Cable Technology Feature Article
March 02, 2010
Rovi Announces Expanded Data and Patent License Agreement with Comcast
By Anil Sharma, TMCnet Contributor
Rovi Corporation has expanded data and patent license agreement with Comcast, a provider of entertainment, information and communication products and services.
Officials with Rovi said that the company has expanded relationship with Comcast (News - Alert) to include the company’s enhanced entertainment products as well as an expanded license under Rovi's patents across mobile, online, and other Comcast distribution platforms.
Besides this, the company officials said that Rovi has exited its GuideWorks joint venture with Comcast and Comcast has become sole owner of GuideWorks.
GuideWorks was formed in 2004 as a collaborative effort by the two companies to further develop an interactive program guide solution, now distributed by Rovi under its i-Guide brand.
'We are excited to expand our relationship with Comcast and delighted to be providing them our entertainment metadata across Comcast's properties. We look forward to working with Comcast in improving the overall consumer experience,' said Fred Amoroso, president and CEO, Rovi, in a statement.
'Additionally, as we assessed our options, we realized that much has changed in the market since the formation of GuideWorks and as a result, we believe that now is an appropriate time to exit the venture, and realign our portfolio and investments towards solutions we have direct control over and can use across a broad set of platforms and markets,' said Amoroso.
Rovi Corporation is focused on revolutionizing the digital entertainment landscape by delivering solutions that enable consumers to intuitively connect to new entertainment from many sources and locations.
The company also provides extensive entertainment discovery solutions for television, movies, music and photos to its customers in the consumer electronics, cable and satellite, entertainment and online distribution markets.
Back in February Rovi Corporation and STRONG, a provider of set-top boxes in Europe, had announced that they have entered into a license agreement for interactive program guide (IPG) patents owned by Rovi.
The agreement provides STRONG with a license to Rovi’s IPG patents for STRONG branded set-top boxes sold at retail throughout Europe.
Officials with Rovi said that the company has expanded relationship with Comcast (News - Alert) to include the company’s enhanced entertainment products as well as an expanded license under Rovi's patents across mobile, online, and other Comcast distribution platforms.
Besides this, the company officials said that Rovi has exited its GuideWorks joint venture with Comcast and Comcast has become sole owner of GuideWorks.
GuideWorks was formed in 2004 as a collaborative effort by the two companies to further develop an interactive program guide solution, now distributed by Rovi under its i-Guide brand.
'We are excited to expand our relationship with Comcast and delighted to be providing them our entertainment metadata across Comcast's properties. We look forward to working with Comcast in improving the overall consumer experience,' said Fred Amoroso, president and CEO, Rovi, in a statement.
'Additionally, as we assessed our options, we realized that much has changed in the market since the formation of GuideWorks and as a result, we believe that now is an appropriate time to exit the venture, and realign our portfolio and investments towards solutions we have direct control over and can use across a broad set of platforms and markets,' said Amoroso.
Rovi Corporation is focused on revolutionizing the digital entertainment landscape by delivering solutions that enable consumers to intuitively connect to new entertainment from many sources and locations.
The company also provides extensive entertainment discovery solutions for television, movies, music and photos to its customers in the consumer electronics, cable and satellite, entertainment and online distribution markets.
Back in February Rovi Corporation and STRONG, a provider of set-top boxes in Europe, had announced that they have entered into a license agreement for interactive program guide (IPG) patents owned by Rovi.
The agreement provides STRONG with a license to Rovi’s IPG patents for STRONG branded set-top boxes sold at retail throughout Europe.
Anil Sharma is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Anil’s articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Patrick Barnard
