PBS Creates TiVo Showcase to Build Audience for New, Existing Programs Through "Opt-in" Promotional Content
ALEXANDRIA, VA - March 4, 2003 - The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and TiVo today announced the second phase of an alliance in which three high-profile PBS primetime programs will be promoted through TiVo Showcases to TiVo subscribers across the country in the coming months. This effort builds on the successful initial collaboration in the fall of 2002, in which the two companies collaborated to promote PBS's "We Remember" programming tribute to the 9/11 terrorism tragedy.
"We want audiences to have access to PBS content on their time and their schedule," said Cindy Johanson, senior vice president, PBS Interactive Learning. "In putting together these new TiVo Showcases -- for three varied and exciting programs coming to PBS -- we look forward to working with the leading DVR platform provider to learn how to most effectively reach viewers and provide on-demand convenience of watching PBS programs made available by local public television stations."
Over the course of the next 6 months, TiVo will spotlight three PBS programs, providing TiVo users the ability to preview special highlights and set the DVR to record programming for viewing at their convenience.
The featured programs are:
1) MANOR HOUSE -- TiVo subscribers will be able to learn more about this new six-part series on PBS by viewing program trailers in advance of the series premiere. MANOR HOUSE is part of PBS' "hands-on history" programming, which documents the experiences of real-life, modern people living in the grand and grueling class system of Edwardian Britain. MANOR HOUSE airs April 28-30.
2) HISTORY DETECTIVES -- TiVo subscribers will not only be able to check out highlights from this new PBS primetime series, but will also receive unique behind-the-scenes video as a team of world-renowned architects, antiquarians and historians use the latest investigative technology to make amazing discoveries about the homes, possessions and family histories of everyday Americans. Coming to local PBS stations in July.
3) NOVA -- TiVo and PBS will provide viewers frequent opportunities to record weekly episodes of NOVA, the most watched science television series in the world and the most watched documentary series on PBS. NOVA airs weekly on most PBS stations.
PBS and TiVo will analyze the monthly results of these campaigns to determine their success in acquiring and retaining existing viewers. PBS has a commitment to expand programming offerings to consumers through on-demand platforms like TiVo.
In addition to featuring the three showcases, TiVo will work with PBS to help refine its program guide information and descriptions to better enable TiVo users to search for programs. TiVo will also help PBS ascertain the best ways emerging DVR applications can support public television programming.
"We're proud to invite TiVo subscribers to enjoy the educational and entertaining programming offered on PBS," said Brodie Keast, SVP and General Manager of the TiVo Service. "With a click of their remote, a TiVo subscriber can see compelling video promotions and then choose to select a Season Pass, automatically scheduling the recording of an entire season of PBS programming."
The TiVo announcement augments PBS's ongoing digital programming strategy to work with major new media services to ensure public television's valued educational content is accessible to viewers in the multiple ways they want to experience PBS.
TiVo Showcases allow brand marketers to engage consumers in a deeper dialogue through long form entertainment content. TiVo Showcases offer a new creative palette for developing branded entertainment. There are no time limit barriers and no schedule limitations like prime time or daytime. And because TiVo Showcases are stored on the hard drive just like television programming, viewers can access the branded entertainment when it fits their schedule.
About PBS
PBS, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, is a private, nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation's 350 public television stations. Serving nearly 100 million people each week, PBS enriches the lives of all Americans through quality programs and education services on noncommercial television, the Internet and other media. More information about PBS is available at pbs.org, the leading dot-org Web site on the Internet.
About TiVo
Founded in 1997 with the mission to dramatically improve consumers' television viewing experiences, TiVo (NASDAQ: TIVO) is the creator and leader in television services for digital video recorders (DVR). TiVo's leadership has defined and inspired the entire category, earning the company patents for pioneering inventions associated with DVR software and hardware design. TiVo was the first to deliver on the promise of consumer choice and control over TV viewing, building a loyal and passionate subscriber base with over 97% of customers surveyed recommending TiVo to a friend. This enthusiasm has contributed to overwhelming growth over the past year, and the total subscriber base exceeds 510,000. TiVo is headquartered in San Jose, CA. Additional information can be found at www.tivo.com.
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Contact:
Kevin Dando, PBS
703-739-5073
Rebecca Baer, TiVo Inc.
408-519-9225