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ACTV's HyperTV & "Individualized Television" to be Powered by Sun Microsystems' Java TV Technology
Business Wire - April 21, 1999 07:33
LAS VEGAS & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 21, 1999--ACTV, Inc. (NASDAQ:IATV) today announced that its patented software applications -- HyperTV(TM) and "Individualized Television" -- will be developed using Sun Microsystems, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:SUNW) Java TV(TM) Application Programming Interface.
As a result, ACTV's "Individualized Television" digital interactive programming capabilities and HyperTV(TM), the company's pioneering TV-Internet convergence application, will be compatible for integration with the rapidly expanding base of digital set-top boxes, digital televisions and other consumer devices supporting the Java(TM) platform worldwide. The announcement was made at NAB '99, the National Association of Broadcasters' annual convention being held April 17-22 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
ACTV has previously announced agreements to integrate its "Individualized Television" capabilities with current and next-generation digital set-tops manufactured by General Instrument Corporation, Scientific-Atlanta, and Pioneer Digital Technologies.
"We are pleased that ACTV is developing HyperTV and 'Individualized Television' with the Java TV API," said Curtis Sasaki, Director, Consumer & Embedded, Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Solutions such as those made possible by ACTV will deliver compelling, dynamic interactive services that provide viewers with more information, more control, more convenience and more fun to the television viewing experience. The Java platform along with the Java TV API offers developers with an ideal deployment platform for interactive television services, enabling them to deliver the most innovative and engaging interactive television experiences to their audience."
"Sun has taken the lead in establishing a viable digital television standard," said Bruce Crowley, president of ACTV subsidiary HyperTV Networks, Inc. "With the Java TV API, HyperTV becomes a total convergence solution for digital television with cross-platform functionality on both the TV or the PC. Plus, the base of devices that can receive our 'Individualized Television' programming is significantly augmented to include a greater number of next-generation digital set-tops, along with digital televisions and other Java technology-enabled consumer devices. We're happy to be expanding upon our strong relationship with Sun."
The Java TV API
The Java TV API was developed through an open process by Sun and key leaders in the digital television industry. Major consumer electronics manufacturers have announced their public support for the adoption of this API as a digital television standard worldwide, including Hongkong Telecom, LG Electronics, Matsushita, Motorola, OpenTV, Philips, Sony and Toshiba.
The Java TV API is intended to address the needs of manufacturers, system operators, and content providers as they seek standards to deliver interactive television content securely to consumers via cable set-top boxes, satellite receivers, and digital televisions. The Java TV API, plus its underlying Java platform, provides a powerful development and deployment platform for digital interactive television services, such as those made possible by ACTV.
The creation of a universal standard will broaden the market opportunities for interactive television content creators to develop content once and securely deploy it to a wide range of Java technology-enabled digital television receivers. In addition, content developers will benefit from the ability to utilize a true object-oriented language allowing them to reuse existing software components to rapidly and cost-effectively deliver their interactive services to market. Finally, developers can create more compelling, differentiated content for their viewing audience.
Manufacturers will benefit by delivering Java technology-enabled televisions and set-top boxes to the marketplace which support the most compelling interactive television content for their consumers. The Java TV API is intended to enable manufacturers to introduce new products into the market that can evolve to support new forms of interactive content as it becomes available.
The system operators will benefit from the ability to deliver their value-added services to a diverse array of Java technology-enabled devices in their networks, regardless of the underlying microprocessor or operating system on those devices. This enables television service providers to save time and money by avoiding porting costs for value-added services and applications to new platforms.
HyperTV(TM) & "Individualized Television"
ACTV announced Monday that it acquired a key online media patent from Wall Street media analyst Tom Wolzien regarding a proprietary method for linking video and audio programming with the Internet. The Wolzien Process, when combined with ACTV's existing proprietary HyperTV(TM) application and patents, will enable ACTV to offer the first comprehensive software solution for the convergence of video and audio with the Internet. In addition to providing a superior method for improving the convergence experience for consumers, the combination of the Wolzien Process and HyperTV creates enormous e-commerce opportunities by incorporating enhanced Internet content with audio or video.
The Wolzien Process gives consumers the option to request, or "pull," relevant Web content to augment television and radio programming and commercials. HyperTV, on the other hand, enables television and radio programmers, and advertisers, to automatically deliver, or "push," compelling Internet content to consumers -- all synchronized to a television program or other video or audio-based program. Together, HyperTV and the Wolzien Process fill the gaps and create new synergies between television, radio and online media. They use the vast reach of television and radio to deliver consumers to online services, while using the ability of the Internet to provide powerful, new marketing and e-commerce capabilities to complement video and audio programming.
ACTV's "Individualized Television" digital programming capabilities take traditional television programming into the digital age by allowing viewers to switch seamlessly among multiple, real-time feeds of video, audio and data. 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.
ACTV's 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 targeted, addressable advertising content. "Individualized Television" can enhance a variety of television genres, including sporting events, news, game shows, children's programming, music and advertising. For sporting events, ACTV's "Individualized Television" offers more than 60 viewing options such as Star Cam, an isolated camera focused on a featured player; instant replay on-demand; in-depth statistics; scoring summaries; and relevant video feature stories and interviews at the touch of a button.
ABOUT ACTV, INC.
New York-based ACTV, Inc. is a leader in interactive digital television with its proprietary "Individualized Television" programming capabilities, and a pioneer in TV-Internet convergence with its patented and proven HyperTV(TM) software application. ACTV has relationships with many of the dominant players in the Internet, television and digital technology fields, including: Liberty Media Group (NYSE:LMG.A, LMG.B); AT&T Broadband & Internet Services (formerly Tele-Communications, Inc. - NYSE:T); General Instrument Corporation (NYSE:GIC); Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. (NYSE:SFA); Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ:SUNW); FOX Sports Net; TCI Music, Inc. (NASDAQ:TUNE, TUNEP); TV Guide Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:TVGIA); SkyConnect, Inc.; Pioneer Digital Technologies, Inc.; Cablevision's Rainbow Sports; and The Sarnoff Corporation. In September 1998, ACTV Entertainment and Liberty Media 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.
Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, The Network is the Computer, Java TV and Java are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and in other countries.
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, New York
Mike Rosen (mrosen@bratskeir.com)
David Rosenberg (drosenberg@bratskeir.com)
212/679-2233
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This should draw a little attention.
tom |
