THOMSON SUN Interactive, LLC today announced the introduction of its OpenTV Web Internet access software. Implemented in conjunction with THOMSON SUN Interactive's OpenTV runtime environment, OpenTV Web allows network providers (cable, satellite, and wireless cable) to offer fee-based Internet access to subscribers through their televisions.

OpenTV Web allows for a flexible implementation of Internet service from a simple broadcast of the most popular Web sites to full interactive access via a dial-up return path, depending on the resource constraints of the network. The package is comprised of head-end software responsible for the retrieval, storage, and translation of HTML encoded Web pages into OpenTV resource files and set-top browser software for the display of resource files on the viewer's TV.

To support the fully interactive scenario, OpenTV Web has been designed to integrate with THOMSON SUN Interactive's Transaction Server software which manages the flow of requests for Web pages, additional information, and purchases from set-tops on the network.

"OpenTV Web represents a new opportunity for networks to differentiate themselves in terms of the services they offer as well as leverage the ever increasing volume of multimedia content available on the World Wide Web," stated Elliot Broadwin, CEO of THOMSON SUN Interactive. "Additionally, it will provide much needed incremental revenue for the network provider and will help stem the defection of television viewers to PC-based Internet surfing."

"Compared to the purchase price of a PC, OpenTV Web dramatically lowers the cost of entry for network subscribers to get on the Internet, since it requires no additional hardware, greatly enhancing its appeal and accelerating its already rapid adoption," added Jon C. Haass, Director of Product Marketing for THOMSON SUN Interactive. "Consumers worldwide are clamoring for access to new content being made available on the Web, and OpenTV Web has finally removed the barriers."

OpenTV Web is being demonstrated for the first time at the 1996 Western Show in Booth 4774 and at the show's CableNet '96 exhibit at the Anaheim Convention Center.

THOMSON SUN Interactive provides an end-to-end software solution for the development and delivery of interactive television services. Its premier product offering is the industry standard OpenTV software family, a platform and network independent, open solution for delivering interactivity to the home. At the head-end, Flowcaster software integrates with the broadcast facility to distribute digital data and content including World Wide Web pages. The Hardware Port Kit permits the set-top to receive OpenTV enabled applications. To complete the solution,THOMSON SUN Interactive produces and sells the Software Developers Kit and OpenAuthor, a point-and-click application authoring tool.