DISH Network(TM) Announces TV Guide Channel's(R) New Interactive TV Functionality

[Jimmy Dean]

UPDATE CLICK HERE FOR A SCREEN SHOT!

DISH Network(TM) Announces TV Guide Channel's(R) New Interactive TV Functionality with Gemstar-TV Guide and Ensequence(R)

New ITV Service Provides Interactive Expert TV Recommendations While Facilitating Pay-Per-View Ordering and Digital Recording Services

EchoStar Communications Corporation and its DISH Network(TM) satellite TV service; Gemstar-TV Guide International , a leading media, entertainment and technology company; and Ensequence®, the interactive video company, today announced that a new ITV application from TV Guide Channel will be available on DISH Network in the second quarter of 2007. In addition, all TV Guide Channel programming on DISH Network will be full screen beginning May 2, 2007 on the new channel location 117.

TV Guide Channel's ITV application is an intuitive, easy-to-use application that will enable viewers to interact with expert recommendations from TV Guide while they watch the TV Guide Channel on DISH. The application will be one of two interactive applications offered by Gemstar-TV Guide that provide television viewers a dynamic capability, launched from a linear channel.

DISH Network subscribers can launch the TV Guide Channel ITV application by pressing "Select" on their remote while tuned to TV Guide Channel on DISH Network channel 117, or by selecting the application from under the Entertainment category on DishHOME channel 100. TV Guide Channel's ITV application provides expert recommendations for what to watch in up to 10 different categories at a time. In addition, DISH Network customers can set program reminders, schedule digital video recordings, upgrade their DISH Network package and order pay-per-view programming.

"We are excited to offer our subscribers an added dimension to our ITV platform on the robust, user-friendly TV Guide Channel, powered by Ensequence," stated Michael Kelly, executive vice president of Commercial and Business Services for EchoStar.

"As the market leaders of interactive TV applications, DISH Network and Ensequence are the perfect partners to launch TV Guide Channel's new interactive capabilities," said Ryan O'Hara, president of TV Guide Channel, SPOT and Broadband. "TV Guide Channel will create a meaningful interactive TV experience for DISH Network customers because it will simplify and personalize TV viewing choices. The development of TV Guide Channel's ITV application is just one example of how TV Guide continues to evolve the brand by providing new products and services that innovate and add value to the consumer."

Expert editorial recommendations provided by TV Guide will be updated frequently and will offer viewers genre-based TV listings to simplify program selection. TV listings and show recommendations are the foundation of TV Guide, offering viewers an unparalleled service to help navigate today's multi-channel environment.

TV Guide Channel's ITV application was developed in partnership with Ensequence, which worked with TV Guide Channel to design the experience and interactive television functionality to give viewers maximum value from the listings service. The Ensequence professional services group developed the TV Guide Channel application using the on-Q® Create suite.

"TV Guide Channel's vision of an advanced interactive channel was a perfect match with our market-leading interactive video technology," said Dalen Harrison, chief executive officer of Ensequence. "TV Guide Channel is taking interactive TV experiences to a new level, and this application is a leading example of the future of enhanced interactive channels in the United States."

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070425/20070425005518.html?.v=1

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Now we know why them moved it. Also looks like they are going to get rid of the scrolling guide and just show the full screen TV Guide channel video.

 

[VinceT3]

Well that makes more sense.. who seriously watches that channel when you have a full guide built in?

 

[cummingsje]

So in essence the interactive portion will be an enhanced "guide" within the E* guide???

 

[UpAllNight]

"We are excited to offer our subscribers an added dimension to our ITV platform on the robust, user-friendly TV Guide Channel, powered by Ensequence," stated Michael Kelly, executive vice president of Commercial and Business Services for EchoStar.

Really? Honestly? I could undestand 'pleased', 'looking forward to', 'happy', but 'excited'? Wow! ...losing MLBEI must of really left them feeling rather down, allowing something so sublime as this to make them ...'excited'.

People should be flocking to Dish now, or at least holding off from canceling due to the MLB loss. I mean, how could this 'not' balance the scales? MLB, ad laden TV guide channel... seems reasonable. Can't wait, because afterall, I'm so excited!

 

[skyviewmark]

Coming Soon???

In my opinion the other coming soon, the local on the 8's should have had more priority than a tv guide channel.. But I am just a lowly customer. My guess is that the tvguide channel must mean money in someone's pocket. But then again, it's not actually there yet either.

 

[Jeffro34tx]

I would have been "excited" if it was interactive from tv guide's website to allow creating timers to dish dvr's

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Well folks this is what TV Guide Interactive will look like.

 

[retiredTech]

More "software changes" to screw up my receiver....
I really don't want this crap.

 

[mlb]

What happened to dude's grey spot in his hair?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

What happened to dude's grey spot in his hair?

Maybe he used Just for Men.

I am going to need some of that soon, that is if I have any hair left.

 

[tawhite]

Well, quit pulling it out!

 

[ptuck874]

Well folks this is what TV Guide Interactive will look like.

thanks for freaking me out on that one scott, a little heads up before you do the demon screaming trick on the pc ok

 

[MrBlueSky]

Has anybody had this problem with this channel:

I recorded the Spider-Man Premiere show tonight (5/30). All during the show the interactive symbol kept popping up at the top of the screen. No matter how many times I hit cancel, it kept coming back. If I did hit select, the TV Guide Interactive channel came up, whenever I exited the program, my remote would stop working (couldn't change channels, stop the DVR program, etc.) I had to turn the receiver (model 508) off before I could get the remote control back. I called Dish, but they were clueless. I'd recorded another program last week and didn't have this problem. What gives?