TV Guide and Handmark Partner to Bring TV Entertainment to Handheld Devices

TV Guide Publishing Group, Inc. has signed a licensing deal with Handmark, Inc. to provide TV Guide-branded content to handheld devices, including daily local program listings and a movie database featuring cast, credits, and reviews for over 40,000 movies. The partnership aims to offer consumers innovative and top-notch products through their handheld devices.

Key Takeaways:

• The licensing deal will enable Handmark to develop packaged software for handheld devices, featuring TV Guide's daily local program listings and its "Cinebooks" online movie database.
• The content will be used in software developed by Handmark for use in games and other applications for Palm OS and Windows Mobile platforms.
• The TV Guide-branded software products will be available in the U.S. through retail chains such as Staples and Office Depot in the fall of 2004.
• Handmark products will also be sold through the TV Guide Store (shop.tvguide.com) and the Handmark online store (http://www.handmark.com/).
• TV Guide will provide Handmark with access to its inventory of crossword puzzles from its 50-year-old TV Guide Magazine.
• The partnership aims to offer consumers innovative and top-notch products, extending the TV Guide brand and reaching over 100 million entertainment enthusiasts.

Statistics:

• 100 million: The number of entertainment enthusiasts who will have access to Handmark products through the TV Guide Store (shop.tvguide.com).
• 40,000: The number of movies featured in the "Cinebooks" online movie database provided by TV Guide.
• 50 years: The age of TV Guide Magazine, which will provide Handmark with its inventory of crossword puzzles.
• 2004: The year in which the TV Guide-branded software products will be available in retail chains such as Staples and Office Depot.

Sources:

• PRNewswire
• TV Guide Publishing Group, Inc.
• Handmark, Inc.
• Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc.
• SloaneVision Unlimited, Inc.