Looking to cash in on the growing buzz surrounding the interactive television industry, content aggregators ScreamingMedia, Inc. has landed a deal with digital set-top box manufacturer Scientific-Atlanta Inc.

It is the New York-based firm's first jump into the interactive TV space as the deal will ScreamingMedia to bundle its SiteWare platform into Scientific-Atlanta's InView information-on-demand product. SiteWare aggregates and shuttles third-party content to ScreamingMedia subscribers.

By bundling the SiteWare software into the InView application framework, ScreamingMedia will integrate third-party content for cable operators across the country.

The non-exclusive pact also calls for ScreamingMedia content - news, sports, weather reports, stock market statistics, horoscopes and entertainment content - to be sent to cable subscribers.

"The combination of these features will offer cable operators the ability to deliver an additional interactive service opportunity to their subscribers that provides national and local information on-demand - a competitive advantage over satellite services," the company said in a statement.

ScreamingMedia plans to build a customized content package from 3,000 sources in its global digital content network.

Kevin Clark, the outgoing CEO of ScreamingMedia said the deal is aimed at enticing at the cable operations. "Together with Scientific-Atlanta, we've eliminated the content and technology hurdles for cable operators to let them offer an attention-grabbing, interactive channel for their subscribers." said Kevin Clark, CEO of ScreamingMedia.

Rollout of the new service is scheduled for this summer and is capable of running on any of the Explorer family of interactive set-top boxes, ScreamingMedia said.