(PR Wires) DJ: SkyConnect & ACTV To Offer New Opportunities for Digital
DJ: SkyConnect & ACTV To Offer New Opportunities for Digital Advertising
ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 3, 1998--
Companies to Integrate ACTV's Proprietary Digital Programming
Capabilities With SkyConnect's
Digital Programming Insertion Technology
ACTV, Inc. (NASDAQ:IATV) and SkyConnect, Inc. today announced an agreement
to integrate ACTV's proprietary "Individualized Television" digital
programming capabilities with SkyConnect's Digital Programming Insertion
(DPI) technology.
As a result, the companies plan to offer cable operators, advertising
interconnect services, and advertisers one of the most powerful addressable
media vehicles ever available: "Individualized Advertising."
"Individualized Advertising" by ACTV gives advertisers the ability to
effectively deliver their messages to consumers in a fragmented digital
cable environment, while giving consumers a choice in the television
advertising they see. ACTV's patented software technology makes possible the
delivery of both viewer-chosen and viewer-profiled commercials. ACTV is
demonstrating its digital programming capabilities at The Western Show in
Anaheim December 1-4 (ACTV Booth No. 3262, Hall C).
SkyConnect offers the most advanced and complete digital video management
solutions in the industry, and has installed video servers in over 300 cable
television headends. All interaction with SkyConnect's digital ad insertion
system is done through SkyVision, the company's centralized system control,
which provides a smooth migration path to DPI.
In addition, SkyVision's centralized control allows customers to
economically and efficiently upgrade and expand server capability without
physically reconfiguring the system. Yesterday, SkyConnect (Booth No. 152)
unveiled the latest in DPI technology.
"ACTV provides a forward-thinking, advertiser-friendly solution for
delivering targeted commercials via digital cable, and we can offer it to
our partners almost immediately," said Michael J. Pohl, president,
SkyConnect. "As an integrated part of our ad insertion system, we will work
together to make the advent of digital cable a profitable experience for
cable operators and advertisers, and to help improve the television
experience for subscribers."
David Reese, president of ACTV Entertainment, said, "The emergence of
digital cable offers an incredible opportunity to improve the effectiveness
and efficiency of television advertising. We believe digital advertising
solutions like 'Individualized Advertising' will play a key role in the
success of the cable industry's digital initiative."
Reese concluded, "Working together, ACTV and SkyConnect will give viewers
and advertisers more control than ever before, while helping cable
operators, programmers and marketers navigate the uncharted waters of
advertising in the digital world."
The agreement provides ACTV with an opportunity to enter the advertising
business and provides SkyConnect with a more compelling and valuable product
to offer its partners. The integration of ACTV's proprietary digital
capabilities with SkyConnect's DPI technology will offer a direct
mail-approach to television advertising, based on viewers' demographic
profiles.
ACTV's software, when included in digital set-top boxes, builds a profile of
each digital household. Profiles can be downloaded to individual set-tops
based on demographic information supplied by the cable subscriber, or can be
"learned" by the software, based on responses to on-screen prompts and other
viewing habits.
Studies show ACTV increases a viewer's recall of television commercials by
250 percent when compared to a viewer watching the same programming and
commercials without ACTV's patented programming enhancements. For example,
rather than having every viewer see the same commercial for a Toyota Camry
during a program, ACTV allows viewers to choose a commercial from among a
variety of Toyota models.
Prior to a commercial break, an on-screen prompt enables viewers to choose
which commercial they want to see by pushing a button on their remote.
During subsequent commercial breaks, ACTV's software can remember viewers'
earlier choices and send another commercial with additional information or
an advertisement for other relevant products based on each individual viewer
profile.
ACTV uses patented software technologies to create "Individualized
Television," which takes traditional television programming into the digital
age. Using a standard digital set-top box and remote control, a viewer can
switch between the regular programming feed and a multitude of personal
options and features. The proprietary software remembers viewer commands and
responses to on-screen prompts, enabling the television to "talk back" to an
unlimited number of viewers with individually-tailored television
programming and advertising content.
Through a previously announced agreement, ACTV's software is integrated into
all General Instrument (GI) digital set-top boxes currently in the
marketplace, and will be included in all future generations of GI's digital
set-tops. No additional hardware is required in consumer homes to receive
ACTV-enhanced programming and advertising.
"Individualized Television" can enhance a variety of television genres,
including sporting events, news, game shows, children's programming and
advertising. ACTV plans to launch enhanced regional digital cable networks
across the country under the FOX Sports Net Plus brand name and expects to
offer other marquee digital programming via a joint venture with Liberty
Media Corporation.
Based in New York, ACTV uses patented software technologies to create
state-of-the-art programming for the rapidly emerging digital cable
television and Internet platforms.
The company has relationships with major players in cable and television,
and the leaders in digital technology, including: Liberty Media Corporation
(NASDAQ: LBTYA, LBTYB); General Instrument Corporation (NYSE: GIC); FOX
Sports Net; Tele-Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: TCOMA); Cablevision's (AMEX:
CVC) Rainbow Sports; The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO); and The
Sarnoff Corporation. ACTV Entertainment and ACTV Net are subsidiaries of
ACTV, Inc. ACTV Entertainment and Liberty Media formed a joint venture,
LMC/IATV Events, earlier this year. ACTV's Web site can be found at
actv.com.
Founded in 1992, SkyConnect provides digital ad insertion solutions and
offers video management applications in the cable ad insertion,
Near-Video-on-Demand and Video-on-Demand industries. SkyConnect's
state-of-the-art technology includes digital ad insertion hardware and
software, traffic and billing software, Pay-Per-View software, and Internet
services.
SkyConnect's list of notable clients includes Adelphia Communications,
InterMedia, Jones Intercable, Marcus Cable, MediaOne, Tele-Communications,
Inc. (TCI), Tele-Media and Time Warner Cable, as well as local advertising
interconnect services such as Adlink in Los Angeles and the Bay Area
Interconnect. Headquartered in Louisville, Colorado, SkyConnect is located
on the Internet at skyconnect.com.
Disclaimer: This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined
by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals,
strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and
other statements which are other than statements of historical facts. These
statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited
to, product and service demand and acceptance, changes in technology,
economic conditions, the impact of competition and pricing, government
regulation, and other risks defined in this document and in statements filed
from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All such
forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, and whether made by or
on behalf of the Company, are expressly qualified by the cautionary
statements and any other cautionary statements which may accompany the
forward-looking statements. In addition, the company disclaims any
obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances after the date hereof.
CONTACT: Bratskeir & Company (for ACTV, Inc.)
Mike Rosen, 212/679-2233
Cell: 917/693-3098
Hotel: 714/999-0990
or
SkyConnect, Inc.
Ron Barracks, 303/218-9166
or Pam Avery/Judy Hartley, 303/433-4922
07:03 EST DECEMBER 3, 1998
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