Rovi, FourthWall Media Link Up

8 Feb, 2010 By: Chris Tribbey

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Service providers that buy into Rovi Corp.’s interactive program guide will also have access to FourthWall Media’s TV widgets and targeted advertising platform, thanks to a Feb. 8 agreement between the two companies.

The agreement allows service providers using Rovi’s programming guide technology to offer interactive and targeted advertising to consumers, along with interactive television widgets and applications that will work on an array of digital set-top boxes. The widgets include eBay on TV, news, weather, sports and Yellow Pages on TV. Set-top boxes from Motorola, Cisco and Pace will be among the first to have FourthWall’s technology.

“[Rovi’s] program guide has changed the way consumers watch television,” said Tim Peters, FourthWall Media CEO. “Our integrated cross-platform solution will open the cable environment to further technology advancements. By working together, we can meet market needs to connect advertisers and programmers with their audiences.”

Nearly 43 million digital cable subscriber households, or 89% of all digital cable households, will use the technology FourthWall utilizes by the end of 2011, according to research firm SNL Kagan.

“Our collaboration with FourthWall enables service providers to deliver a more engaging and data-rich environment for the consumer that can be accessed through the program guide with the click of a remote control,” said Corey Ferengul, EVP of product management and marketing for Rovi.

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