PBS AND WEBTV NETWORKS TEAM UP TO
DELIVER INTERNET CONTENT TO THE TELEVISION
PASADENA, Calif. - Jan. 15, 1997 - The Public Broadcasting Service
(PBS), recognizing the opportunity to provide World Wide Web users with
television and Internet content over the same platform, today announced
an alliance with WebTV Networks Inc., the developer of the WebTVA set-top
box and WebTV NetworkSM online service. The announcement
was made at the Television Critics Association winter press tour.
"Our goal is to cybercast fully integrated, extensive on-air programming
and PBS ONLINE Web content to a whole new population of Internet users,"
said Ervin S. Duggan, PBS president and CEO. "WebTV allows us to augment
PBS viewers' television experience with the in-depth, educational information
and entertainment available through PBS ONLINE."
Starting with its popular Web sites for kids, PBS will customize select
pages of PBS ONLINE(r) for WebTV subscribers that will launch from the
WebTV Kid-FriendlyA Home Page and feature a weekly PBS site. Parents and
children will be able to watch their favorite PBS television program, such
as ARTHUR, and immediately go to the ARTHUR Web site on their WebTV Network
service, then explore its educational activities over their TV.
WebTV Networks also will prominently display PBS ONLINE on its regular
WebTV Home Page, providing convenient access to the wide range of PBS ONLINE
offerings such as NOVA Online, the Online NewsHour and Frontline Online.
"PBS ONLINE is filled with interactive and compelling content
that is a natural for WebTV subscribers, " said Steve Perlman, co-founder,
president and CEO of WebTV Networks Inc. "WebTV's partnership with
PBS creates a rich, family-oriented experience that makes time online even
more rewarding."
PBS ONLINE includes areas devoted to education and public television
programming as well as a constantly changing set of hyperlinks to current
and upcoming PBS shows. The content is updated daily, with a main feature
story highlighting programming and special events, and a combination of
special features and regular departments offering active, event-oriented
experiences. More than 75 national public television programs have their
own areas on PBS ONLINE. A relaunched version of PBS ONLINE will debut
in late February 1997.
WebTV Networks is the developer of the WebTVA Reference Design and
WebTV Network online service that delivers the Internet through television.
The WebTV Network offers its subscribers three account options: unlimited
Web access, SurfWatchA filtering and Kid-FriendlyA, a pre-approved content
site for children featuring a customized Home Page. WebTV Internet Terminal
units are currently available through WebTV's licensees, Sony Electronics
Inc. and Philips Consumer Electronics Company, at consumer electronics
stores nationwide.
Founded in June 1995 by Steve Perlman, Bruce Leak and Phil Goldman,
WebTV Networks is dedicated to bringing high-quality, affordable Internet
access to television consumers through integrated, easy-to-use, standards-based
technologies and services. WebTV Networks is based in Palo Alto, Calif.
PBS is a private, nonprofit corporation owned and operated by the nation's
347 public television stations. A trusted community resource, public television
uses the power of noncommercial television to enrich the lives of all Americans
through quality programs and educational services that inform, inspire
and delight. Available to 99 percent of American households with televisions,
PBS is watched by more than 96 million people each week. Public television
is the number one resource for K-12 classroom programming in the country.
PBS's Adult Learning Service is the world's largest source of college-level
telecourses.
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WebTV and Kid-Friendly are trademarks and WebTV Network is a service
mark of WebTV Networks Inc.
SurfWatch is a trademark of Spyglass Inc.
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