InvestorsFebruary 2, 2004
Digeo’s Interactive Channel Service on OpenTV Reaches More Than One Million Charter Cable Customers
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KIRKLAND, Wash., ST. LOUIS and SAN FRANCISCO – Digeo, Inc., a leading provider of media center software and iTV services, and OpenTV (NASDAQ: OPTV), one of the world's leading interactive television companies, today announced that the Digeo™ iTV service, which runs on OpenTV's ProSync platform, is now available to more than one million Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR) digital cable households across the nation under the brand name Charter iTV. With Charter iTV, when customers turn on their television, they are greeted by a simple menu through which they can purchase movies, jump to TV listings, directly tune to interactive channels (Weather, Games, Entertainment, News, Sports, Money) and get answers to common customer care questions. The value-added service is accessible through the same remote and set-top box customers are already accustomed to using.
The popular iTV service, which was recently expanded to Charter's cable systems in St. Louis, MO and Greenville-Spartanburg, SC, has been proven to reduce churn and increase satisfaction with digital cable. Recent viewing statistics show that more than 67 percent of customers use the service overall, while 20 percent use it at least 13 times per week. “We're pleased to continue expanding the footprint of Charter iTV by bringing this useful service to even more of our digital cable customers across the country,” said Kip Simonson, Charter's Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “This service gives us a quick and easy way to enrich the viewer experience on our existing set-tops and it puts the Charter brand front and center in our customers' living rooms.”
“Surpassing the one million subscribers mark is a significant business milestone for us,” said Randy Carlson, vice president and general manager of Digeo iTV. “We're pleased to see the service become such a useful tool in providing information and entertainment to consumers while also proving to be an effective vehicle for Charter to increase the consumption of VOD, PPV and its other cable services.”
“We're pleased to see Charter Communications roll out interactivity in these additional markets,” said James Ackerman, CEO, OpenTV. “OpenTV has been proud to provide the underlying technology platform making these interactive services possible and we couldn't be happier that these interactive services are now being viewed by one million subscribers.” Charter currently offers iTV in 22 markets.
About Digeo, Inc.
Digeo, Inc., provides media center software and iTV services that inspire consumer loyalty, generate new incremental revenue, and position cable as the leading source for home entertainment.
With the Digeo™ iTV service, cable operators can maximize the value of their existing digital set-tops. The most widely deployed cable iTV service in North America, Digeo iTV features field-tested technology that is proven to increase on-demand purchases, reduce churn and decrease customer care costs. A set of interactive channels (MSO central, weather, entertainment, games, news, sports, money, and customer care), Digeo iTV offers fun, practical services that add value to the digital cable subscription. The service, which runs on both Motorola and Scientific-Atlanta hardware, is already deployed to more than one million Charter customers nationwide.
Digeo is primarily backed by Paul Allen's Vulcan Inc. The company has offices in Kirkland, Wash., Palo Alto, Calif. and Longmont, Colo. For more information, please visit www.digeo.com.
About Charter Communications
Charter Communications, A Wired World Company™, is the nation's third-largest broadband communications company. Charter provides a full range of advanced broadband services to the home, including cable television on an advanced digital video programming platform via Charter Digital® and Charter High-Speed Internet Service®. Commercial high-speed data, video and Internet solutions are provided under the Charter Business Networks® brand. Advertising sales and production services are sold under the Charter Media® brand. More information about Charter can be found at www.charter.com.
About OpenTV
One of the world's leading interactive television companies, OpenTV provides a comprehensive suite of technology, content, games, tools, applications, and professional services that enables cable and satellite network operators to provide interactive television services in over 70 countries. OpenTV has its Corporate Offices in San Francisco, California and regional offices in the United States, Europe and Asia/Pacific. For more information, please visit www.opentv.com.
More information, press only:
For Digeo: Gina Aumiller Bender, 650-838-6014, gina@digeo.com
For Charter: Dave Mack, 303-323-1392, dmack@chartercom.com
For OpenTV: Maureen Zeljak, 415-962-5151, mzeljak@opentv.com
Digeo is a trademark of Digeo, Inc. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners.