OpenTV and RespondTV Unite
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. & SAN FRANCISCO–Oct. 24, 2000–OpenTV
(Nasdaq:OPTV) (AEX:OPTV) and RespondTV today announced an agreement to
integrate RespondTV’s applications and transaction infrastructure with
OpenTV’s platform for interactive television.
This agreement will enable the companies to provide their
customers with a broader mix of interactive content and e-commerce.
The integrated solution will allow U.S. cable operators, as well as
multichannel service operators, programmers and their advertiser
customers to create, host, and distribute e-commerce and direct
response interactive TV campaigns in OpenTV, HTML and ATVEF formats.
RespondTV’s applications and infrastructure are expected to offer
viewers with OpenTV-enabled set-top boxes (STBs) the power to view and
interact with virtual channels and enhanced TV programming and
advertisements developed by RespondTV and OpenTV.
OpenTV and RespondTV intend to offer programmers and advertisers
the opportunity to distribute enhancements over network operator
systems in the U.S. and around the world on the 10 million STBs
currently deployed by OpenTV. OpenTV and RespondTV also intend to make
the integrated solution deployable through the mass-deployed Motorola
DCT-2000 STB on OpenTV.
“OpenTV’s partnership with RespondTV demonstrates our commitment
to offer TV viewers attractive and meaningful content while developing
new revenue streams for our customers,” said James Ackerman, President
and COO, OpenTV. “The applications and infrastructure technology that
RespondTV brings to OpenTV’s widely deployed platform will stimulate
the type of t-commerce in the U.S. that is already in Europe.”
“Given our global plans for the deployment of the RespondTV
services, OpenTV is an important and strategic partner with a proven
record of success that has demonstrated itself repeatedly with
television network operators and millions of viewers around the
world,” said Richard Fisher, president of RespondTV.
“We will work with OpenTV to adapt our products to enable
enhancements for our partners to reach OpenTV’s widely distributed
audience.”
The vast global footprint of OpenTV permits new revenues for
distributors and content suppliers alike. The company’s software
platform, or middleware, powers a full range of interactive
applications that can be distributed both one-way (broadcast) and
two-way (broadband or telephone return path). In a July 2000 report,
Forrester Research predicted that by 2005, the overall interactive
television market is expected to generate revenues of more than $48.2
billion.
RespondTV has in excess of 50 partner deals with network
operators, programmers, advertisers, producers, platform developers
and tools providers. The company has aired enhanced programming and
advertising for leading companies such as the Ad Council, American
Airlines, Bloomberg Television, Domino’s Pizza, Condenet’s
Epicurious.com, Ford, HGTV, Ralston Purina, Sears, United Television
and 1-800-FLOWERS.COM.