Audio Video News

Last week, TV Guide announced that it has partnered with SeaChange International to bring to market a version of the TV Guide Interactive electronic program guide with a video-on-demand (VOD) service. The companies say that the collaboration will combine the TV Guide Interactive application with SeaChange's ITV system, and that this is the first major deal for TV Guide Interactive in the VOD area and will be the market's first fully integrated interactive program guide/VOD offering.

According to SeaChange, its ITV System provides video-on-demand television through digital networks, allowing movies and other programs and services to be selectively viewed, with standard VCR functions like fast-forward, pause, and rewind. The companies say that combining their two services will provide the electronic link for television viewers to navigate through a selection of interactive television applications. The integrated application is expected to be available in the third quarter of this year.

SeaChange's ITV System, currently used by a number of cable operators around the world, is a software-based platform for storing digital programming for viewing. SeaChange says that the ITV System's open architecture supports the development of applications that also merge broadband and the Internet. SeaChanges's Bill Styslinger adds that "we're intent on ensuring the success of personal television, making it reliable and easy to use."

According to TV Guide's Todd Walker, "our goal is to provide a program-guide application that is open for integration with many varying functions desired by our partners. We are moving ahead with this integration because video-on-demand is an important business opportunity for our customers."