found at www.seachangeinternational.com.
SOURCE TV Guide, Inc.
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