TiVO Inc. announces Vulcan Ventures investment
SUNNYVALE, CA - January 7, 1999 - TiVo Inc., the creator and leader in personal
television, today announced an agreement by Vulcan Ventures Inc, the investment
organization of Paul G. Allen, to invest in TiVo. The financing, which the parties
expect will be completed within the next month, will add yet another powerful venture
capitalist to TiVo's portfolio of investors. Founded in 1997, TiVo is preparing
to launch its eagerly anticipated Personal Television Service this quarter.
"This investment signals the tremendous potential for TiVo's Personal Television
Service," said Mike Ramsay, President and CEO of TiVo. "Television viewers have
been demanding control and personalization of their viewing for years. TiVo is the
first company to deliver this breakthrough service which brings the concept of intelligent
search, personalization and control to television for the first time." "We believe
there is significant potential for the delivery of digital services to the home,"
said William Savoy, President of Vulcan Northwest. "TiVo's Personal Television Service
takes concepts such as intelligent search, personalization and electronic commerce
which have been critical to the development of the Internet and delivers them to
the television."
TIVO'S PERSONAL TELEVISION SERVICE
The TiVo Personal Television Service allows consumers to take control of their television
viewing experience by teaching TiVo their likes and dislikes. From this, the TiVo
service delivers their favorite shows and takes their preferences to make suggestions
about other shows that may be of interest. The "good stuff" is automatically delivered
so viewers can watch their favorite shows at their convenience without having to
channel surf - making "primetime" television available any time of the day or night.
For the first time ever, TiVo enables full control of live programs as well as up
to 40 hours of recorded shows with the ability to pause, rewind, instant replay
and playback in slow-motion any broadcast.
ABOUT VULCAN VENTURES INC.
Vulcan Ventures Inc. of Bellevue, Washington was founded by Paul G. Allen in 1986
to research and implement his investments. Allen's investments through Vulcan Ventures
are long-term, as his goals enable him to take above-average risks and a long-term
view. Through Vulcan Ventures, Allen invests in companies which offer products,
services or technologies that fit his wired world strategy, and can contribute to
or benefit from the technology and strategy of other Paul Allen companies. William
D. Savoy is president of Vulcan Ventures and represents Allen in his professional
and personal financial transactions as well as managing the Vulcan analysts who
investigate and secure investment opportunities. Allen remains chairman of Vulcan.
ABOUT TIVO INC.
TiVo, headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif. is the creator of personal television.
TiVo's easy-to-use service and patented consumer electronics technology will allow
consumers to take control of their television viewing experience by teaching TiVo
their likes and dislikes. The TiVo service delivers their favorite shows and takes
their preferences to make suggestions about other shows that may be of interest.
For the first time ever, TiVo enables full control of live programs through the
ability to pause, rewind, instant replay and playback in slow-motion any broadcast.
The company was founded in August 1997 by former Silicon Graphics senior vice president
Michael Ramsay and vice president James Barton, both of whom have been instrumental
in earlier generation efforts of interactive video-on-demand systems and technology
that has powered Hollywood special effects. TiVo's board of directors includes Stewart
Alsop of New Enterprise Associates, Geoff Yang of Institutional Venture Partners
and WebTV founding director Randy Komisar. TiVo can be reached on the World Wide
Web at www.tivo.com.