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StarSight Telecast and Microsoft Form Strategic Alliance

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

StarSight Telecast, Inc. and Microsoft Corporation have signed a final agreement to cross-license technologies, marking a significant milestone in the development of interactive electronic program guides. The partnership, which follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed in August 1996, has Microsoft paying StarSight Telecast $20 million for a non-exclusive, worldwide license for certain StarSight Telecast intellectual property. This deal provides Microsoft with enabling technology for future software products and services for PC and Windows CE-based platforms.

Key Takeaways:

  • The agreement between StarSight Telecast and Microsoft marks a significant partnership in the development of interactive electronic program guides.
  • Microsoft has paid $20 million for a non-exclusive, worldwide license for certain StarSight Telecast intellectual property related to electronic program guides.
  • The partnership grants Microsoft access to enabling technology for future software products and services for PC and Windows CE-based platforms.
  • This deal is a perfect match-up for StarSight Telecast's recent expansion into new data categories such as URL linking and NEWS Services, according to Chairman and CEO Larry W. Wangberg.
  • StarSight Telecast, Inc. is a publicly held company backed by strategic partners Viacom Inc., THOMSON multimedia S.A., Cox Communications, Inc., Tribune Company, Providence Journal Company, and Time Warner, Inc.
  • The company's stock is traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol SGHT.

Statistics:

  • Microsoft paid $20 million for a non-exclusive, worldwide license for certain StarSight Telecast intellectual property related to electronic program guides.
  • The partnership grants Microsoft access to enabling technology for future software products and services for PC and Windows CE-based platforms.
  • StarSight Telecast's stock is traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol SGHT.

Sources:

  • StarSight Telecast, Inc. Via Business Wire (Dec. 23, 1996)
  • MicroSoft Corporation Via Business Wire (Dec. 23, 1996)
  • StarSight Telecast, Inc. SEC reports, including form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 1995 and form 10Q for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 1996

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