ACTV To Enhance Video With Synchronized Web Content, Extending HyperTV to Entertainment Market
Convergence Pioneer Creates Richer Interactive TV-Internet Experience for the Home
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 1999-- Company Designates HyperTV(TM) as a Cornerstone of Business Strategy
ACTV, Inc. (NASDAQ: IATV - news) today announced the introduction of HyperTV(TM) for the entertainment market, representing a core breakthrough for the convergence of television and the Internet. HyperTV is a patented, proven software application for convergence that is a cornerstone of ACTV's business strategy. The announcement was made by William C. Samuels, chairman and chief executive officer of ACTV, Inc., at the DMAnet.Marketing Conference in Los Angeles, and
David Reese, president and chief operating officer of ACTV, Inc., at the Jupiter Consumer Online Forum in New York.
HyperTV enables television programmers and advertisers to -- simultaneously, directly and in real time -- ''push'' compelling Internet content and chat functionality that directly correspond to a video program. Using ACTV's proprietary and patented methods, HyperTV permits the simultaneous and synchronized delivery of streamed video and Web URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) to users. By synchronizing Internet content to a television program or other video-based program, HyperTV provides a vastly improved interactive TV-Internet experience.
For example, a HyperTV user watching a rock concert can be ''pushed'' a stream of web addresses, in synch with the video, simultaneously providing relevant content from the Internet, such as: lyrics to the current song, bios of featured band members, interactive trivia questions about the artist, the band's fan club site, a recent article about the band from a music magazine, or e-commerce applications such as opportunities to purchase related merchandise like a CD, DVD or apparel. During a commercial break in the program, an advertisement for a new car can be enhanced by simultaneously delivering information from the company's Web site or the site of a local dealership where users receive more information that complements the video.
HyperTV has a database capability that allows programmers, advertisers or other businesses to build one-to-one relationships with the end-user by capturing permission-based consumer information, demographics and preferences.
Art Cohen, president of The Addressable Advertising Coalition, said: ''We must continue to find new ways to improve the television experience for consumers and advertisers. ACTV's elegantly simple, consumer-friendly application provides tremendous opportunities in today's TV-Internet marketplace and for the future of television and the Internet. HyperTV offers all marketers both an immediate and long-term solution for reaching consumers in this tremendous new media environment.''
''We've spent three years conceptualizing HyperTV, building a strong patent portfolio, and reducing the technology to practice in private network applications,'' said ACTV's Samuels. ''The consumer market for HyperTV has emerged and is growing rapidly. HyperTV offers immediate and long-term growth opportunities for our company as well as new revenue streams for programmers, advertisers and operators of Internet portals.''
TV-Internet Convergence: A Major Market Today
''It is clear that people want to interact, and we believe there is already an enormous and immediate market for a HyperTV experience,'' said Craig Ullman, an inventor of HyperTV and ACTV's Keeper of the Magic. ''HyperTV offers a more powerful and effective solution that enhances traditional video with rich content and interactivity from the Internet.''
Studies show that the public is clamoring for a convergent media experience. A recent study by MTV found that 13 million of their viewers surf the web while watching television, while a Showtime survey found that 25 million people go online in the same room as their TV. According to IntelliQuest and MediaMark Research, 72.6 million Americans -- 35 percent of the population -- are already online. In addition, the Gartner Group reports that 50 percent of U.S. households now own a PC.
Today, HyperTV users can watch video on a standard television set while viewing synchronized web content and interacting with other users via their computer. HyperTV offers all programmers an immediate, powerful and cost-effective solution for providing a compelling interactive experience to their viewers and advertisers. As broadband technology and digital cable become pervasive, users will be able to experience video with synchronized web content and chat simultaneously delivered to a TV.
''Traditional television programmers are exploring the opportunities that convergence brings,'' said Sean Kaldor, vice president of consumer device research at International Data Corporation (IDC). ''Content providers are seeking proven solutions which will help them move more quickly into this fast-developing market.''
HyperTV embeds a stream of URLs and other interactive content into the video signal, and/or streams them over the Internet, directly to a user's computer. This web content corresponds in real time to what is being shown on a particular broadcast, cable or satellite television channel.
HyperTV supports video from any source, including both analog and digital television. There is no need for programmers or users to upgrade existing infrastructure to enjoy a HyperTV experience. Software-based, without hardware, chip or platform dependency, HyperTV will operate on any of today's computers (PC, Mac or UNIX).
With HyperTV, ACTV can offer consumers enhanced content and a more enjoyable television experience while providing a new revenue source for television programmers, Internet portal operators and advertisers.
ACTV Net Becomes HyperTV Networks, Inc.
ACTV plans to commercialize its new convergence application through HyperTV Networks, Inc., formerly known as ACTV Net, a division of ACTV, Inc. The company plans to market HyperTV in cooperation with one or more strategic partners and through licensing agreements. Potential partners and licensees include broadcast and cable networks, syndicated programmers, operators of Internet portals, the advertising community, and network providers.
''The name change of our Internet unit reflects our commitment and confidence that HyperTV will be a cornerstone of our business going forward,'' said Samuels. ''Today's announcement is just the beginning.''
ACTV has become a leader in the online learning market with eSchool® Online(TM), the first application of HyperTV, introduced in 1996. eSchool Online creates virtual learning communities that seamlessly integrate streamed educational video and relevant Web content with collaborative exercises and assessment for students and educators.
About ACTV, Inc.
New York-based ACTV, Inc. uses proprietary software technologies to create state-of-the-art programming for the rapidly emerging digital television and Internet platforms.
ACTV has relationships with many of the dominant players in the Internet, television and digital technology fields, including: Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LBTYA - news, LBTYB - news); General Instrument Corporation (NYSE: GIC - news); Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.(NYSE: SFA - news); Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: SUNW - news); FOX Sports Net; Tele-Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: TCOMA - news); TCI Music's The Box Music Network (NASDAQ: TUNE - news, TUNEP - news); Prevue Networks, Inc., a subsidiary of United Video Satellite Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: UVSGA - news); SkyConnect, Inc.; Cablevision's (AMEX: CVC - news) Rainbow Sports; and The Sarnoff Corporation.
Earlier this year, ACTV Entertainment and Liberty Media Corporation formed a joint venture, LMC/IATV Events, LLC. ACTV Entertainment and HyperTV Networks, Inc. are subsidiaries of ACTV, Inc. For more information, visit ACTV's Web site at actv.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.
Note to Editors: HyperTV screen capture and logo available upon request.
Contact:
Bratskeir & Company, New York
Mike Rosen or David Rosenberg, 212/679-2233
biz.yahoo.com
|
