InvestorsSeptember 18, 2000
Charter Invests $5 Million in DIVA; Equity Play Provides for Charter Seat on DIVA Board of Directors
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ST. LOUIS & REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18, 2000-- A strategic $5 million equity investment in DIVA Systems Corporation (DIVA(TM)), by Charter Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:CHTR), was jointly announced today by both parties. The investment expands an existing relationship, and provides for a Charter seat on DIVA's Board of Directors.
Jerry Kent, President and CEO of Charter, said his company's investment in DIVA was a natural evolution of a relationship which began with a joint video-on-demand trial in Charter's Gwinnett County, Ga. system and led to a wide-scale deployment agreement announced in May. "Our investment in DIVA is testimony to our confidence in them as a comprehensive provider of VOD technology. And the Charter seat on the DIVA Board will provide them with the perspective of a cable operator as the evolution of our core business moves to on-demand services."
With its $5 million investment, Charter joins a growing list of industry participants that have made financial investments in DIVA, including Motorola, NTL, OpenTV, Liberate and Starz Encore.
"We're extremely pleased to continue our successful relationship with Charter, and to deepen our ties with them," said Henk Hanselaar, president and chief executive officer of DIVA, and a member of its Board of Directors. "We're proud that Charter - a true leader in the cable industry - has chosen to invest in their future by their action announced today."
In May 2000, DIVA and Charter signed an agreement that committed both companies to the commercial rollout of VOD in Charter owned and operated systems, including Los Angeles, where Charter serves some 600,000 customers.
About Charter Communications
With 6.3 million customers, Charter Communications, a Wired World(TM) company, is among the nation's largest broadband communications companies. Charter offers an array of advanced broadband services, including cable television under the Charter Cable TV brand; advanced digital video programming services under the Charter Digital Cable(TM) brand; and high-speed Internet access via Charter Pipeline (TM). Charter's Class A common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the ticker symbol "CHTR." More information about Charter can be found on the Internet at www.chartercom.com.
About DIVA
DIVA Systems Corporation (www.divatv.com) is a privately held company founded in June 1995 and is headquartered in Redwood City, Calif. DIVA commercially launched its digital video-on-demand (VOD) service in cable television systems in the fall of 1997 and is the only company currently deploying an end-to-end video-on-demand service in North America. As a leading provider of interactive VOD products and services for the cable television industry, DIVA provides the hardware, software, back office and integration expertise to enable cable companies to provide their customers with immediate, affordable access to hundreds of viewing choices including feature films, children's programming and specialty shows, via their remote control. DIVA has also recently introduced an interactive program guide (IPG) as a stand-alone product that allows television viewers to search and access viewing choices in real-time.
DIVA's interactive (VOD) products and services are now deployed in six cable systems in the U.S. with multiple system operators, including Charter Communications, Insight Communications and MediaOne (AT&T). Additionally, DIVA has announced deployment agreements with ntl for the United Kingdom. DIVA has also established relationships with leading industry participants, including content providers such as Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, Universal, Disney, and Artisan; manufacturers of digital set-top boxes; providers of application managers and set-top box operating systems; and billing system providers. DIVA has strategic investments from Charter Communications, NTL, General Instrument (now Motorola), OpenTV, Liberate and Starz Encore.
Statements in this press release regarding Charter Communications' business that are not historical facts may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any such forward-looking statements are identified in the reports and documents Charter files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" related to DIVA, including, but not limited to, the ability of DIVA to provide large scale deployment of its video-on-demand products and services to Charter's customers effectively and in a timely manner. Actual results may vary from anticipated results and such differences may be material based on a number of factors, including the commercial viability and scalability of DIVA's video-on-demand products and the extent of Charter's deployment of these products and services.
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CONTACT: | Charter Communications |
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Anita Lamont, 314/543-2215 | |
or | |
DIVA | |
Patrick J. Gushman or Georgeann H. Ikuma, 650/779-3075 | |
or | |
Hill & Knowlton, Inc. | |
Pam Livingston, 415/955-2275 | |