Press Release: MetaTV
June 12, 2001
CHICAGO, IL -- MetaTV, a global provider of software technology that enables interactive TV (iTV) portals, services,
and enhanced TV applications, and Worldspan, a leading global reservation system and e-commerce provider for the
travel industry, today announced an agreement to create travel applications engineered specifically for interactive
TV. With these new interactive TV travel solutions, cable and satellite operators will be able to offer a complete
set of travel planning capabilities via television, including booking flights, hotels, rental cars, tours and complete
travel itineraries. Worldspan has selected MetaTV's enabling iTV technology and professional services to design,
develop, deploy and host the first-of-their-kind interactive travel applications.
The announcement was made at Cable 2001, the annual convention of the National Cable Television Association (NCTA),
being held June 10-13 at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. Demonstrations of interactive travel planning
and other MetaTV technology will be available at MetaTV's booth # 4317 and Worldspan's booth # 3717 throughout
the event.
Under the terms of the agreement, Worldspan will utilize the MetaTV Universal Portal(TM) Platform to develop its
interactive TV travel applications. MetaTV will map Worldspan's content into TV-centric designs that create a compelling
interactive travel experience for cable and satellite subscribers. The content can then be easily deployed to cable
and satellite operator portals that run across all major interactive TV middleware platforms. In addition, Worldspan
will employ MetaTV's hosting facilities for a completely managed solution, allowing Worldspan to extend its brand
through interactive TV while focusing on its core customers.
As the global leader in travel e-commerce, Worldspan is uniquely positioned to add value for network operators
and their subscribers through the distribution of travel information and services via interactive TV. Travel is
already the leading source of e-commerce transactions on the Web, and analysts project Internet travel bookings
will escalate quickly in the next few years, from about $15 billion in 2000 to more than $40 billion in 2003. Worldspan's
global travel database is linked to the world's leading travel suppliers -- including more than 500 airlines, 44,000
hotel properties and 16,000 car rental locations -- to offer e-commerce, wireless Internet and now interactive
TV providers the most comprehensive travel information and booking solutions available.
``Travel represents a huge market for interactive television, and we are pleased to be working with Worldspan --
the market leader and a recognized innovator in travel e-commerce -- on this exciting new interactive TV travel
application,'' said Andrew Lev, president and CEO of MetaTV. ``We look forward to leveraging Worldspan's leadership
position to roll out a complete package of services and technology that will enable TV viewers to easily make travel
arrangements.''
``We are delighted to partner with MetaTV in this new venture,'' commented Sue Powers, senior vice president and
general manager -- Worldwide E-Commerce for Worldspan. ``MetaTV has demonstrated that they can rapidly provide
quality iTV services and technology that will appeal to our customers. This high level of responsiveness, along
with the unsurpassed scalability and flexibility of the MetaTV platform, will enable Worldspan to deliver complete,
fast time-to-market travel solutions for the iTV space.''
MetaTV's cross-platform interactive TV technology combined with Worldspan's comprehensive database of travel content
will provide network operators with the assurance that even complex applications such as travel planning and booking
can be handled via interactive television. The new travel application will give viewers information on demand by
accessing up-to-the-minute travel rates and other data.
About MetaTV
MetaTV is a global software technology provider of interactive TV (iTV) portals, services, and enhanced TV applications
that enable television viewers to engage in content, community, and commerce. The Company's technology, products,
and strategic professional services are designed to enable network operators, eBusinesses, advertisers, and TV
programmers to bring custom-branded, compelling iTV services to consumers. The MetaTV Universal Portal Platform
features broadband e-commerce, syndication, advertising, personalization, and content management solutions that
exploit the benefits of all major iTV set-top box application platforms. The result is an innovative way to rapidly
bring to market new forms of interactivity and revenue-generating TV services. Headquartered in Sausalito, California,
MetaTV can be reached on the web at www.metatv.com.
About Worldspan
Worldspan provides global electronic distribution of travel information, Internet products and connectivity, and
electronic commerce capabilities for travel agencies, travel service providers and corporations worldwide. The
company's three lines of business are travel supplier services, e-commerce, and global distribution systems for
the worldwide travel industry. The Worldspan reservations system provides nearly 21,000 travel agencies and other
users worldwide with travel data and booking capabilities for hundreds of the world's leading travel supplier services.
Worldspan is the market leader in e-commerce for the travel industry, processing more than 50 percent of all online
travel bookings. The company maintains world headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Worldspan is owned by affiliates
of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE: DAL), Northwest Airlines (Nasdaq: NWAC) and TWA Airlines LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary
of American Airlines, Inc. Additional information is available at www.worldspan.com.
SOURCE: MetaTV