Partnership Enables "future-proofing" of Digital Televisions and other
Data Distribution Services
SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass. and ARLINGTON, Va., May 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- UpdateLogic, Inc., the pioneer in solutions designed to update software
within digital television devices, and National Datacast, Inc., a
commercial subsidiary of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and the
leader in nationwide wireless datacasting, today announced they have
expanded their relationship to include technology development and licensing
arrangements which will enable them to pursue new products, services and
business opportunities.
UpdateLogic's innovative UpdateTV(TM) solution uses the National
Datacast network of PBS member digital television stations across the
United States to transparently, proactively, and cost-effectively deliver
and install software updates for digital television (DTV) and other DTV
devices, such as TVs and set-top boxes in consumer homes - reducing costs
for manufacturers and increasing the reliability of DTV devices while
improving customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. Key areas of the
expanded relationship include:
-- Mutual collaboration to further develop and enhance datacasting
technology for DTV devices and related services, applications and
markets during the eight-year partnership (extended from a previous
five-year term).
-- National Datacast's license to use UpdateLogic's technology to
enhance the capabilities of its nationwide databroadcasting network to
aggregate, manage, schedule and distribute content and services.
-- UpdateLogic's exclusive right to use National Datacast's
network to deliver various types of data, content, advertisements and
electronic information that are displayed or overlaid on digital
television sets (excluding digital signage and mobile/portable services
or devices) in addition to software updates to DTV devices.
-- National Datacast's right to use UpdateLogic's servers and
software to deliver more than just software updates - multimedia content
and information services to television sets and other DTV receivers
(computers, set-top boxes and mobile, portable and handheld devices),
including digital signage, various forms of entertainment (e.g. video on
demand), in-car services, homeland security/public safety, and corporate
training, just to name a few.
-- UpdateLogic's deployment of a United States-based network of
UpdateLogic servers and technology utilizing National Datacast's
nationwide network of stations - now enabled for immediate use.
-- National Datacast's ownership of a significant equity interest in
UpdateLogic.
"We are extremely pleased to enhance and extend our relationship with
National Datacast," said Patrick Sansonetti, interim chief executive
officer and vice president of business development. "This enhanced
partnership further solidifies our position in the DTV industry as the
reliable partner that device manufacturers turn to when they want to
quickly and cost-effectively update their installed base of digital
televisions. Just as importantly, the agreement positions our two companies
to more aggressively pursue new product and business opportunities."
"We are eager to leverage the power and sophistication of the
UpdateTV(TM) solution and UpdateLogic's technology and servers in other
areas of our business," said Jacqueline Weiss, chief executive officer of
National Datacast. "This relationship supports National Datacast's plan to
broaden our content aggregation, management, and distribution services
utilizing broadband, internet, mobile and other last-mile distribution
beyond broadcast. Through licensing and joint development, we believe our
companies can continue to create exciting innovations that exploit the many
opportunities that the DTV market offers."
Series C Financing Complete
Separately, UpdateLogic also announced that it has secured and closed a
Series C round of venture financing. Core Capital Partners, a $370 million
venture capital fund investing in disruptive, core technologies lead the
funding round. Proceeds from the round will be used to further develop
UpdateLogic's technology, extend the overall solution and pursue additional
market and customer opportunities.
About UpdateLogic
UpdateLogic provides a comprehensive solution for consumer electronics
manufacturers, such as Sony Electronics, to automatically distribute
software updates and other data to their digital devices. UpdateLogic's
premier technology called UpdateTV(TM) now shipping in Sony TVs, helps
manufacturers proactively protect the integrity, functionality, and
reliability of their DTV devices by transparently distributing patches
directly to devices with no intervention and at no cost to the consumer.
For more information visit: http://www.updatelogic.com.
About National Datacast
National Datacast, Inc., with twenty years of experience, is the leader
in nationwide wireless data broadcasting, delivering a variety of content
for various customers and applications. National Datacast provides
customized solutions for delivering entertainment, information, and other
digital content to homes and businesses across the United States. National
Datacast's network integrates the broadcast facilities and capacity of PBS
television stations enabling clients to reach all of their customers
instantaneously and simultaneously; locally, regionally and/or nationally;
with the same or different content and services; in real time or on a
scheduled basis. For more information visit: http://www.nationaldatacast.com.
SOURCE National Datacast, Inc.; UpdateLogic, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.nationaldatacast.com
http://www.pbs.org http://www.updatelogic.com
CONTACT:
Dede Santagate of UpdateLogic, Inc.,
+1-508-624-8688, dsantagate@updatelogic.com; or Kristin Schaad of
National Datacast, Inc., +1-703-739-1215, kmschaad@pbs.org
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