Rovi G-Guide HTML enables VOD discovery for J:COM

Rovi’s G-Guide HTML Enables Seamless VOD Discovery for J:COM

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Rovi Corporation (NASDAQ: ROVI) today announced that Japan’s largest cable television operator, Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd. (J:COM), selected Rovi’s G-Guide HTML to power seamless entertainment discovery across live TV programming and video-on-demand (VOD) content. J:COM plans to launch its service for the Smart J:COM Box set-top box (STB) this month in select geographies. Rovi will extend its current support for real-time TV programs on J:COM’s STBs to also enable search and recommendations on the provider’s VOD catalogs. J:COM is the first cable operator in Japan to adopt G-Guide on an STB to enable discovery capabilities across live TV and VOD programs, including rich metadata information for catch-up TV.

VOD Link, a new feature on G-Guide HTML, enables users of the Smart J:COM Box to simultaneously find VOD and live TV programming, significantly improving the user’s entertainment discovery experience. For example, when a viewer wants to find content starring their favorite celebrity, VOD and TV program titles will be conveniently listed without the need to leave the TV listing grid or switch to a separate VOD menu. The viewer can then play TV programming and select VOD content directly, as well as additional premium VOD content once it has been purchased, streamlining the entertainment discovery experience. Rich metadata including images and detailed program information is available for listed VOD contents. This enables the subscriber to use keywords to search scheduled TV programs, catch-up TV and VOD programs, as well as find content that fits their interests. VOD Link also includes a calendar and channel views, providing the viewer with an alternate way to easily find catch-up TV.

“We’re excited to extend Rovi’s G-Guide HTML on our Smart J:COM Box to enable customers to easily and seamlessly find live or on-demand content that is the most meaningful to them,” said Masaaki Agaya, general manager, service planning division, J:COM. “Our customers are pleased with the streamlined user interface, design and advanced discovery capabilities offered by the G-Guide and will enjoy utilizing these features for VOD contents.”

“As the number one cable operator in Japan, our expansion with J:COM reinforces the value service providers place on delivering the most favored content to their subscriber base,” said Chong-ho Choi, senior vice president of sales for Asia Pacific, Rovi. “Entertainment discovery is shaping the new era of entertainment consumption. With our industry-leading interactive program guides, we are well-positioned to continue deploying solutions that create innovative and personalized content discovery experiences for users around the globe.”

Rovi’s G-Guide HTML features advanced discovery capabilities such as rich metadata, search functionality, and a browser-based interface to help drive a robust consumer entertainment experience across J:COM’s set-top boxes. The G-Guide HTML also boasts a sleek TV listing grid designed to showcase rich images including cast photos, as well as Rovi’s “six-degrees” discovery capability, to help consumers quickly find relevant content that interests them.