OpenTV has successfully ported its digital interactive television to the Motorola DCT 2000, the most widely deployed digital set-top system in the US, giving the MIH Holdings subsidiary access to 47 million US households.
OpenTV, a worldwide provider of software to enable digital interactive television, now has its software installed in more than 7.8 million digital set-top boxes (STBs) worldwide.
For the second consecutive quarter (to end of March 2000), OpenTV`s technology was shipped with more than 1.6 million STBs, reinforcing the company`s position as a worldwide market player in digital interactive television software. This represents a 148% increase from 0.6 million STBs shipped in the first quarter of 1999.
OpenTV`s software solution can be flash-downloaded to all DCT-2000s currently in homes, without rolling a truck to a subscriber`s home or switching out a set-top terminal. Once enabled, the OpenTV/DCT-2000 set-top terminal will support multiple interactive services from electronic program guides and e-mail, to e-commerce and video-on-demand (VOD). In addition, the DCT-2000 will support OpenTV`s custom ITV applications that will allow cable operators new revenue opportunities.
OpenTV also signed a partnership agreement with DIVA, a provider of interactive VOD products and services for the cable industry. The strategic alliance will expand the capability of the Motorola DCT-2000 digital set-top box by combining OpenTV`s software and interactive television services with DIVA`s VOD and other services. In addition to this alliance, OpenTV has made a $5 million strategic investment in DIVA.
OpenTV acquired Spyglass in a $2.5 billion share deal in March. Spyglass` Prism product reorganises and reformats standard Web content to display on set-top boxes, mobile phones and other non-personal computer devices.
Microsoft is using similar technology to OpenTV in its WebTV product, which also allows users to e-mail, surf the Net and access instant messaging.
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