Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : IATV-ACTV Digital Convergence Software-HyperTV -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Stealhead who wrote (556)	3/6/1999 1:06:00 PM
From: whitephosphorus	Respond to of 13157

Stealhead: Re Broadband week...what do you think it means?

To: Stealhead who wrote (556)	3/6/1999 1:29:00 PM
From: JackSkip	Respond to of 13157

Date Posted: 3/5/1999 SonicNet, Comcast in tune SonicNet is sounding out its potential as a broadband music player in a deal to create customized content for Comcast Online--including live cybercasts. A deal struck last week between TCI Music and Comcast Online is the spark for SonicNet to produce localized content online for both Comcast At Home and its companion, Comcast In Your Town, which produces local information guides. The customized content could include localized cybercasts of live bands, according to Nicholas Butterworth, president and editor-in-chief of SonicNet, who has been a pioneer in live Webcasting. "It makes sense because of the live events and artists located in different communities," says Butterworth. "We want to be a music network that works for everyone." Live cybercasts might be produced as pay-per-play events, according to Tom McPartland, president and CEO of TCI Music, SonicNet's parent company. "Once these broadband platforms demonstrate their durability, I could see customized music feeds that justify a subscription service," McPartland says. Initially, Comcast Online customers will gain access to SonicNet's Music Guide of 7,500 artists and be able to preview music videos online from The Box Music Network and order them for on-air play. The deal is a model for pacts TCI Music hopes to put in place with At Home's other MSO partners, including TCI and Road Runner as well as telcos. "Certainly we have an opportunity with other cable operators and broadband providers," says Butterworth. McPartland reports TCI Music has had talks with At Home and its new partner, Excite, and several major cable companies.

To: Stealhead who wrote (556)	3/6/1999 1:41:00 PM
From: JackSkip	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 13157

I just love this part "TV Guide Interactive already has about 1.5 million TCI Digital Cable subscribers." Date Posted: 3/5/1999 Restoring a once-great franchise TV Guide's United Video merger may position it to again become a media behemoth TV Guide, long an American institution, intends to use its $2.5 billion merger with United Video Satellite Group as a springboard for global ambitions. "In a world where everyone is talking about portals, we believe TV Guide may be the biggest portal of them all," says Anthea Disney, the newly named chairman/CEO of TV Guide Inc. and chairman/CEO of News Corp.'s News America Publishing Group Inc. Merging with United Video gives TV Guide some powerful allies in Liberty Media and TCI that position it well for a turnaround, say analysts and TV Guide executives. A top executive last week confirmed that TV Guide Interactive is negotiating with TCI to become its exclusive electronic program guide (EPG) provider in the digital cable arena. TV Guide Interactive already has about 1.5 million TCI Digital Cable subscribers. TCI intends to eventually convert all 10 million of its subscribers to digital, and many cable industry experts expect the overall industry, currently at about 66 million subscribers, will convert to digital over the next two decades. That robust EPG scenario has cable operators and industry analysts alike drooling over huge ad revenue gains, particularly as channel capacity grows and consumers require more guidance. "Leo Hindery and TCI believe very much in this brand and our product and I believe we will be successful in negotiating" an exclusive affiliation agreement, says Peter C. Boylan III, executive vice president of TV Guide Inc. Boylan is also chairman-CEO of TV Guide Entertainment Group and United Video Group. The merger has brought change on the management front: Gary Howard, formerly chairman-CEO of United Video, becomes a director of TV Guide; Boylan, formerly president-COO of United Video, and Joe Kiener, president-COO of News America Publishing and incoming president of TV Guide Inc, as well as chairman-CEO of the TV Guide Magazine Group, become members of the newly created "office of the chairman" and will report to Disney. In November, TCI reported 1 million digital cable subscribers. It has been adding about 5,000 new digital customers each day. Seeking to overcome its recent checkered domestic history, TV Guide believes it has an edge in developing into a world power. Along with mixing management gene pools with United Video, it's also capitalizing on the TCI relationship and News Corp.'s global reach--as well as leveraging new magazines, interactive on-screen guides and a presence online. Perhaps the biggest weapon in TV Guide's arsenal is News Corp.'s various international satellite ventures, which have the cumulative ability to reach as much as 70% of the world's population. News Corp.'s satellite platforms worldwide "all need interactive program guides," says Kiener. "We will be the partner of choice." As broad as Rupert Murdoch's international satellite reach is, it's the ability to offer advertisers package deals for exposure in print, onscreen and online that's the key building block in TV Guide's global plans. "Giving advertisers the ability to saturate multiple platforms--they really can't get that anywhere else," says PaineWebber analyst Tom Eagan. TV Guide Inc., which replaces United Video as the corporate parent entity, is moving quickly. Two weeks ago, the company announced plans to relaunch its Prevue International portfolio of guides under the TV Guide brand. The services, which will be called TV Guide Channel, TV Guide Express and TV Guide Junior, reach 2.9 million subscribers in Latin America. TV Guide, meanwhile, faces substantial challenges domestically. The print version has struggled since Murdoch's News Corp. bought it in 1988. Ad pages and revenues have steadily declined. Circulation has also fallen precipitously, from 17 million to 11.8 million--a drop of more than 30%. Nonetheless, TV Guide's ambition remains strong. It plans to introduce new magazines and capitalize on its cross-platform reach domestically, says Kiener.