TiVo Signs on CBS Interactive as First Network Content Partner in TiVoCast
New Programmers to Deliver Content Via Broadband to TV Include Reuters, Forbes, dLife, Plum TV & Nano
NEW YORK and ALVISO, Calif., Nov. 14 -- TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ:TIVO), the creator of and leader in television services for digital video recorders (DVR), today announced that it has signed CBS Interactive to deliver original programming created for the Web directly to television through the TiVoCast service. Additionally, TiVo signed on a list of other partners to deliver broadband content to the television including Reuters, Forbes, dLife, Plum TV and Nano. Launched earlier this year, the TiVoCast service brings a whole new line-up of content to the television by offering broadband video previously found only on the Web and not widely available on TV.
CBS Interactive is the first network deal for TiVoCast. The content will consist of original programming from CBS's online destinations including CBS.com, CBS's broadband channel innertube, CBSNews.com and CBS SportsLine.
"This represents a great opportunity for CBS to showcase its growing online content on the television platform," said Quincy Smith, President, CBS Interactive. "TiVo's TiVoCast service allows for us to extend our reach, join other content innovators, and ultimately learn more about our audience with content such as Katie Couric's 'Eye To Eye' from CBSNews.com, fantasy football shows from CBS SportsLine.com, or the wealth of original programming currently available on CBS.com."
"Web video has become an explosive pop culture phenomenon and TiVo is leading the way in bringing it from the PC to TV," said Tom Rogers, President and CEO of TiVo. "Television remains the #1 platform on which consumers prefer to watch video so TiVoCast is a win-win both for consumers who enjoy the comfort and convenience of TV and for content providers who want to extend their reach."
TiVo also is announcing new content partnerships with Reuters, Forbes, dLife, Plum TV and Nano. These new channels join a stellar line-up of TiVoCast partners which includes leading video content providers: the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), The New York Times, Heavy, iVillage and CNET among others.
The broadband video content will include:
o CBS Interactive -- Original entertainment series from CBS.com and CBS's broadband channel innertube (www.cbs.com/innertube); CBS News online programming with Katie Couric (www.cbsnews.com); and CBS SportsLine fantasy programming (www.cbssportsline.com).
o Reuters -- Reuters Showbiz Week, Reuters Technology Week and Reuters Oddly Enough: And Finally show, which is a wrap-up of the week's most interesting offbeat stories.
o Forbes -- Forbes will provide business and affluent lifestyle programming focused on the interests and pursuits of the Forbes community. Content will include video companions to print & online Forbes lists such as best places to retire and top ten travel destinations. Other content will include profiles of inspirational role models & entrepreneurs, how-to guides on collecting, buying a second home and exclusive access to high-profile event.
o dLife -- dLifeTV, the world's first and only multimedia offering dedicated solely to enhancing the lives of those living with diabetes will provide programming full of strategies for surviving and thriving with diabetes. dLife is the first health-based content provider for the TiVoCast service.
o Plum TV -- An original television network that celebrates Aspen, The Hamptons, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Vail, and Telluride. Plum TV showcases the character, spirit, and intellect of these dynamic communities. Some of Plum's original programming that will be available on TiVoCast includes: The Morning Noon & Night Show, Open Exchange and Beyond Politics.
o Nano -- Offers updated content featuring talent both fresh and familiar. Nano's roster of established stars ranges from former Hitchock ingenue Tippi Hedren to "Desperate Housewife" Felicity Huffman. Surprised that Janeane Garafalo and Dick Butkus have something in common? You can find them both in a Nano film, along with a diverse group of actors including David Hyde Pierce, Jim Belushi, Paul Rudd, Zooey Deschanel, Coolio, Richard Moll and Taye Diggs.
"Our alliance with TiVo is part of Reuters continuing strategy to engage our influential audience whenever, wherever," said Stephen Smyth, General Manager of Reuters Media - Americas. "With TiVo, we'll offer some of the best exclusive video programming from Reuters.com, including our popular Reuters Oddly Enough: And Finally series that wraps up the most interesting offbeat stories of the week, as well as our weekly technology and showbiz programs."
Miguel Forbes, Forbes Vice President New Business Development, says, "We are very excited by the opportunity to partner with TiVo to deliver our trusted brand and expertise in business and lifestyle programming to a sophisticated audience in a fresh, forward-thinking, and compelling way."
With an American population of almost 22 million living with diabetes, and hundreds of millions more at risk, it is clear that programming that emphasizes community and helps those living with the disease manage their day- to-day lives fills a critical need," said Howard Steinberg, Creator and CEO of dLife. "We are very excited to join up with TiVo to help deliver important messages on diabetes into the living rooms of TiVo subscribers."
Chris Glowacki, the President of Plum TV said, "Plum wants our viewers to be able to watch our original programming on their terms, when and where they want to. TiVoCast is an important way for us to extend Plum's content, which chronicles some of the most fascinating people and beautiful places in America, to a television audience beyond those communities."
"Nano's initial tests with TiVo were very popular with TiVo subscribers, demonstrating that our audiences are in sync," said Jonathan Nash, CEO of Nano Network, Inc. "We hope to build upon our success and look forward to being part of TiVo's bright future delivering fresh and interesting content into the living room."
Just as television content is easy to find and record with TiVo, the TiVoCast service makes it easy to enjoy Web-based video content on TV. All of this content is included in the TiVo subscription fee and available to any broadband connected TiVo Series2(TM) TiVo box. Later this year, TiVoCast will be available on Series3(TM) TiVo boxes.
About TiVo Inc.
Founded in 1997, TiVo pioneered a brand new category of products with the development of the first commercially available digital video recorder (DVR). Sold through leading consumer electronic retailers, TiVo has developed a brand which resonates boldly with consumers as providing a superior television experience. Through agreements with leading satellite and cable providers, TiVo also integrates its full set of DVR service features into the set-top boxes of mass distributors. TiVo's DVR functionality and ease of use, with such features as Season Pass(TM) recordings and WishList® searches, has elevated its popularity among consumers and has created a whole new way for viewers to watch television. With a continued investment in its patented technologies, TiVo is revolutionizing the way consumers watch and access home entertainment. Rapidly becoming the focal point of the digital living room, TiVo's DVR is at the center of experiencing new forms of content on the TV, such as broadband delivered video, music and photos. With innovative features, such as TiVoToGo(TM) transfers and online scheduling, TiVo is expanding the notion of consumers experiencing "TiVo, TV your way.®" The TiVo® service is also at the forefront of providing innovative marketing solutions for the television industry, including a unique platform for advertisers and audience measurement research. The company is based in Alviso, Calif.
About CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation (NYSE:CBS.A)(NYSE:and)(NYSE:CBS) is a mass media company with constituent parts that reach back to the beginnings of the broadcast industry, as well as newer businesses that operate on the leading edge of the media industry. The Company, through its many and varied operations, combines broad reach with well-positioned local businesses, all of which provide it with an extensive distribution network by which it serves audiences and advertisers in all 50 states and key international markets. It has operations in virtually every field of media and entertainment, including broadcast television (CBS and The CW -- a joint venture between CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment), cable television (Showtime and CSTV Networks), local television (CBS Television Stations), television production and syndication (CBS Paramount Network Television and CBS Television Distribution Group), radio (CBS Radio), advertising on out-of-home media (CBS Outdoor), publishing (Simon & Schuster), digital media (CBS Interactive and CSTV Networks) and consumer products (CBS Consumer Products). For more information, log on to www.cbscorporation.com.
About Reuters
Reuters is the world's largest international news and financial information source, reaching over 1 billion people a day. Known for its speed, accuracy and independence, Reuters content powers newsrooms and financial markets around the world. Reuters distributes its text, data, pictures and video to professionals and direct to consumers via online and digital services. Founded in 1851, Reuters Group has 16,800 employees in 89 countries. And had annual revenues of 2.4 billion pounds Sterling/$4.4 billion in 2005. For more information and the latest news, visit www.reuters.com.
About Forbes
Forbes is the publisher of Forbes, the nation's leading business magazine, with a North American circulation of more than 900,000. Forbes, Forbes Asia, and the company's eight local-language editions, together reach a worldwide audience of over five million readers. The company also publishes ForbesLife, the irreverent lifestyle bi-monthly. Forbes' other divisions include: Forbes.com, the company's Internet business; Forbes Conference Group; Forbes Custom Media; "Forbes on Fox," a weekly cable television program; Forbes Investment Advisory Institute; Forbes Newsletter Group; and American Heritage, which encompasses American Heritage, American Legacy and American Heritage of Invention & Technology magazines.
About dLife
dLifeTV is the first and only national weekly lifestyle series devoted to living with diabetes and www.dlife.com/ is the largest independent website with diabetes information. The dLife.com Viewing Room of original streaming video content offers unique and entertaining diabetes information for people with diabetes, with prediabetes, or who have a family member with diabetes. dLifeTV airs every Sunday evening on CNBC at 7:00PM ET, 6:00PM CT, and 4:00PM PT. dLifeRadio is also heard around the country on XM satellite radio.
About Plum TV
Plum is a new type of television network. Produced in, for and about America's most dynamic communities, Plum programming is honest, authentic and optimistic. It celebrates the natural beauty and character of its communities and spirit and intellect of the people who live and visit there. Plum's current markets are Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, The Hamptons, Vail, Aspen and Telluride. While the towns may be small, the reach and influence is not. Plum's markets are destinations of choice for over 7 million of the nation's most interesting and influential people each year. They are people who define the culture in the media, business, arts and politics. They are Plum's audience as well as its content. Increasingly, Plum is available to a broader audience beyond its communities through video on demand and the Internet.
About Nano Network, Inc.
Nano Network, Inc. (Nano TV) was founded in 2002 to develop short film programming and provide content for exhibition in all venues including Television, Theatrical, DVD, Broadband Internet, Airlines, Hotels and various Mobile Cellular technologies.
FCMN Contact: thammill@rogersandcowan.com
Source: TiVo Inc.
CONTACT:
Krista Wierzbicki
TiVo Inc.
+1-408-519-9438
kwierzbicki@tivo.com
Diane Shader Smith
Rogers & Cowan
+1-310-788- 9011
dianeshadersmith@mail.com
Web site: http://www.tivo.com/
