Austar Deploys Interactive TV Using OpenTV's Solutions.

Business Editors, Entertainment Writers

SYDNEY, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 2001

Austar's Two-Way Commercial iTV Deployment Is A First For

Australia

Austar United Communications (ASX: AUN) today launched the first commercial interactive TV service in Australia, using OpenTV (NASDAQ National Market and Euronext Amsterdam: OPTV) as a platform for its launch of a full suite of interactive TV applications.

These applications include an electronic programme guide (EPG), information portal, news and weather services, t-commerce abilities (branded as Quick Shop), t-mail and games (supporting both free play and subscription models). These services utilize both the broadcast and two-way back channel infrastructure to offer two-way interactive TV services. These services are part of Austar's previously announced plans to provide a range of communication and entertainment services to its more than 300,000 set-top boxes in a service area of 2.1 million homes, reaching over 1.2 million viewers.

OpenTV, the world's leading interactive television company, is providing Austar with client-server technology and development tools to assist with Austar's launch and operation of advanced digital interactive TV applications.

John Porter, CEO, Austar United Communications commented, "Using OpenTV to provide interactive TV technology, we are committed to delivering to our customers the best experience in interactive TV. The prospect of bringing Australia an advanced interactive television experience to all our subscribers is very exciting indeed."

Veronica Chalom General Manager Interactive Television, Austar United Comunications commented, "Their team have given us tremendous support and we believe that the sophistication of the OpenTV technology will give us the ability to offer the latest and the best in iTV to our customers."

"We feel that OpenTV has been at the front-and-centre of the world's most prominent examples of interactive television deployments, and that Austar will prove itself to be one of the best.'" said Michael Ivanchenko, General Manager, Australia and New Zealand, OpenTV. "We believe that our extensive experience in the marketplace and knowledge of how interactivity really impacts the consumer allows us to understand the business behind interactive television. Our experience has shown that when given the right content, television viewers do want and will use interactive television."

OpenTV enables digital interactive television and other digital communications devices to bring on-demand content in the Asia Pacific region and elsewhere throughout the world. In Asia Pacific, the company has an active relationship with 12 digital cable, satellite and terrestrial communications networks and 18 set-top manufacturers, and has four offices in the region.

About Austar United Communications

Austar United Communications is a leading provider of integrated communications services: voice, video and data in Australia and New Zealand. Austar United Communications is part of the UnitedGlobalCom (NASDAQ: UCOMA) international group. For more information, please visit www.austarunited.com.

Austar United Communications is the first broadcaster in Australia to launch interactive television (iTV) on a commercial basis. Because iTV is new to the market there is some confusion about what it is and what AUSTAR is doing. The following facts should help answer questions about this exciting product launch.

Definition of iTV

iTV utilises AUSTAR's digital satellite platform to add new services to and to enrich the AUSTAR customer's viewing experience. iTV increases the viewer's range of choice of entertainment, information and services available over the television offering greater convenience and choice.

Two-way services and One-way services

AUSTAR customers with a phone line connected to their set-top box can access two-way interactive services. Two-way interactive services requires data or information, for example when an order that is placed by a customer to be sent back to AUSTAR. For example, Interactive advertising is a two-way service as it requires an information (entry to a competition, or a request for additional information to be sent to the viewer) order to be sent back via the phoneline to AUSTAR. AUSTAR have designed all their interactive services (with the exception of T-Mail) to ensure that the amount of data that gets sent back via the phone line for most two-way applications is very small. An order for a product, or entry to a competition only requires the phone line to be dialled up for a few minutes, ensuring that AUSTAR's services do not tie the phone line up for extended periods.

One-way interactive services work just like current channel broadcast - all the data and information the viewer needs to access is broadcast out via satellite and the viewer chooses to see them using the remote control. There is no need for a phone line to be connected to access these services. Most one-way services allow the viewer to access additional information on the screen. For example, AUSTAR's new "Home" is a one-way service, allowing the viewer to call up all their programming and interactive service information.

Almost all services, with the exception of T-Mail and QuickShop have one-way interactive features that allows the viewer to use parts of the service and which will encourage them to become two-way enabled.

About OpenTV

OpenTV is the world's leading interactive television company. It provides a broad range of interactive TV solutions including operating middleware, content applications, content creation tools, professional support services and strategic consulting. OpenTV's software operates on all digital television platforms, on both thick and thin set-top boxes, and in a number of programming standards including HTML, DOCSIS, PVR, MHP and Java.

OpenTV's middleware is deployed in more than 18.2 million digital set-top boxes worldwide and has been selected by 48 digital cable, satellite and terrestrial communications networks in 50 countries. 36 digital set-top box manufacturers have licensed OpenTV's software, and more than 1,300 content developers have joined its Partner Program. Customers include BSkyB in the United Kingdom (NYSE: BSY); TPS and Noos in France (Paris: LYOE.PA); NTL Cable in Switzerland and France (NYSE: NLI; NASDAQ Europe: NTLI); Via Digital in Spain (NYSE: TEF); DIRECTV(TM) Latin America LLC (NYSE: GMH); Shanghai Cable in China; EchoStar's DISH Network (NASDAQ: DISH) and USA Media in the U.S.

The company's wholly owned subsidiary, Static, is the industry's leading interactive applications provider. It owns and operates the world's most successful iTV entertainment and games channel, PlayJam.

OpenTV is based in Mountain View, California. For more information please visit www.opentv.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated herein, including statements regarding Austar's deployment of interactive products and services and the benefits that may be derived from OpenTV and its products and services. Actual results can differ materially. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, whether current demand for interactive products and services will continue, the rate at which the market for interactive products and services will expand, acceptance of interactive products and services, including those provided by OpenTV, by Austar's customers and others and the pricing of those products and services, the impact of competitive products and services and the pricing of those products and services, the impact of technological constraints and changes in technology, and other risk factors detailed in the documents filed from time to time by OpenTV Corp. with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those risk factors detailed in Item 3.D of OpenTV Corp.'s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 18, 2001. OpenTV undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

(c)2001 OpenTV, Inc. All rights reserved. OpenTV, OpenAuthor, OpenTV Runtime, OpenStreamer and the OpenTV logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of OpenTV, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

All OpenTV products and services may not be available in all geographic areas.