OT:
OpenTV Partners With DIVA to Bring U.S. Cable a New Blend of Video-On-Demand and Interactive Television Services; OpenTV Invests $5 Million in Leading VOD Provider DIVA
MOUNTAIN VIEW and REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 2000--OpenTV (Nasdaq and AEX:OPTV), the leading worldwide provider of software to enable digital interactive television, and DIVA(TM), a leading provider of interactive video-on-demand (VOD) products and services for the cable television industry, today announced a strategic alliance to expand the capability of the Motorola DCT-2000 digital set-top box by combining OpenTV's software and interactive television services with DIVA's VOD and other services.
In addition to this alliance, OpenTV has made a $5 million strategic investment in DIVA.
With OpenTV's flash download capabilities, cable operators will be able to offer their cable TV subscribers, who currently use the Motorola DCT-2000 set-top box, immediate access to both OpenTV's brand of interactive television services (such as e-commerce and shopping, weather and sports information, Internet and more) along with DIVA's VOD products and services.
"We are enthusiastic about working with OpenTV to provide both domestic and international cable operators an additional opportunity to offer their customers new interactive services," said David Zucker, president and chief executive officer of DIVA. "Having already successfully launched VOD commercially on the DCT series set-top in several cable systems, DIVA is pleased to now provide VOD applications on OpenTV's operating system for Motorola's DCT-2000."
"We recognize the importance the U.S. cable industry places on offering its subscribers a host of new television services, now. Time to market is critical. This partnership with DIVA further demonstrates OpenTV's commitment to provide U.S. cable with an immediate solution," said Jan Steenkamp, president and CEO of OpenTV. "Combining DIVA's VOD products and services with OpenTV's multiple interactive television services further enhances OpenTV's worldwide leadership and supports our commitment of introducing the world to a new kind of television experience."
OpenTV (booth No. 1119), DIVA (booth No. 5643), and Motorola (booth No. 2119) will host live demonstrations of DIVA's VOD and other applications running on the Motorola DCT-2000 digital set-top box, during the National Cable Television Association (NCTA) trade show in New Orleans, La. (Morial Convention Center).
About OpenTV
OpenTV is the leading worldwide provider of software that enables digital interactive television (ITV), providing a complete end-to-end solution for the development and delivery of interactive services via digital satellite, cable and terrestrial broadcast.
OpenTV set-top box software has been shipped with or installed in more than 6.1 million digital set-top boxes worldwide. OpenTV software solutions have been selected by 28 television network operators in over 50 countries, including: British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) in the United Kingdom; TPS and Cable Lyonnaise in France; PrimaCom in Germany; Via Digital in Spain; Galaxy Latin America, the exclusive provider of DIRECTV(TM) in Latin America; and EchoStar's DISH Network(TM) in the U.S.
The OpenTV set-top box software is licensed to 29 digital set-top box manufacturers, and OpenTV's authoring tools are licensed to hundreds of independent developers and content and service providers.
OpenTV is a member of the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) project, CableLabs' OpenCable initiative, ATSC DASE and JavaTV. OpenTV is a licensee of Personal Java(TM) from Sun Microsystems.
OpenTV is supported by investments from eight leading Internet, broadcast and broadband companies including America Online (NYSE:AOL), Motorola (NYSE:MOT), Liberty Digital (Nasdaq:LDIG), News Corporation (NYSE:NWS), Time Warner (NYSE:TWX) and Shaw Communications (NYSE:SJR), in addition to Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq:SUNW) and MIH Limited (Nasdaq:MIHL).
Worldwide headquarters for OpenTV is located in Mountain View, Calif. Information on OpenTV is available at www.opentv.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to OpenTV that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause OpenTV's actual results to differ materially from those contemplated herein, including but not limited to whether DIVA will be able to employ OpenTV software solutions effectively in a timely manner, whether DIVA will be able to port its services to the OpenTV system within the time frames contemplated by this news release, and other risk factors detailed in the Registration Statement on Form F-1 and other documents filed from time to time by OpenTV Corp. with the Securities and Exchange Commission. OpenTV undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
About DIVA
DIVA Systems Corporation (www.divatv.com) is a privately held company founded in June 1995 and with headquarters in Redwood City, Calif. DIVA commercially launched its digital video-on-demand (VOD) service in cable television systems in the fall of 1997 and is the only company currently deploying an end-to-end video-on-demand service in North America.
As a leading provider of interactive VOD products and services for the cable television industry, DIVA provides the hardware, software, back office and integration expertise to enable cable companies to provide their customers with immediate affordable access to hundreds of viewing choices including feature films, children's programming and specialty shows, via their remote control.
DIVA has also recently introduced an interactive program guide (IPG) as a stand-alone product that allows television viewers to search and access viewing choices in real-time.
DIVA's interactive (VOD) products and services are now deployed in seven cable systems in the U.S. with multiple system operators, including Charter Communications, Insight Communications and MediaOne.
DIVA has also established relationships with leading industry participants, including content providers such as Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, Universal, FOX, Disney, manufacturers of digital set-top boxes, providers of application managers and set-top box operating systems, and billing system providers.
This news release contains forward looking statements relating to DIVA, including, but not limited to, the ability of DIVA to employ OpenTV software solutions effectively and in a timely manner and the ability of DIVA to port its services to the OpenTV system within the time frames contemplated by this news release. Actual results may vary from anticipated results and such differences may be material, based on a number of factors, including the ability of DIVA and OpenTV to quickly and seamlessly provide their interactive services and the market demand for such services, and other factors as described in DIVA's Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 1999 and DIVA's Form 10-Q for the quarters ended September 30, 1999 and December 31, 1999.
OpenTV, OpenAuthor, OpenTV Runtime, OpenStreamer and the OpenTV logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of OpenTV Inc. in the United States and other countries. Java and all Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All OpenTV products and services may not be available in all geographic areas.
--30--ojm/la* sjk/la
CONTACT:
OpenTV
Media Relations
Carolyn Bretschneider,
650/429-5575 or 650/799-9066
carolynb@opentv.com
or
Investors/Financial Info.
Steve Polcyn, 650/429-5498
spolcyn@opentv.com
or
Manning Selvage & Lee, For OpenTV
Jackie Zide, 323/866-6008
jzide@mslpr.com
or
DIVA
Media Relations
Georgeann H. Ikuma, 650/779-3086
georgeann.ikuma@divatv.com
or
DIVA
Corporate Communications
Patrick J. Gushman, 650/779-3075
pat.gushman@divatv.com |
