MetaTV
Encyclopedia
MetaTV was founded in 1999 on the promise of providing a better way to consume interactive content on TV. Initially, MetaTV created technologies to target existing set-top box
infrastructure. Early customers included InnMedia (services targeted to Liberate set-top boxes) and MSNBC
(services targeted to WebTV). In order to enable a better consumer experience and provide cross set-top and cross MSO capabilities, MetaTV shifted to developing a set-top box browser-like application to provide common functions across set-top boxes (abstracting middleware behaviors) and to exploit individual set-top box capabilities.
With the help of Redpoint Ventures
, MetaTV raised initial funding of $11M on May 8, 2000. MetaTV’s second round of funding for $21M, in April 2002, was led by Cable giants Comcast
and Cox Communications
. Cox went on to deploy a precursor of the EBIF cable standard developed by MetaTV that focused on unbound applications, which are available independent of a current video program.
In 2005, MetaTV contributed the binary wire protocol and user agent specifications to become the basis for the CableLabs
standard for interactive television known as EBIF (Enhanced TV Binary Interchange Format).
In April 2005, Comcast and Cox purchased the assets of MetaTV and rolled the assets and people into TVWorks
, the joint software venture between the parties, originally formed to house the assets purchased from Liberate Technologies. The TVWorks team continued to evolve the EBIF specification and to develop the surrounding technology necessary to deploy implementations of the now public specification.
The EBIF technology is deployed in millions of set-top boxes across the US and has also been trialed by Satellite and Telco service operators - including Verizon.
Set-top box
A set-top box or set-top unit is an information appliance device that generally contains a tuner and connects to a television set and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen or other display device.-History:Before the...
infrastructure. Early customers included InnMedia (services targeted to Liberate set-top boxes) and MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
(services targeted to WebTV). In order to enable a better consumer experience and provide cross set-top and cross MSO capabilities, MetaTV shifted to developing a set-top box browser-like application to provide common functions across set-top boxes (abstracting middleware behaviors) and to exploit individual set-top box capabilities.
With the help of Redpoint Ventures
Redpoint Ventures
Redpoint Ventures is a prominent venture capital firm focused on investments in early stage technology companies. The firm's partners include Allen Beasley, Jeff Brody, Satish Dharmaraj, Tom Dyal, Tim Haley, Brad Jones, Nety Krishna, Chris Moore, Lars Pedersen, Scott Raney, John Walecka, Geoff...
, MetaTV raised initial funding of $11M on May 8, 2000. MetaTV’s second round of funding for $21M, in April 2002, was led by Cable giants Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
and Cox Communications
Cox Communications
Cox Communications is a privately owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises providing digital cable television, telecommunications and wireless services in the United States...
. Cox went on to deploy a precursor of the EBIF cable standard developed by MetaTV that focused on unbound applications, which are available independent of a current video program.
In 2005, MetaTV contributed the binary wire protocol and user agent specifications to become the basis for the CableLabs
CableLabs
Founded in 1988 by cable television operating companies, Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. is a not-for-profit research and development consortium that has cable operators as its members. System operators from around the world are eligible to be members. Members dues are based on revenue...
standard for interactive television known as EBIF (Enhanced TV Binary Interchange Format).
In April 2005, Comcast and Cox purchased the assets of MetaTV and rolled the assets and people into TVWorks
TVWorks
TVWorks was formed as a Joint venture between Comcast and Cox_Communications. The venture managed assets purchased from MetaTV and Liberate Technologies....
, the joint software venture between the parties, originally formed to house the assets purchased from Liberate Technologies. The TVWorks team continued to evolve the EBIF specification and to develop the surrounding technology necessary to deploy implementations of the now public specification.
The EBIF technology is deployed in millions of set-top boxes across the US and has also been trialed by Satellite and Telco service operators - including Verizon.