Replay Networks And Showtime Networks, Inc. Announce Personal TV Deal For Showtime, The Movie Channel, Sundance Channel And FLIX
Replay Networks Inc., the personal television innovator, and Showtime Networks Inc., owners of the premium television networks SHOWTIME, THE MOVIE CHANNEL and FLIX, as well as SUNDANCE CHANNEL (a venture between Robert Redford, Showtime Networks Inc. and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment), have entered into a deal whereby Showtime Networks will create SHOWTIME, THE MOVIE CHANNEL, SUNDANCE CHANNEL and FLIX ""Replay Zones"" on the Replay Network Service. Using ReplayTV personal-television technology and the free Replay Network Service, viewers need not miss their favorite SHOWTIME, THE MOVIE CHANNEL, SUNDANCE CHANNEL and FLIX programs because they can instruct the Replay TV unit to automatically record them for playback at the most convenient time for them. ""Signing an agreement with Showtime Networks is a milestone for us and a window into the future of television,"" said Replay Networks, Inc. CEO Anthony Wood. ""With more and more content becoming available daily, Replay Networksí television service enables Showtime Networks to provide highlights of their offerings while allowing consumers to organize and manage their viewing. Most people have a limited window of time when they can relax and watch television. Being able to see the programming that they want when it is most convenient is a boon for viewers."" Showtime Networksí Senior Vice President of New Media and Technology Development Jeff Morris said, ""Showtime Networksí Replay Zones will significantly enhance the value of a SHOWTIME subscription for our current subscribers while making our services and brands more attractive to a wider audience. At these Zones, will be able to develop exciting new promotions to drive viewership and heighten awareness of our networksí outstanding movies and original programming. We will also work to use Replay TVís functionality to deliver enhanced programming experiences emulating functionality found on many of todayís LaserDiscs and DVDs. We believe the Replay Network Service will bring television to the next level by letting viewers watch Showtime Networksí outstanding programming on their own schedules."" Replay Network Service The Replay Network Service (RNS) allows broadcasters, networks and studios to offer viewers personalized television programming using todayís infrastructure. The service categorizes and helps viewers find existing TV programming in a compelling and easy way as well as offering unique content. For example, viewers can create areas based on ""science-fiction movies,"" ""action-adventure films"" or by their favorite actor or actress. Viewers access the free service from an on-screen channel guide and Replay Zones, easily navigated with the ReplayTV remote control. Showtime Networks will offer a ""SHOWTIME ZONE,"" ""THE MOVIE CHANNEL ZONE,"" ""SUNDANCE CHANNEL ZONE"" and ""FLIX ZONE"" as part of the RNS, making it easy for viewers to create Showtime Networks ""Replay Channels"" that will record only the programs they want from each service. Product Availability ReplayTV will begin volume shipments in April, starting at $699. ReplayTV customers will receive a free lifetime subscription to the Replay Network Service. Direct purchase information is available from Replay Networks by calling toll free at 800-266-1301 or online at http://www.replaytv.com. About Replay Networks, Inc. Replay Networks, Inc., based in Palo Alto, Calif., is the leader in personal television technologies with more than 120 patent claims, the market leading ReplayTV platform and Replay Network Service. ReplayTV recently received ""Best of Show"" in video honors at the 1999 International Consumer Electronics Show, in Las Vegas. In other ceremonies at CES, ReplayTV was also honored with an ""Editorís Choice Award"" from Popular Mechanics magazine and a ""Digi Award"" from Wideband magazine, for excellence in creating and marketing digital convergence products. Last December, ReplayTV received a ""Best of Whatís New"" awards from Popular Science magazine. Prior to founding Replay Networks, CEO Anthony Wood headed Iband Inc., where he developed what is now known as Dreamweaver, one of the best-selling Internet authoring tools for professionals. Iband was acquired by Macromedia in 1996. Replay Networksí board of directors includes Marc Andreessen, co-founder of Netscape, and Kevin L. Bohren, a former senior marketing executive who helped guide Compaq Computer Corp. to market prominence and William R. Hearst III, partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. ReplayTV is available directly from Replay Networks and will soon be available from major consumer electronics partners. Replay Networks, Inc. Announces $8 Million Investment With Venture Firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers As Lead Investor Replay Network Service, also announced that Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, the powerhouse venture capital firm, is lead investor of a group investing some $8 million in the company. Vulcan Ventures, Inc., the investment organization of Paul G. Allen, and Tribune Company (NYSE: TRB) round out the group of companies forming the investment syndicate. Under terms of the deal, Kleiner Perkins becomes lead investor in Replay Networks. One of the worldís most-respected venture firms, Kleiner Perkins has been an early investor in dozens of technology success stories including Amazon.com, America Online, Compaq, Genentech, Intuit, Netscape and Sun Microsystems. Kleiner Perkins partner William R. Hearst III joins the Replay Networks board of directors, which includes Netscape co-founder Marc Andreessen and former Compaq senior executive Kevin L. Bohren. Hearst was CEO for @Home Network, a high-speed Internet access and consumer online service company after serving as editor and publisher of the San Francisco Examiner from 1984 to 1995. ""Consumer and industry response to ReplayTV has been incredible, and this perfectly timed endorsement and infusion of cash adds to our momentum as we lead the personal television revolution,"" Wood said. ""We chose Kleiner Perkins because we wanted Will Hearstís insight and expertise combined with the leverage weíll get as part of the Kleiner Perkins network of companies."" Kleiner Perkins partners sit on corporate boards of many of its interests, creating a network of shared information, knowledge and insights spawning synergies that can benefit all. Tribune Has Head Start in Personal TV By providing the TV listings and other data for the Replay Network Service channel guide, Tribune has worked closely with the company for several months. According to Wood, this relationship gave Tribune a head start in understanding the impact personal television will have on the industry. ""Tribunexs investment reflects their excitement about this new way to watch television,"" Wood said ""As we continue to evolve our television listings and other data business for digital platforms, we feel Replay Networks offers exciting possibilities for new businesses in the marriage of storage technology to the television,"" said Lisa Wiersma, Tribuneís Director of Development. Wired-World Strategy Vulcan Ventures President William Savoy sees Replay Networks as an excellent fit with the Vulcan wired-world investment portfolio. ""Our strategy includes many innovative approaches to delivery and content. Clearly, personal television is going to change the way people watch TV and will have a dramatic effect on content,"" Savoy said. ""Replay Networksí technology is attractive to us because it fits into todayxs television infrastructure and can expand with tomorrowís digital television world."" Other Vulcan-backed enterprises include DreamWorks SKG, CNET, ZDTV, Charter Communications and Marcus Cable. With the free Replay Network Service and ReplayTVís digital-recording device, viewers can easily create personalized, on-demand ""Replay Channels."" These channels can feature viewersx favorite shows, themes or actors so they can watch what they want, when they want. ReplayTV also lets consumers control live TV. With ReplayTV, viewers can pause, rewind and then fast forward through shows. When the telephone rings during a favorite live television show, viewers can hit pause, take the call and resume watching the rest of the program anytime. Everybody Wants ReplayTV Hearst said Kleiner Perkins is bullish on the company. ""Replay Networks has the right business model, user interface and approach to consumers, which is why we think it will be a huge success story. ReplayTV lets people watch television the way they want. You see the sports, the news, the movies you want, when you want, with complete control,"" Hearst said. ""This is a hot technology company. Everybody I meet wants a ReplayTV."" Replay Networks Business Model Replay Networksx business model centers around the free Replay Network Service, a platform giving consumers maximum on-demand viewing control and choice while protecting their privacy. ""Weíve designed the Replay Network Service as the first true portal for television, where viewers can access programming and watch it on demand. At the same time, we are putting in place unique features like sponsored Replay Zones that enable studios, cable networks, broadcast networks and local affiliates to increase revenue streams, drive viewership, bolster their brands and boost viewer loyalty,"" Wood said. ReplayTV OEM Strategy Wood said the companyís OEM strategy to maintain open standards and flexibility will help ensure a large installed base by making ReplayTVís platform attractive to a wide range of consumer electronics manufacturers. According to Wood, Replay Networksí willingness to license standalone and combination products is attracting a lot of attention. ""Our OEM licensing program and our ability to offer versatile product differentiation across broadcast, cable and satellite has universal appeal to companies looking to develop new recurring revenue streams."" For more information, visit the Replay Networks home page at http://www.replaytv.com or call toll free at 800 266 1301.