OpenTV and Macromedia to Integrate Flash Player for Next-Generation ITV Applications

Leading interactive television company OpenTV and Macromedia, Inc.today announced an agreement to make the Macromedia Flash Playerimmediately available with OpenTV's HTML engine, Device Mosaic 5.0, andto integrate the Macromedia Flash Player with OpenTV's MiddlewareSolutions. The agreement opens the door for the more than 1 millionmembers of the Macromedia Flash developer community to create advancedinteractive content for OpenTV's technology. OpenTV's middleware isdeployed in more than 20 million set-top boxes worldwide, and DeviceMosaic is deployed in more than 7 million set-top boxes worldwide.

"OpenTV continues to drive the future of ITV by offering cable andsatellite operators the most advanced tools and technologies thatenable them to provide the latest, cutting-edge interactive features,"said Anup Murarka, OpenTV's vice president of strategic and productmarketing. "Macromedia Flash is one of the most prevalent rich-mediatechnologies. It enables set-top manufacturers, network operators, andcontent providers to deliver rich, compelling interactive content,services, and applications that we believe will raise the bar in termsof audience attention and profitability."

"Macromedia Flash is rapidly becoming the standard for deliveringcompelling content and powerful applications across a broad variety ofdevice platforms," said Peter Goldie, vice-president, Macromedia."Combining OpenTV's leading ITV platform and extensive worldwide reachwith more than 1 million Macromedia Flash developers worldwide willenable a new generation of content and applications for interactivetelevision."

OpenTV Middleware Solutions support a complete range of standardsincluding C, HTML, Java, and now Macromedia Flash. Macromedia Flashenables set-top manufacturers, operators and content developers todeliver a more advanced interactive TV experience to digital televisionviewers with animation, interactive games, t-commerce, and more.

About Macromedia
Macromedia is passionate about what the Web can be. Its award-winningproducts empower designers and developers to efficiently create anddeliver the most engaging experiences on the Web, and enable innovativeInternet business applications. Headquartered in San Francisco,Macromedia (www.macromedia.com)has more than 1,500 employees worldwide.

About OpenTV
OpenTV provides a broad range of interactive TV solutions includingoperating middleware, content applications, content-creation tools,professional support services, and strategic consulting. OpenTV'ssoftware operate on all-digital platforms, from thin to thick set-topboxes, including PVR systems, and supports a number of standardsincluding HTML, DOCSIS, MHP, and Java.

OpenTV's middleware is deployed in more than 20 million digitalset-top boxes worldwide and has been selected by 49 digital cable,satellite and terrestrial communications networks in more than 50countries. Thirty-six digital set-top box manufacturers have licensedOpenTV's software, and more than 1,300 content developers have joinedits Partner Program. Customers include BSkyB in the United Kingdom, TPSand Noos in France, NTL Cable in Switzerland and France, Via Digital inSpain, DirecTV Latin America LLC, Shanghai Cable in China, Austar inAustralia, and EchoStar's DISH Network and USA Media in the U.S. OpenTV(www.opentv.com) is based inMountain View, Calif.