D&M Holdings And Tribune Media Services Announce Strategic Marketing Agreement For Interactive Program Guide Solutions

29-Dec-04

D&M Holdings US and Tribune Media Services today announced a strategic marketing agreement that will provide consumer electronics manufacturers new options for offering interactive program guides and digital video recorder software. The offering will give consumer electronics manufacturers flexibility to create differentiated advanced home entertainment products. Under the joint marketing agreement, D&M Holdings USí ReplayTV and Advanced Center for Technologies (ACT) business units will market their electronic data transport infrastructure and digital video recorder technology and Tribune Media Services will market its interactive program guide (IPG) software applications and comprehensive database of TV listings and theatrical movie showtimes. The joint solutions available from D&M Holdings (D&M) and Tribune Media Services (TMS) will feature TMSí IPG, based on a 3-D graphics presentation engine that takes full advantage of high-definition TVs. The solutions will be delivered via D&Mís back-end infrastructure and communications networks currently used to manage and update data and software for ReplayTV and Rio customers. D&Mís delivery and client management system allows for two-way communication with end devices and gives CE manufacturers the ability to download new software to devices and/or enable transaction-driven features, content and other opportunities.This portfolio of advanced solutions will support a wide range of broadband and modem-connected devices such as next-generation TVs, DVD recorders, DVRs and media center PCs. The solutions are available to OEM customers in North America and Europe immediately and will support customers in Japan in 2006.Bernie Sepaniak, President of D&M Holdingsí Rio, ReplayTV, Escient and ACT business units, noted: ìBy linking our established client management/delivery systems and know-how in embedded DVR applications with Tribune Media Servicesí embedded IPG and comprehensive TV listings data, we will provide manufacturers richer and more useful solutions for connected products. This joint offering also gives CE makers great freedom to differentiate themselves in terms of presentation interface, features and services.îBarbara Needleman, Tribune Media Servicesí VP of Entertainment Products, noted: ìThe alliance between Tribune Media Services and D&M Holdings is a perfect fit in many ways. The market for devices utilizing EPGs and other connected content services is expected to grow exponentially over the next five years. In this environment, information about content is becoming as important as content itself. Together, D&M and TMS will allow manufacturers to create and distribute connected products for major markets around the world and bring consumers new and exciting products only possible with a state-of-the-art IPG and comprehensive meta-data about their viewing choices.î

Read More: