OpenTV Launches New Broadband Initiative
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.–Oct. 12, 2000–OpenTV (Nasdaq:OPTV)
(AEX:OPTV), the world’s leading interactive television and media
solutions company, today announced its “OpenTV Broadband” initiative,
which is designed to offer U.S. cable, satellite and terrestrial
operators a complete, scalable and currently deployable digital
interactive television solution.
The initiative combines OpenTV’s competence in broadcast
interactive television currently deployed in more than 10 million
homes with advanced broadband ITV and Web technologies obtained
through OpenTV’s recent merger with Spyglass. These technology
solutions are enhanced by a wide range of currently available,
revenue-generating applications, including e-mail, weather, personal
video recording, video on demand and shopping, among others.
Speaking to industry leaders, James Ackerman, OpenTV’s new
president and COO, made the announcement during his keynote
presentation at the Paul Kagan Interactive TV Summit in New York.
“Having already deployed our ITV solution to more than 10 million
homes worldwide, we understand the opportunities in the U.S.
marketplace and know there is a need for immediacy and functionality,”
said Ackerman.
“Through this initiative, OpenTV is in a unique position to offer
U.S. cable, satellite and terrestrial operators — at any stage of
their digital rollout — a deployable ITV solution applicable for
today’s mass-market set-top box and, using the Device Mosaic browser
embedded within the core OpenTV technology, a clear migration path to
next-generation boxes such as the DCT-5000.”
In addition, the OpenTV Broadband solution is designed to include
broadcast technologies to allow multichannel service operators to
deliver interactive content to all subscribers from a single
distribution point and two-way, client-server technologies to deliver
local content to regional subscribers. The solution also includes
Internet functionalities to take full advantage of the Web and
advanced set-top boxes (STBs), including the industry’s much
anticipated DCT-5000.
“Interactive television is coming of age in the U.S., and we
believe the OpenTV Broadband initiative provides digital networks a
path to generate additional revenues via the television,” said
Ackerman. “In our view, OpenTV is the only ITV company that brings
together technology, content and professional expertise in the format
of integrated services that can deliver real, digital ITV solutions
for today and tomorrow.”
OpenTV’s continuing industry leadership role has been recognized
by 35 of the world’s premier communications networks who have deployed
more than 10 million OpenTV-powered STBs. OpenTV allows these
multichannel service operators to scale at the set-top box so that
adding more interactive customers is simply a matter of deploying more
boxes.
“With this announcement, we intend to set the record straight –
OpenTV’s technology is open, it supports Internet-based solutions and
our platform generates revenues now as seen through our dominant
delivery of interactive television worldwide,” said Ackerman.