LONDON, Oct. 22, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- NDS Group plc (Nasdaq:NNDS).
How would you like the chance to pick the programs you want to watch for a whole week by voting for your favorite show and then seeing it half an hour later? Nickelodeon has the answer, as during half term for one week from October 22, viewers can choose their viewing schedule via their remote control.
The number one kids entertainment destination will let its viewers vote interactively for the schedule, using an application developed by NDS Group plc (Nasdaq:NNDS) (Nasdaq Europe:NNDS), a News Corporation (NYSE:NWS) (NWS.A) company, and a leader in interactive applications development, as part of Nickelodeon's successful "Watch Your Own Week" event
-- Viewer interaction keeps viewers watching for longer and more
frequently.
-- Presenters encourage viewers to vote every half hour between 8am
and 8pm for one week from October 22, 2001.
-- Nickelodeon expects over a quarter of a million interactive votes
to be cast via NDS's Value@TV(TM) system.
Viewers are presented with three of their favorite programs every half-hour from 8am until 8pm and encouraged to choose between them by presenters. Votes cast using the interactive application, via the BSkyB platform, will determine what is shown next on the channel. Also, by submitting their telephone number, kids are entered in a competition to win one of the following prizes: Playstation 2, Sony personal recordable minidisc player or a Palm Pilot personal organizer.
Voting starts afresh with each new selection of programs and Nickelodeon viewers can choose to enter a prize draw after their choice is made. Cost warnings appear on-screen, while security systems ensure only one vote is possible per session.
Kids can also vote via the telephone and online at www.nick.co.uk. Nickelodeon anticipates that over a quarter of a million votes will be cast via the NDS Value@TV application during the half term special, in addition to those collected via telephone, internet and SMS. "NDS has worked closely with Nickelodeon, as with other customers, to ensure that their goals are met, if not exceeded," said Richard Cross, Vice President Interactive TV, NDS Group plc. "Recent applications developed by NDS have proved that broadcasters can increase viewer retention through interactive content, which, ultimately, leads to increased revenue."
Eddie McKendrick, Nickelodeon UK Director of Technologies, commented, "Nickelodeon chose NDS due to their ability to develop and deploy new applications rapidly. Kids are the ultimate early adopters of new technology and iTV provides a new means of connecting with them. Nickelodeon is the UK's number one entertainment destination for kids and has already pioneered interactive applications using SMS messaging and on-line promotions. Extending Watch Your Own Week to this new technology gives our viewers yet another way to tell us exactly what they want to see."
About NDS
NDS Group plc is a leading supplier of open conditional access software and interactive systems for the secure delivery of entertainment and information to television set-top boxes and personal computers. The company also develops secure datacasting solutions for the distribution of data and multimedia. See http://www.nds.com for more information.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon in the UK has established itself as the leading dedicated children's channel and is the fourth most watched cable and satellite channel overall. Nickelodeon UK is a joint venture between BSkyB and MTV Networks International Inc., and puts kids first in everything it does.
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
The statements contained in this release which are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to the plans, projections or future performance of NDS, which involve certain risks and uncertainties, including risk of market acceptance, the effect of economic conditions, possible regulatory changes, technological developments, the impact of competitive pricing and the ability of NDS and its commercial partners to develop systems and solutions which meet the needs of the broadcasting industry in a timely and cost-efficient manner, as well as certain other risks and uncertainties which are detailed in NDS' filings with the SEC. Company or product names have been used for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
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CONTACT: NDS Group plc, London
Margot Field
+44 (0)20 8476 8158
mfield@ndsuk.com
TSI Communications Worldwide
Giles Morgan/Gemma Craven
+44 (0)20 7898 3467/3310
gmorgan@tsicomm.com/
gcraven@tsicomm.com
Nickelodeon UK
Nick Southall, Communications Manager
+44 (0)20 7462 1011
nick.southall@nickelodeon.co.uk