New Offerings Will Give Subscribers Access to TV Guide Listings and Entertainment Content While On The Go
TV Guide Mobile Entertainment, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. (NASDAQ: GMST), a leading media, entertainment and technology company, announced today that it is extending its parent company’s world-class television guidance technology and content to mobile devices through two initial product and service offerings. With TV Guide Mobile™, an all new television interactive program guide (IPG) designed for mobile devices, consumers now have the ability to access TV Guide’s local program listings, schedule their TV viewing, get viewing recommendations, editorial content and more, right from their mobile phones.
In addition to TV Guide Mobile™, TV Guide Mobile Entertainment has launched a mobile, on- demand version of TV Guide Channel, a premier television entertainment network for viewers seeking the latest information on the best programs, hottest stars and latest trends on television. This offering features short-form, original, made-for-mobile content highlighting the best shows and movies on TV.
During 2006, TV Guide Mobile Entertainment will launch the next-generation of TV Guide Mobile™, a television IPG designed for mobile devices, featuring a familiar, TV-like interface and access to exclusive TV Guide content. Consumers will soon be able to personalize and control their entertainment experience by scheduling program reminders, sending program alerts to friends, and accessing the latest recommendations and news from the TV Guide editorial team. Additionally, TV Guide Mobile™ will take advantage of technology being developed by Gemstar-TV Guide to allow consumers to remotely access the features of their digital video recorders through mobile devices and the Internet. The next generation of TV Guide Mobile™ builds upon the initial release of the TV Guide Mobile™ launched during the second half of 2005 by TV Guide Mobile Entertainment and Handmark, a licensee of the Company, and now available on a range of carriers and handsets.
“TV Guide’s existing media properties – TV Guide magazine, TVGuide.com and TV Guide Channel – are key fixtures in the home entertainment space, reaching consumers on a variety of platforms and providing unrivaled access to information and entertainment guidance,” said Richard Cusick, senior vice president and general manager, Digital Media for Gemstar-TV Guide. “TV Guide Mobile™ and the new mobile version of TV Guide Channel extend the reach of TV Guide and allow our customers to get the information and content they want delivered to them wherever and whenever they want it.”
TV Guide Mobile Entertainment’s new offerings build upon the Company’s success in Japan where it launched G-GUIDE Mobile through its Interactive Program Guide Inc. joint venture with Dentsu Inc. and Tokyo News Service Ltd. in late 2004. G-GUIDE Mobile is a similar mobile service based on Gemstar-TV Guide’s for the Japanese market, which is branded as “G-GUIDE.” G-GUIDE Mobile is currently available through NTT DoCoMo, Inc., the world’s leading mobile communications company with more than 50 million customers, and KDDI Corporation — and has more than 5 million registered users.
Collaboration with Leading Mobile Technology Partners
Leading mobile technology content and application developers are working with TV Guide Mobile Entertainment to develop products and services for mobile devices. These include: Roundbox, a leader in mobile broadcast software spanning multiple network technologies and standards; Alacre, a global provider of mobile content lifecycle management solutions for the creation, management and delivery of highly interactive mobile content; m-Qube, a leading mobile channel enabler; and mPortal, a leading enabler of mobile content and applications.
States Raj Dayalan, executive vice president of Alacre: “We are excited to be working with TV Guide, one of the world’s most recognized and popular media brands. TV Guide Mobile Entertainment’s new services will allow millions of wireless consumers access to up-to-the minute information on their favorite shows and programs — anywhere, anytime.”
“What gets me really excited is if I am on the road traveling and for some reason my flight is delayed, as it often is, I have the ability to pull up TV Guide listings on my mobile phone and check out what is on,” said Doug Rice, vice president of Finance and Operations at mPortal Inc. “mPortal has extensive background and experience in digital content delivery management and leadership in delivering intuitive user-interfaces and on-device portals through its Springboard Smart Client. We are pleased to partner with TV Guide to extend its leadership to the mobile market.”
“Roundbox is dedicated to the proposition that the combination of today’s mobile and next generation broadcast technologies will result in an explosion of exciting media options for the mobile consumer,” said Dennis Specht, chief executive officer, Roundbox. “Operators will deliver content to consumers across a variety of networks, in a multitude of formats, and from many sources. Gemstar-TV Guide’s unparalleled assets will help Roundbox’s operator customers realize this goal with customized guidance solutions that preserve operator brand and value chain control.”
“Providing iconic brands like TV Guide with new mobile content capabilities signals the accelerating acceptance of mobile content by major fixtures in American media,” said Andy Miller, general manager, Media at m-Qube, a mobile channel enabler who partnered with TV Guide Mobile Entertainment in this initiative. “Unlike other channels, mobile enables companies to extend their brand directly to consumers anywhere, anytime, and to any mobile device.”
For more information or to view a live demonstration of TV Guide Mobile Entertainment’s new products and services, visit us at CTIA, in Meeting Room 45 in the Central Hall, Las Vegas Convention Center, April 5-7, 2006. Live demonstrations will run throughout the show.
About Gemstar-TV Guide
Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: GMST) is a leading media, entertainment and technology company that develops, licenses, markets and distributes technologies, products and services targeted at the television guidance and home entertainment needs of consumers worldwide. The Company’s businesses include: television media and publishing properties; interactive program guide services and products; and technology and intellectual property licensing. Additional information about the Company can be found at http://www.gemstartvguide.com.
About Alacre
Based in Los Angeles, CA, Alacre provides mobile content lifecycle management solutions for the creation, management and delivery of highly interactive mobile content. Alacre’s proprietary F-1 Mobile Lifecycle Management Platform allows customers to rapidly launch and efficiently manage a wide variety of mobile media applications. In addition, Alacre’s team of experienced production professionals ensures that its applications achieve a high degree of excellence in design and usability. Along with Gemstar-TV Guide, Alacre’s customers include The Walt Disney Company, Lions Gate Entertainment, LimeLife, THQ Wireless, (M)forma, I-play and Hudson Entertainment.
About mPortal
mPortal Inc, founded in 2000, enables mobile content and applications for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), Content Providers and Enterprises. mPortal’s products and services assist its customers to create, launch, manage, and monetize mobile content and applications across multiple mobile devices and networks. As a total solution provider, mPortal eliminates the complexities involved in launching mobile content and applications. With mPortal as a strategic partner, its customers focus on their core business and rely on mPortal to provide its expertise and experience in launching revenue-generating mobile content and applications. mPortal’s customers include top tier mobile operators, leading MVNOs, content providers , and Fortune 500 enterprises customers. Some of the customers are Alltel, AOL, Disney Mobile, ESPN Mobile, Reliance Infocomm, TV Guide, Verizon Wireless and XEROX. mPortal has offices in the US and India and serves a variety of global customers. For more information, please visit http://www.mportal.com.
About m-Qube
m-Qube, a leading mobile channel enabler, helps companies develop, deliver, and bill for mobile content, messaging and applications. m-Qube’s end-to-end technology platform, carrier relationships and value-added services empower consumer-facing companies and their service providers to take advantage of wireless as a content delivery, marketing and communications channel. The company’s strategic wireless partners include Verizon Wireless, Cingular Wireless, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile USA, Nextel Communications, ALLTEL, US Cellular, Boost Mobile, Cincinnati Bell Wireless, Dobson, Rogers Wireless, Bell Mobility, Telus Mobility, NorthernTel, SaskTel and Aliant Mobility. Headquartered in Boston, m-Qube has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, and Toronto. For more information, visit http://www.m-Qube.com.
About Roundbox
Roundbox Inc. provides software for mobile operators and equipment manufacturers to deliver services leveraging multiple broadcast technologies. The company is founded by an experienced team of wireless and software industry professionals that have consistently provided innovative solutions to carrier problems. Roundbox is a private company funded by premier venture capital firms including Core Capital Partners and RRE Ventures. For more information on Roundbox, visit the company’s Web site at http://www.roundbox.com.
Gemstar, TV Guide, TV Guide Spot and TV Guide Mobile are trademarks or registered trademarks of Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. The names of other companies, products and services used herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Screenshot of TV Guide Mobile™ available at http://www.gemstartvguide.com/pressroom/images/mobile.jpg
