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TiVo Launches Video Download Trial With IFC
IFC to Make Its First-Ever Scripted Series Available for Download by TiVo(R)
Series2 Subscribers
ALVISO, Calif., Aug. 15 -- TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq:
TIVO), the creator of and a leader in television services for digital video
recorders (DVR), announced today the launch of a video download trial in
conjunction with Independent Film Channel (IFC), enabling select TiVo
subscribers to download IFC programming over broadband to their TiVo
Series2(TM) DVR. The only television services provider for DVRs to seamlessly
integrate broadband video downloads and telecast content, TiVo is using this
new functionality to begin a series of broadband features that will be
deployed to TiVo Series2 users beginning this fall.
The availability of the IFC programming will be promoted to trial
participants through a TiVo Showcase. Once a TiVo subscriber chooses to
receive the IFC programming, the shows are downloaded via a broadband
connection. During the trial, IFC will make its first-ever scripted series,
"Hopeless Pictures", "Greg The Bunny", and "The Festival" -- which will
premiere August 19 -- available for download by TiVo subscribers in advance of
their network telecast premiere. In addition to offering the full episodes of
each series, IFC will package exclusive content, including outtakes and other
unaired footage, for TiVo subscribers.
Brodie Keast, executive vice president and general manager of TiVo's
consumer division, said "The future of television will include an explosion of
consumer choice, including programming options from both traditional broadcast
and broadband internet channels and sources. TiVo intends to help consumers
sort through this complexity, making it easy and fun to find what they want,
so they can watch it when and where they want. We're thrilled to work with
innovators like IFC to deliver exclusive programming to our subscribers."
Evan Shapiro, executive vice president/general manager of IFC, said the
agreement represents an opportunity for IFC to significantly expand its
audience reach. "The key element of this trial for us is that it will enable
consumers who do not typically have access to IFC to download our three new
original series over broadband," Shapiro said. "This will help introduce our
programming to an entirely new audience, which we expect will help accelerate
our already strong 'traditional' distribution growth by fueling consumer
demand for our network. Always looking to innovate and find new ways to
deliver our Uncut programming to a broader audience, we are excited about the
opportunity to participate with TiVo on this trial of their breakthrough
technology."
During the trial, there will also be a sweepstakes on ifctv.com in which
visitors to the site can enter a drawing to win a TiVo Series2 DVR with
product lifetime service subscription.** One winner will be randomly selected
each month from August through October. In addition, IFC will be promoting
the sweepstakes and the availability of IFC programming via download on TiVo
DVRs in spots airing on IFC from August through October.
"Hopeless Pictures" is written, directed and produced by Bob Balaban with
a cast that includes Michael McKean, Jennifer Coolidge, Martin Mull, Balaban
and Jonathan Katz, and cameos by: Lisa Kudrow, John Michael Higgins, Isaac
Mizrahi, Jerry Stiller, Paul Dooley, Paul Reubens (aka Pee Wee Herman), Nora
Ephron, Anne Meara, Paul Weitz and Rob Reiner. In this wicked animated
comedy, Mel Wax (McKean) is the head of a dysfunctional Hollywood indie movie
studio, Hopeless Pictures, so named after his deceased parents, Hope and Les.
Wax struggles to reign in out-of-control, pill-popping Swedish directors and
egomaniacal stars, while coping with a vengeful soon-to-be ex-wife (Kudrow),
assorted affairs, his idiot nephew/head of production (Balaban), a hostile
takeover and an inept psychiatrist, Dr. Stein (Katz). Coolidge plays Hopeless
Pictures' head of development, Tracy, as well as actress Nina Boroslova.
"Greg the Bunny" spotlights Greg the Bunny and Warren the Ape as they
rebound from the cancellation of their FOX sitcom after just 13 episodes. As
they deal with concerns such as overdue rent and funding Warren's drinking
habit, they return to where it all began: making film parodies for IFC. From
1999-2000, IFC ran "The Greg the Bunny Hosts," in which Greg and his puppet
posse hosted interstitial parodies for Tuesday Night films.
"The Festival" is an ensemble comedy told from the perspective of Cookie,
a documentarian hired by IFC. Cookie's subject is Rufus Marquez, a quixotic
young director embarking on his virgin voyage to the prestigious Mountain
United Film Festival (MUFF) in Sutton. The film is The Unreasonable Truth of
Butterflies. The goal is a distribution deal. And the pressure is on. As
Rufus attempts to keep afloat in a sea of cell phones and self-importance,
disaster deals him a knockout blow ... and another ... and another.
Limelight Networks, Inc is providing content delivery network services for
the trial.
About TiVo Inc.
Founded in 1997, TiVo (Nasdaq: TIVO), a pioneer in home entertainment,
created a brand new category of products with the development of the first
digital video recorder (DVR). Today, the company continues to revolutionize
the way consumers watch and access home entertainment by making TiVo the focal
point of the digital living room, a center for sharing and experiencing
television, music, photos and other content. TiVo connects consumers to the
digital entertainment they want, where and when they want it. The company is
based in Alviso, Calif.
About IFC
The Independent Film Channel is a part of IFC Companies, which has
established itself as the future of independent film. With the television
network, as well as a film distribution and production unit and a VOD service,
IFC Companies has created over the course of the past decade a revolutionary
end-to-end business model and brand that focuses on developing and nurturing
talent and maximizing the value of independent film. IFC Companies uses its
unique cross-platform position to broaden the audience of independent film and
to provide independent filmmakers with a strong voice. IFC Companies is a
division of Rainbow Media Holdings, LLC.
** No Purchase necessary to enter or win. Go to http://www.tivo.com/ifctv
for more information. Sweepstakes subject to complete Official Rules.
Sweepstakes begins August 17, 2005 ends on October 31, 2005. For a copy of
Official Rules, go to http://www.tivo.com/ifctv or send a self-addressed,
stamped envelope (WA and VT residents need not affix return postage) to: The
TiVo and IFC "Never Miss Your Favorite IFCTV Shows Sweepstakes" Official
Rules, PO BOX 2160, Alviso, CA 95002. Void where prohibited by law. Open to
residents of the continental United States, who are 18 years of age or older
at the time of entry.
SOURCE TiVo Inc.
Web Site: http://www.tivo.com http://www.tivo.com/ifctv
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