@hier noch einmal alles in guter englischer sprache und vor allem ein wenig ausführlicher als in deutsch.
das hört sich sehr,sehr gut an in meinen augen.und wieder ein mosaik-steinchen zur vollendung des glücks.
:::::OpenTV to Acquire Leading iTV Media and Entertainment Company, Static
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- June 13, 2001--OpenTV
Deal is Expected to be Accretive to OpenTV`s Pro-Forma Operating Profitability by Fourth Quarter 2001.
Static Will Provide OpenTV with Immediate Recurring Revenue Streams From its Interactive Television Entertainment and Games Channel, PlayJam.
PlayJam is the World`s Most Successful iTV Entertainment and Games Channel.
Static Provides an Award-Winning Broadcast Design Team and World-Class iTV Application Development Expertise Across Multiple Platforms.
OpenTV the world`s leading interactive television (iTV) and media solutions company, today announced that it has agreed to acquire London-based Static, a privately-held leading iTV media and entertainment company.
Static provides iTV application development expertise across multiple iTV platforms, broadcast design services for TV networks, and owns and operates the world`s most successful iTV entertainment and games channel, PlayJam.
Under the acquisition agreement, OpenTV will acquire all of Static`s privately-held stock in a combined stock and cash transaction. The transaction has a net value of approximately $59 million dollars. Approximately 14 percent of the gross deal value, all in ordinary shares, has been withheld subject to certain earn-out provisions.
In aggregate, Static shareholders will receive approximately 2.6 million shares of OpenTV`s Class A ordinary shares and approximately $17 million in cash.
The acquisition of Static will provide OpenTV with immediate recurring revenue streams through PlayJam. PlayJam currently reaches more than 9.0 million homes across digital television networks in Europe, including BSkyB, ntl, Telewest, TPS and Canal Satellite. PlayJam also currently runs on several iTV platforms, including those provided by OpenTV, Vivendi`s Canal Plus Technologies
, and Liberate
``I am very excited about this acquisition, as it demonstrates OpenTV`s commitment to move up the iTV value chain,`` said OpenTV Chief Executive Officer James Ackerman. ``With the acquisition of Static, OpenTV gains the world`s most successful interactive entertainment and games channel, immediate recurring revenue streams, an award-winning broadcast design team, and a world-class iTV application development team with proven multi-platform experience.
``The iTV games category has proven to be an early `killer app` in the interactive television arena. We expect to continue distributing PlayJam through multiple iTV platforms while leveraging PlayJam and Static`s iTV expertise through OpenTV`s experienced technology and sales teams.``
Jasper Smith, chief executive officer of Static, said: ``We are very excited to join the worldwide leader in the iTV industry. By combining with OpenTV, we believe our leading PlayJam iTV entertainment and games channel and our other product and service offerings will benefit greatly from OpenTV`s iTV experience and their market-leading global customer base. We look forward to becoming an integral part of OpenTV`s complete iTV solution.``
Static`s Product and Service Offerings
Highlights of Static`s PlayJam iTV entertainment and games offerings include the following:
To date, Static has developed and offered, via PlayJam, 55 iTV games across multiple iTV platforms.
Popular iTV games include arcade-style action games, trivia, word puzzles, and sports-based games of skill such as golf and darts. PlayJam is fun and rewards players through a variety of high-value prizes.
PlayJam generates recurring revenue streams via premium-rate telephone calls that allow players to store their game points in order to vie for prizes, through advertisements placed on the games and via branded game sponsorships.
PlayJam successfully attracts the 16 to 34 year-old TV viewing demographic coveted by advertisers. During an average week, PlayJam today reaches 12 percent of the 16 to 34 year-olds that access the Sky Service, compared with the reach achieved by MTV (23 percent), VH-1 (24 percent) and UK Gold (38 percent). (Source: Broadcasters Audience Research Board)
PlayJam not only attracts TV viewers in the lucrative 16 to 34 year-old bracket, but retains them as well. During the May 21 to June 10 time period, users spent on average 33 minutes per PlayJam session on the Sky Service, compared with MTV (25 minutes), VH-1 (22 minutes) and UK Gold (49 minutes). (Source: Broadcasters Audience Research Board)
Static also provides broadcast design services that assist TV networks in strengthening their brands. Broadcast design services clients include Channel Four, The Disney Channel, FilmFour, Star TV, Sky and Universal Studio Networks.
Other Highlights
Upon closing of the acquisition, Static will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of OpenTV. Static CEO Jasper Smith and Chief Creative Officer Mark Rock will continue to head Static. Static`s Executive Director Paul Bustin will be retained by OpenTV as a consultant.
This transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, is subject to certain closing conditions and is expected to close in early third quarter 2001.
A conference call for the investment community is scheduled to take place at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time on Thursday, June 14 and will be Web cast on the Investor Relations section of OpenTV`s Web site at <http://www.opentv.com>.
i wish all shareholders a pretty-good-day
börsenratte
