Concurrent Computer Corporation and TV Guide Interactive Team Up to Bring Video-On-Demand to Industry's Largest Installed EPG Base of Viewers.Business Editors/High Tech Writers ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 29, 2000 Two Industry Leaders Agree to Merge Technologies for True Interactive Television Concurrent Computer Corporation  This article or section is written like an .Please help [ rewrite this article] from a neutral point of view. Mark blatant advertising for , using . (Nasdaq:CCUR CCUR Center for Crops Utilization Research ) and Gemstar - TV Guide International (Nasdaq:GMST GMST Greenwich Mean Sidereal Time GMST General Military Subjects Test GMST Genov Modified Stroop Test ) announced today that they have signed an agreement to integrate Concurrent's MediaHawk(tm) Video-On-Demand (VOD See video-on-demand. VoD - video on demand ) System with the TV Guide Video-On-Demand Guide and TV Guide InteractiveSM Program Guide, providing a fully integrated VOD solution to the cable industry. The leading interactive program guide for digital cable, TV Guide Interactive's core guide service is already distributed to 5 million subscribers through MSOs nationwide. Concurrent's MediaHawk VOD System supports the industry's largest base of commercially deployed VOD systems. Together, the two companies will provide a comprehensive, fully integrated interactive program guide/VOD offering. This agreement reinforces a long-standing relationship between Concurrent and TV Guide. The companies integrated a previous version of TV Guide Interactive with Concurrent's VOD thin-client architecture for Motorola Broadband digital set-top boxes (STBs). The new agreement will result in a compact VOD Client capable of supporting the Motorola Broadband's family of STBs including the DCT-1000, DCT-1200, and DCT-2000. These STBs are the largest installed base of digital STBs in the industry. The TV Guide Interactive VOD Guide is integrated into the core guide service with VOD access from the TV Guide Interactive Main Menu or via an MSO (1) (Multiple System Operator) Typically refers to a cable TV organization that owns more than one cable system, but it may refer to an operator of only one system. defined navigation shell. The VOD Guide offers a user-friendly environment for operators to showcase their VOD services with co-branding and customizable menus. Within the familiar TV Guide Interactive environment, digital subscribers can order VOD movies with the touch of a button, then play, fast-forward, and rewind re·wind tr.v. re·wound , re·wind·ing, re·winds 1. To wind again or anew. 2. To reverse the winding of (recording tape or camera film). n. 1. The act or process of rewinding. their selection using the remote. Powered by the industry's most advanced video server - the MediaHawk from Concurrent Computer Corporation -- broadband operators can now deliver movies and other interactive services on-demand. With VOD, there is no set schedule for movies. Concurrent's VOD technology enables subscribers to use a digital set-top box to instantly call up digital movies from major movie studios and control the movie with VCR-like functionality including fast-forward, pause, and rewind. Concurrent's MediaHawk Broadband VOD System includes the MediaHawk Video Server and Broadband VOD BackOffice Business Management System (BMS BMS abbr. Bachelor of Marine Science ) - developed in conjunction with partner PRASARA Technologies - which is a comprehensive system for operations and business management. The MediaHawk Video Server is a high-performance, scalable, digital video server that offers industry-leading performance and provides the most reliable response time achievable in the worldwide marketplace today. "TV Guide Interactive is very excited about working with Concurrent in order to provide integrated on-demand services to the operator community. Bundled services such as the VOD solution TV Guide and Concurrent are developing will make it easier for cable operators to deploy enhanced services to their customers. We look forward to doing our part in helping to move the digital cable industry forward," stated Todd Walker Todd Arthur Walker (born May 25, 1973 in Bakersfield, California) is an infielder who recently played for the Oakland Athletics. He had previously played for the Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, and San Diego Padres. , Senior Vice-President of Product Management for TV Guide Interactive. Concurrent President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Jack Bryant said, "We are excited to work with an American icon like TV Guide." He added, "As television continues its evolution into an interactive communications medium, Video-On-Demand is a natural fit in meeting the demands of today's busy lifestyles. Concurrent has taken its proven technology and turned it into a force that is shaping the residential entertainment industry by giving television viewers greater options and flexibility and providing cable operators with the tools they need to deliver these services." About TV Guide Interactive TV Guide Interactive, an advanced interactive program guide currently in 5 million homes, is offered to cable television systems and direct-to-home satellite providers. The guide enables viewers to easily navigate the multi-channel digital cable universe. Using a remote control and TV Guide Interactive, digital cable subscribers can plan and control their television viewing experience with program listings by genre, detailed program information and popular features like Reminders, Parental Control pay-per-view ordering and Favorite Channel settings. TV Guide Interactive is a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. of Gemstar-TV Guide International Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. is a media company that licenses interactive program guide technology to multichannel operators, such as cable and satellite television providers, and consumer electronics manufacturers, video recorder scheduling code under brands such as VCR , Inc. The Company's services are carried in systems owned by all the top 10 MSO's and DTH (Direct-To-Home) Typically refers to satellite TV broadcasting directly to a dish antenna on the roof of a house. See DBS. providers, which include AT&T, Time Warner, DirecTV, Comcast, Charter, Cox, Adelphia, Echostar, Cablevision, and Insight. About Gemstar-TV Guide International Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc., (Nasdaq:GMST) is a leading global technology and media company focused on consumer entertainment. The Company has four major business sectors: the Technology and Licensing Sector, which is responsible for the development, licensing and protection of intellectual property and technology; the Company's technology includes the VCR VCR: see videocassette recorder. VCR in full videocassette recorder Electromechanical device that records, stores on a videotape cassette, and plays back on a TV set recorded images and sound. Plus+(R) system, the interactive program guide ("IPG IPG Implantable pulse generator, see there ") marketed under the GUIDE Plus+(R) and TV Guide InteractiveSM brands and the electronic book ("eBook"); the Interactive Platform Sector, which owns, operates and derives recurring income from advertising, interactive services, content sales and e-commerce on the Company's proprietary IPG and eBook platforms; the Media and Services Sector, which operates the TV Guide(R) magazines, TV Guide ChannelSM, and other television media properties, as well as a media sales group that services all of the Company's media platforms; and the Investments & Holdings Sector, which operates a variety of businesses including the startup Television Games Network. The IPG is built into televisions, VCRs or set top boxes (cable, satellite, telco, Internet) and presents a multi-day television program guide on the television screen from which the consumer can view, select, tune to or record programs. The eBook is a reading device that can store tens of thousand of pages, and permits a user to take instant delivery of any book, magazine or newspaper they purchase over the telephone. The Company's media properties reach over 100 million U.S. homes on a weekly basis. The Company's products and services are available in over 50 countries worldwide. The Company's services, technology and intellectual property are licensed to major technology, media and communication companies in the consumer electronics, internet, personal computer, satellite, cable television and telco industries. Licensees and customers include AOL (A division of Time Warner, Inc., New York, NY, www.aol.com) The world's largest online information service with access to the Internet, e-mail, chat rooms and a variety of databases and services. , AT&T, Cablevision, Charter, Comcast, Cox, DirecTV, Dish Network See DBS. , Matsushita, Microsoft, Philips, Sony, Time Warner, Thomson multimedia, Zenith and others. The Company has over 140 issued U.S. patents in the general area of audio-visual technologies with more than 3000 claims, over 150 issued foreign patents, and continues to actively pursue a worldwide intellectual property program and currently has over 300 U.S. patent and over 600 foreign patent applications pending. About Concurrent Computer Corporation Concurrent Computer Corporation (http://www.ccur.com) is a leading provider of high-performance computer systems, software, and servers. Concurrent Computer Corporation's XSTREME Division is a leading supplier in the emerging digital video server marketplace. This market includes the broadband/cable, corporate training, education, hospitality, and in-flight entertainment In-flight entertainment (IFE) refers to the entertainment available to aircraft passengers during a flight. After World War II commercial aviation flights became a daily event in which entertainment was requested by passengers to help the time pass. industries. Operating worldwide, Concurrent provides sales and support from offices throughout North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. , Europe, Asia, and Australia. Concurrent brings over 30 years of real-time experience to the broadband industry, and in a very short time has become the undisputed leader in broadband VOD. As the newcomer to the industry, Concurrent's VOD performance speaks for itself. Concurrent is uniquely positioned to meet the pent-up demand for interactive television services - movies-on-demand and e-commerce over the television. In a July 2000 report, Forrester Research Forrester Research is an independent technology and market research company that provides its clients with advice about technology's impact on business and consumers. Corporate facts
Note to Editors: For additional company or product information from Concurrent Computer Corporation, please contact Concurrent Computer Corporation, 4375 River Green Parkway, Duluth, GA 30096. Call toll free in the U.S. and Canada at (877) 978-7363, fax (678) 258-4199. Readers can also access information through the company's Web site at http://www.ccur.com. Concurrent Computer Corporation and its logo are registered trademarks and MediaHawk is a trademark of Concurrent Computer Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. |
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