Zodiac & ActiveVideo Integrate on Tru2way Tech

Zodiac and ActiveVideo Integrate on Tru2way™ Technology for the TV

Zodiac Client and ActiveVideo Distribution Network Bring Enhanced Web-Infused Television Experience To All Tru2way Devices

VALLEY STREAM, NY and SAN JOSE, CA - March 9, 2009 - Zodiac Interactive, an Emmy award-winning developer of software for interactive television, and ActiveVideo Networks™ have announced today a partnership that will accelerate the ability of cable operators deploying tru2way™ technology to bring Web-infused television experiences to their subscribers.

Under terms of the agreement, Zodiac's PowerUp™ framework software for tru2way and PowerTV will include an ActiveVideo® client, simplifying the ability of any operator to deploy ActiveVideo services on their tru2way or PowerTV set-top boxes. The companies also plan to work together to develop other applications for the Zodiac ActiveVideo client that will facilitate true interoperability and transparency across all TV services such as linear, VOD, EBIF, advanced advertising, etc.

The ActiveVideo Distribution Network combines standard Web technologies for authoring and distribution with network processing to create a single, personalized, interactive MPEG stream for delivery to an individual subscriber's digital set-top box or Web-connected CE device. The ActiveVideo client enables viewer navigation of onscreen MPEG content via remote-control keyclicks; each keyclick is sent upstream to server-based processors that modify the stream in real time.

ActiveVideo President and CEO Jeff Miller stated, "Zodiac's PowerUp framework reflects their outstanding commitment to tru2way technology and is the 'glue' that will help the industry bind tru2way components and applications together. We believe that Zodiac's incorporation of an ActiveVideo client in its PowerUp framework will help to speed the deployment of interactive television services that will increase subscriber loyalty and generate new revenues for operators and programmers."

PowerUp is Zodiac's tru2way framework, a common platform of open APIs and libraries that allow for a broad range of applications to be developed and work together across multiple tru2way components, including authoring tools, stacks/middleware, set-tops, etc.

The combined ActiveVideo/Zodiac solution lets operators more rapidly deploy tru2way applications and advanced TV and advertising to their subscribers. The PowerUp framework gives operators easy access to plug-and-play advanced Interactive Television 2.0™ services, such as advanced guides, EBIF applications, and TV widgets including local restaurant searching, click-to-call, games, photo-sharing, weather, traffic, sports scores, local news, and more. The integration of the ActiveVideo client extends tru2way with tools and infrastructure that use Web technologies to expedite the development and deployment of applications with rich, Web-connected personalized content, including search and recommendation. The PowerUp framework combined with ActiveVideo gives operators the power to rapidly deploy rich media applications including advertising microsites, customizable navigational mosaics and Web-like search functionality.

"ActiveVideo has been a leader in bringing the Web media experiences that consumers are seeking to the television screen where they enjoy them the most," said Alexander Libkind, Zodiac's Chief Operating Officer. "Now, with the ActiveVideo client as part of our PowerUp framework, ActiveVideo's Web environment can extend the capabilities of tru2way to allow cable system operators, traditional programmers and web media content providers to more easily include the powerful ActiveVideo Web development environment and personalized, interactive Web services within their tru2way PowerUp deployments."


About ActiveVideo Networks

ActiveVideo Networks™, formerly ICTV®, provides programming and technology that infuse television with Web content and interactivity. Based on standard Web authoring and delivery technologies, the company's ActiveVideo® Distribution Network simply and inexpensively enables expanded programming, navigation and advertising possibilities, allowing viewers to define and share TV experiences. ActiveVideo combines Web-based media and targeted, clickable advertisements with the high-quality video, immediate responsiveness and remote control navigation of television for uniform interactivity across all digital set-tops and Web-connected televisions. ActiveVideo Networks is based in the heart of Silicon Valley, with offices in Los Angeles, Baltimore, Beijing and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.activevideo.com.



About Zodiac Interactive

Zodiac Interactive is an Emmy winning developer of software for interactive television. Zodiac's PowerUp™ Framework is cross-platform software that unifies and enables advanced TV applications across multiple set-tops. The core of PowerUp, with its open APIs and libraries, makes it easy for operators to develop and deploy advanced TV services, such as user interfaces, EBIF, EPGs, tru2way, VOD, Web-Services, and other features demanded by operators today. For more information, visit www.zodiac.tv.

PowerUp are trademarks of Zodiac Interactive. ActiveVideo is a registered trademark of ActiveVideo Networks. EBIF and tru2way are trademarks of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. Other company, product and service names mentioned herein may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. For more information, visit www.zodiac.tv.

Last updated: Jul 27, 2022 at 04:47 am CDT