OpenTV To Beam Into U.S. Homes Through EchoStar
OpenTV, Mountain View, CA, a leader and veteran in the European interactive television industry, took a large step forward Wednesday toward transferring that success to America, when it announced that its I-TV software platform would be available through more than 1 million EchoStar-enabled homes by the end of 2001.Customers of EchoStar, Littleton, CO, have been able to access certain aspects of interactivity through the OpenTV platform, including instant weather and an interactive program guide, since May 1.
Through a deal with I-TV provider Wink Communications, Alameda, CA, the new agreement would give EchoStar's customers full interactivity with available programs and advertisements. For those customers with an older set-top box, the software necessary to run the interactivity can be downloaded right to their existing box.
There are over 7.8 million set-tops worldwide equipped with the OpenTV platform.
