Pasadena, CA-based Gemstar International
Group Limited has
entered into a joint venture with Dentsu Inc., the large
Japanese international advertising and public relations agency, and Tokyo News
Service Limited, a Japanese publisher of entertainment magazines, including TV
Guide (Japan).
The joint venture, named Interactive Program Guide Inc., will pursue
interactive services, including advertising, promotion, sponsorship and
transaction opportunities on Gemstar’s electronic program guide platform known
as G-Guide Gold in Japan. Gemstar will own 50 percent of Interactive
Program Guide
and, additionally, will receive a percentage of sales as royalty.
Yoshio Takada of Dentsu has been named president of Interactive Program Guide.
“I firmly believe that Interactive Program Guide Inc., established as a joined
force of three great companies, has great potential for developing business
for the upcoming media environment as well as responding to the changing needs
of viewers,” said Teruyoshi Katsurada, senior vice president of Dentsu.
Gemstar’s G-Guide was launched in the Japan market in April 1998 by Hitachi.
The advertising-capable G-Guide Gold is expected to be launched later this
year.
Gemstar develops, markets and licenses proprietary technologies and systems
aimed at making technology user-friendly for consumers.
