From: Ramon Chen [mailto:ramonchen@metatv.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 8:17 AM
To: Fulltime@metatv.com
Subject: Hot News Alert: MetaTV and WorldGate to Enable Cable Operators to Deliver Compelling iTV Content to Subscribers
Good morning!
We continue to partner with the leading middleware providers.
This morning we issued a joint press release with WorldGate announcing our participation in their Certified Developer’s
Program. (You can access it via Yahoo at http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/001114/pa_ca_meta.html or from our web site at www.metatv.com)
Although WorldGate announced their CDP last week, http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/001108/pa_worldga.html
because of the election news it was more than likely overlooked. To re-enforce our cross-platform capabilities as well as to show our continuing momentum we decided to jointly announce with WorldGate this week. Look for more middleware partnership announcements from us shortly!
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Tuesday November 14, 10:01 am Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: MetaTV
MetaTV and WorldGate to Enable Cable Operators to Deliver Compelling iTV Content to Subscribers
MetaTV Named Charter Member of New WorldGate Certified Developer Program For iTV
TREVOSE, Pa. and SAUSALITO, Calif., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ — WorldGate Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: WGAT <http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=wgat&d=t> – news <http://biz.yahoo.com/n/w/wgat.html>), a global interactive television (iTV) solutions provider for the cable television industry, has named MetaTV, a leading provider of broadband portals and applications for interactive television, as a charter member in its new content-creation alliance called the WorldGate Certified Developer’s Program (CDP). The WorldGate CDP is dedicated to fostering the creation of compelling interactive television content made available to consumers via cable operators deploying the WorldGate service.
Through its participation in the program, MetaTV will employ WorldGate’s high standards in the areas of program development, content management, application design and hosting services. The partnership will allow MetaTV to benefit from WorldGate’s development tools, training programs and developer support, further strengthening MetaTV’s commitment to rapidly build customized, revenue-generating TV services and enhanced TV applications that harness the capabilities of the WorldGate platform.
MetaTV brings to the partnership a complete solution that encompasses all aspects of design, development, deployment and management of eBusinesses’ TV-centric sites and cable operators’ TV portals. The MetaTV Universal Portal(TM) Platform quickly transforms existing Web-based content and services into TV-centric designs while leveraging back-end infrastructure. This allows network operators and eBusinesses to remain focused on their core businesses, brand positioning and new service offerings. The result is a much faster rollout of robust iTV services to consumers on the WorldGate platform.
“MetaTV is proud to partner with WorldGate to enable cable operators and content partners to rapidly bring compelling iTV content, applications and services to consumers,” said Andrew Lev, president of MetaTV. “The MetaTV Universal Portal(TM) Platform is designed to allow robust information and commerce services to be delivered on deployed WorldGate-enabled set-top boxes today, as well as those that will be rolled out in the future. Our participation in the WorldGate Certified Developer Program demonstrates our leadership position in helping make the promise of iTV a reality.”
“WorldGate is pleased to welcome MetaTV as a charter member of the CDP,” said Gerard Kunkel, senior vice president, WorldGate Communications. “MetaTV’s leadership in quickly bringing to market customized, revenue-generating TV services and applications will be a tremendous asset to the current and potential iTV customers served by WorldGate’s affiliated cable operator partners. Thanks to our combined efforts, these subscribers will enjoy integrated, broadband TV portals and applications that enable content, community and commerce.”
About MetaTV
Headquartered in Sausalito, California, MetaTV is the first global provider of integrated, broadband TV portals and applications that enable content, community and commerce. The Company’s technology, products and services enable network operators and eBusiness companies to deploy robust iTV content, applications and portals. Comprised of world-class offerings, the MetaTV Universal Portal(TM) Platform provides broadband e-commerce, syndication, advertising, personalization, and content management solutions that exploit the benefits of all major iTV set-top box application platforms. The result is an innovative way for customers to rapidly bring to market customized, revenue-generating TV services. For more information, visit MetaTV’s website at www.metatv.com <http://www.metatv.com>.
About WorldGate Communications, Inc.
WorldGate Communications, Inc., a global interactive TV solutions provider for the cable television industry, offers the cable industry a full line of Internet based, hi-speed interactive and enhanced television services. WorldGate’s CableWare 2000 is an open-standards middleware platform designed for current generation and advanced digital converters. It supports interactive applications, VOD, electronic guides, Internet TV and enhanced TV. CableWare’s eTV application provides viewers with synchronized graphicoverlays to live video and instant access to related programming and advertising Websites. WorldGate is deployed, has agreements to deploy or is in trials to deploy its service with 34 multiple system operators in 17 countries worldwide, including five of the top six MSOs in the U.S. WorldGate is a partner with Adelphia Communications Corp., Charter Communications Inc., Comcast Cable Communications Inc., and Cox Communications Inc. in a joint venture called TVGateway(SM) to provide interactive programming and advertising for digital cable. WorldGate is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol WGAT. More information on WorldGate can be accessed at www.wgate.com