SHENZHEN, China and SAN JOSE, Calif., March 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- iPanel Technologies, Ltd., a leading provider of embedded software platforms for digital and IPTV services and applications, and ICTV(R), which provides solutions that bring the Web media experience to television, announced today that they have reached an agreement that is designed to spread the availability of ICTV's ActiveVideo(TM) Web-infused television throughout China and the Asia-Pacific markets.
Under the agreement, the companies will work together to utilize iPanel's middleware and browser to directly enable ActiveVideo interactive streaming media, bringing a rich actionable media experience to any set top box running the iPanel software suite. Together, iPanel and ICTV will be able to significantly expand the depth and scope of on-demand programming and interactive advertising that can be delivered by cable television and IPTV service providers in the region. In addition, iPanel and ICTV also have agreed to market and promote the combined solution in conjunction with each company's individual sales efforts.
ActiveVideo brings rich interactive media experiences to the television without the need for high-powered set top boxes, enabling viewers to personalize their TV experiences in an environment that combines high quality interactive video, clickable advertisements and responsive remote control navigation of TV screens. ActiveVideo viewers around the world are enjoying media experiences from Turner, Fox, Reuters, Tag Networks and many others directly on their televisions. ActiveVideo has been in trials or deployments in North America, Europe and Asia.
"Our customers recognize the enormous importance of bringing the Web video experience directly to the television," said Xu Jiahong, President for iPanel Technologies. "ICTV's innovative technological approach and the breakthrough capabilities of ActiveVideo through iPanel's overwhelming market share will help digital and IPTV service providers in China and the Asia-Pacific region to improve broadly their users' TV viewing experience and to increase significantly their capability to generate targeted advertising revenues."
"As the global leader in bringing the Web media experience to the television, it is important that we align ourselves with partners who share our vision and complement our technology," said Jeff Miller, president and CEO of ICTV. "iPanel's pre-eminent role in the Asia-Pacific market -- and particularly in China -- will play a key role in our ability to accelerate deployment of ActiveVideo to the largest and most promising market for interactive programming, retailing and advertising."
About iPanel
iPanel Technologies Ltd. (www.ipanel.cn) is a leading provider of software platforms that support digital and IPTV services and applications in the exploding digital media markets of China and the Asia Pacific region. iPanel provides embedded software solutions and related services to cable and IPTV operators, semiconductor makers, content providers, set-top-box designers and manufacturers, and ultimately develops a customizable interactive entertainment experience for the television end users. Presently, the iPanel solutions have been adopted by near one hundred digital cable and IPTV operators world wide, with 76% market share of cable set-top-box deployment in China which covers 72 million cable subscribers of the country.
About ICTV
ICTV(R) (www.ictv.com) delivers ActiveVideo(TM), a dynamic viewing experience that brings the choice and control of the Web to the television via cable and IPTV networks. ActiveVideo combines interactive elements and targeted, clickable advertisements with the high-quality video, immediate responsiveness and remote control navigation of TV. The ActiveVideo platform requires no new customer premise equipment and utilizes existing Web and video standards, enabling network operators, programmers and advertisers to create content once for real-time delivery to any digital set-top box. ICTV is based in the heart of Silicon Valley, with offices in Los Angeles, Baltimore, Beijing and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.ictv.com.
