Wink Technology to be Applied to Network Programming and Advertising
Beginning in Early Summer 1999
ALAMEDA, Calif., April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Wink Communications announced
today an agreement with ABC Inc., an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney
Company, to add Wink technology to ABC Television Network programming.
Beginning in May, the ABC Television Network will broadcast Wink interactive
program enhancements that work directly on cable and satellite set-top boxes
and select TV sets being distributed throughout the U.S.
Wink technology allows networks, producers and advertisers to enhance TV
with interactive overlays, which provide additional information and appear as
small text and graphics at the bottom of the TV screen. These enhancements
will appear on the ABC Television Network, which reaches more unduplicated
viewers than any other network. In licensing Wink technology, ABC will have
the capability to apply Wink's TV-based e-commerce capabilities to 30-second
commercials aired on the network as well as the marketing of merchandise. The
ABC Television Network joins other Disney properties already airing Wink
Enhanced programming which include ESPN and ESPN2.
Maggie Wilderotter, President and CEO of Wink Communications commented,
"Today's agreement with ABC is an extremely important milestone for Wink.
Each hour of Enhanced Broadcasting aired by ABC adds significant value to the
TV viewers' experience. With ABC's terrific programs, Wink will be a valuable
tool to attract viewers."
In commenting on the announcement, Patricia Fili-Krushel, president, ABC
Television Network, said, "Wink will help us to strengthen a connection with
our audience by enhancing the viewing experience. It also allows our
advertisers and sponsors to do the same."
Kevin Mayer, senior vice president, Broadband and Enhanced Television
Services, Buena Vista Internet Group, said "The Walt Disney Company has made a
strategic decision to get involved with the convergence of traditional
broadcast programming and new media. We feel that Wink's system offers
interesting creative and business opportunities and complements our Internet
efforts."
Wink provides a complete system for interactive television by producing
the software and tools to create and deliver interactive television and the
software necessary to collect and route viewer transactions. Wink's software
resides inside television sets, cable and satellite receiver boxes, and is
activated with a standard remote control. Wink differs from Internet-TV as it
enhances and is broadcast with existing shows and commercials, requires no
network infrastructure upgrades or additional hardware in the home, and is a
free service to viewers. Major cable, television and satellite providers have
agreements in place to offer Wink to viewers.
About Wink Communications, Inc.
Wink Communications is the originator of Wink Enhanced Broadcasting(TM)
and Wink Smart Commercials(TM). Wink provides the products to create
interactive TV content and the services for collecting viewer responses.
Through Winks' association with leading television, cable and satellite
providers, the Wink technology is being used for mass market interactive
television and TV-based e-commerce.
Many industry leaders have licensed the Wink technology, including: Time
Warner Cable, TCI, Comcast, Cox and Charter Communications; DIRECTV; General
Instrument, Scientific-Atlanta, Pioneer and Toshiba; CNN, TBS, ESPN, NBC, and
The Weather Channel; Procter and Gamble, Charles Schwab, AT&T and General
Electric. A complete list of industry leaders who have adopted the Wink
technology is available at http://www.wink.com.
Wink Enhanced Broadcasting has been available in Japan since October 1996
and in the United Stated on a Charter-owned InterMedia Partners cable system
since June 1998. Additional information regarding Wink Communications can be
obtained at http://www.wink.com. color images of Wink Enhanced Broadcasting
and Wink Smart Commercials are available by contacting Michael Baehr at
510-337-6315.
About Buena Vista Internet Group
Formed in 1997, Disney's Buena Vista Internet Group oversees Web sites
that include ABC.com, the No. 1 network Web site; Disney.com, the top-ranking
kids', family, and entertainment site, ABCNEWS.com, the fastest growing news
site and ESPN.com, the leader in online sports. Each site is part of the GO
Network (http://www.go.com) , a major Internet portal developed in partnership with
Infoseek Corporation of Sunnyvale, California.
SOURCE Wink Communications
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Related links:
http://www.wink.com
CONTACT:
Michael Baehr, Wink Communications,
510-337-6315, or michael.baehr@wink.com; or Ed Dandridge, ABC
Television Network, 212-456-7800
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