Columbia TriStar, ExtendMedia, PBS and the Weather Channel Embrace Spyglass
Naperville, Ill. - Thursday, May 25, 2000 - Columbia TriStar Interactive,
ExtendMedia, the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) and The Weather Channel
today endorsed Spyglass Inc. (NASDAQ: SPYG) and its latest product offering,
Spyglass Device Mosaic 4.0. Representatives from Columbia TriStar
Interactive, ExtendMedia, PBS and The Weather Channel consider Spyglass
Device Mosaic 4.0 to be the state-of-the-art embedded browser technology for
the interactive television industry, citing its first-mover compliance with
leading standards and overall product quality.
Spyglass Device Mosaic 4.0 is the first browser to enable synchronized
broadcast and Internet content over both analog and digital video systems
using terrestrial, cable, satellite and Internet networks. It is also one of
the first embedded browsers to be fully compliant with the Advanced
Television Enhancement Forum (ATVEF) standards.
“Spyglass’ adoption of an approach for the interactive television market
which embraces the latest standards is a benchmark for the industry,” said
Tim Chambers, director of technology at Columbia TriStar Interactive. “The
Spyglass Device Mosaic client positions Spyglass as a leader in providing
standards-based solutions for the interactive television community.”
According to Rob Martell, chief technology officer at ExtendMedia, “Spyglass
Device Mosaic 4.0 enables content developers like us to fulfill our business
philosophy of ‘create once, publish many.’ With the Spyglass Device Mosaic
4.0 expanded service offering, we are confident that partnering with
Spyglass will benefit both our company and our customers.”
“Our vision for enhanced programming at PBS is to provide viewers with rich,
compelling interactive content,” said Tom DiGiovanni, PBS director of
enhanced programming. “Spyglass Device Mosaic 4.0 is the first set-top
device that allows PBS to present the kind of meaningful interactive
synchronistic enhancements that best complement the quality and educational
value of our programs. This device is a welcome solution to the work PBS has
pioneered with enhanced programming over the past two years.”
“Spyglass is a major technology player in the interactive television market
and The Weather Channel is excited to hear of their advances with browser
technology,” said Matthew Giles, director of interactive television product
development for The Weather Channel. “With the availability of Spyglass
Device Mosaic 4.0, our content may now be optimized across a variety of
compliance platforms.”
“Spyglass Device Mosaic 4.0 is one of the only applications available today
that enables completely synchronized broadcast and Internet content over
both analog and digital video systems,” said Anup Murarka, Spyglass vice
president of interactive television. “Spyglass continues to establish itself
as a leader in interactive television by being first-to-market with the most
advanced technology. We are committed to constant development in this area.”