Source: PowerTV, Inc. Web Site: http://www.powertv.com
Wink And PowerTV Join Forces To Deliver Enhanced TV Services
Partnership Of Industry Leaders Enables Cable Operators To Offer Enhanced TV Over Digital Cable Using Widely Endorsed Industry Standards
PowerTV, Inc., a leading developer of comprehensive software solutions for digital interactive cable TV, has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Wink Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: WINK) to offer impulse e-commerce and enhanced programming and advertising on digital cable TV. Digital cable operators running PowerTV's HTML middleware APIs can provide their subscribers the power of instant information and e-commerce transactions. ""The opportunity to offer Wink's end-to-end 'one-click' e-commerce service integrated with PowerTV's systems software is fantastic,"" said Maggie Wilderotter, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wink Communications. ""The strength of the PowerTV platform and its widespread adoption by cable operators and OEMs gives Wink a tremendous opportunity to readily deliver robust enhanced TV services to the market."" ""Combining PowerTV's open standards-based system software for digital cable with Wink's ATVEF compliant approach to enhanced TV creates an ideal partnership for cable operators,"" said Bow Rodgers, Chief Operating Officer of PowerTV. ""PowerTV and Wink's commitment to widely recognized industry standards means cable operators will not have to worry about the limitations of adopting a proprietary system. PowerTV is focused on providing cable operators with innovative, open standards-based television services like Wink Enhanced Broadcastingô."" Under the terms of the agreement, PowerTV will offer Wink's impulse response capability as a standard option with its operating system and applications enabling software, which has been adopted by leading cable operators, set-top manufacturers, and application developers. Wink's response network will provide transaction response routing services for programmers, advertisers, and operators using PowerTV system software. Wink will also provide programmers and advertisers their previously announced ATVEF tools set, which will enable cable operators to offer subscribers rich, ATVEF compliant Wink applications as the standard develops. The commercial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. About Wink Communications Wink Communications, Inc. based in Alameda, California, provides a complete end-to-end system for low-cost electronic commerce on television.Wink Enhanced Broadcasting allows advertisers, merchants, and broadcast and cable networks the ability to create interactive enhancements to traditional television advertisements and programs. With a click of the remote control during an enhanced program or ad, viewers can use Wink to access program-related information, purchase or request information about advertised products, participate in votes and polls, and play along with games and trivia tests. Wink capability is currently available to viewers in cable markets in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Missouri, New York, Tennessee and Texas. Wink Enhanced Broadcasting has been available in Japan since October 1996 and in the United States since June 1998. A complete list of industry leaders who have adopted the Wink technology and additional information regarding Wink Communications is available at http://www.wink.com. About PowerTV PowerTV, Inc. has designed the leading set-top box operating system and applications platform for broadband networks. Based on open standards, the company's technology leverages Internet protocols that allow Web content and services to be utilized on television. Enabled services will include electronic program guides, email, video-on-demand, e-commerce, interactive advertising, and personalized information. The company will also provide the SofaSOFTô suite of Internet based digital cable services that include: SofaMAILô, SofaSURFô Internet browser, SofaNEWSô, SofaSHOPô, and SofaCHATô. PowerTV's technology gives cable operators new ways to gain incremental revenue over a short period of time. PowerTV is located in Cupertino, California and can be reached by phoning 408 777 4753 or at its Internet home page address: http://www.powertv.com.