Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment Debuts GoPlayTV™
New Interactive TV Games Channel for UK Digital Satellite Introduced With Versions of Wheel of Fortune and JEOPARDY!
PRNewswire
CULVER CITY, Calif.
09/30/2002
Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment has launched GoPlayTV, a service offering digital satellite viewers in the United Kingdom interactive versions of Sony Pictures' globally recognized Wheel of Fortune and JEOPARDY! games. Although the service launched without any heavy promotion, it has nevertheless already resonated with satellite users during its pre-marketing period. GoPlayTV is available with any Sky Digital remote control.
"GoPlayTV is the latest example of Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment's mission to deliver premium content to consumers across all networked platforms," said Yair Landau, President of SPDE. "This is SPDE's most significant foray into Europe where interactivity via set top boxes is well ahead of the United States."
The service launches with Wheel of Fortune and JEOPARDY!, with additional games to be added later, from both Sony Pictures' deep content library as well as third party content partners. Wheel of Fortune was on the air in the UK for years, and the show continues to be the number one syndicated program in the U.S. where the format was born over 20 years ago. With GoPlayTV, users at home can spin the wheel, guess the letters, and solve the puzzles, all using their Sky Digital remote control. JEOPARDY! is also a global phenomenon, having been locally produced in numerous countries around the world, including the UK. With GoPlayTV, JEOPARDY! players can test their mental prowess by guessing the correct question that goes with a given answer and choosing from a variety of categories and point levels. GoPlayTV features include winners lists, near real-time top scores lists and always-fresh content. The service also gives players the opportunity to win daily, weekly and monthly prizes from Sony and other leading companies.
GoPlayTV can be accessed day or night by pressing the Interactive button on any Sky Digital remote control. Once inside the service, users can choose any one of three play options for each game format:
-- "Free Play" is available free of charge to all users and is great for
first-timers as well as experienced players who are looking to sharpen
their skills.
-- "Fun Play" costs 50 pence and offers one full game session with unique
puzzles and questions every time.
-- "Match Play" costs 1.00 pound sterling and offers users two full game
sessions, plus the opportunity to register with GoPlayTV, submit
scores, enter prize competitions and secure a spot on the top scores
list.
"We set up SPDE's London operation not only to establish a European presence for our global initiatives, but also to focus on new businesses that are uniquely relevant to this market," said Ron Geller, Senior Vice President of SPDE Europe. "The UK is the world leader in interactive television, and GoPlayTV was conceived, designed and developed as a British service from the very beginning."
Working with key partners on the underlying technology and visual design, SPDE plans to expand GoPlayTV to other platforms and territories following the rollout on UK digital satellite. Application development, hosting and return path are provided by GOiNTERACTtv. The visual design of the service was created by amassmedia.
"GoPlayTV is a new and exciting interactive games channel which delivers features that audiences have not seen before in this arena," said Mathieu Fussman, Director of Interactive Television for SPDE Europe. "The combination of compelling game play, flexible payment options, a deep supply of content, a large prize pool and continually updated top scores lists come together to create a rich experience and great value for consumers every time."
The GoPlayTV website can be found at http://www.goplaytv.com/ . About Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment
Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment (SPDE), an operating unit of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), oversees the activities of SPE's digital production and online assets including Sony Pictures Imageworks, Sony Online Entertainment, the Digital Networks Division which includes SoapCity and Screenblast, GoPlayTV and SPIN, which represents the studio's online promotional presence. SPDE focuses on three areas: 1) producing and developing visual effects and computer-generated imaging (CGI), digital character animation, and original content for motion picture, television, online and PlayStation audiences; 2) developing new forms of online content, games and interactive programming; and 3) leading SPE's efforts to provide online, open-access video-on-demand, interactive television through the UK-based GoPlayTV unit and wireless entertainment.
SPDE is headquartered in Los Angeles with a second office in London which focuses specifically on European market initiatives.
About GOiNTERACTtv
GOiNTERACTtv is a UK media services company that develops, implements and maintains software for adding interactive content to TV shows and managing the interaction with the viewer. The company's offering includes configurable tool kits for TV producers and designers to create unique interactive content that connects directly to the GOiNTERACTtv service via the set top box modem. The GOiNTERACTtv service can be integrated within the client's own play-out center and uses a return platform owned and managed by the company. This provides a cross platform alternative to using the service of any particular network. The company offers its technology as an end-to-end service for TV content owners, channel operators, retailers, and advertisers. GOiNTERACTtv is the first company to offer end-to-end iTV services across satellite, terrestrial, and cable platforms.
For more information on GOiNTERACTtv, Tel: +44 (0) 1256 484 800 or visit the website on http://www.gointeract.tv/ .
About amassmedia
amassmedia is a group of broadcast and interactive designers, entertainment brand strategists, and producers with extensive industry experience. Based in London, they have created and produced innovative design for Arte, Channel 4, Comverse DIRECTV, RAI, Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment, Tele+, TV Catalunya and Viasat. amassmedia collaborates with clients to provide original and strategic solutions, from brand identity packages to a wide range of iTV solutions. For more information, visit: http://www.amassmedia.com/
SOURCE: Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment
CONTACT: Don Levy of Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment,
+1-310-840-8234, dlevy@sonypictures.com
Web site: http://www.gointeract.tv/
Web site: http://www.spe.sony.com/
Web site: http://www.goplaytv.com/