SKY Perfect JSAT Becomes First Japanese Pay-TV Operator to Join Rovi's EPG Patent License Program

Rovi (formerly Macrovision--for more on the company's name change and the repositioning it heralds, see the interview with Rovi chief evangelist, Richard Bullwinkle, that was published on itvt.com, July 16th), said Monday that SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (operates the SKY PerfecTV! satellite service) has become the first Japanese pay-TV operator to join its patent license program.

According to Rovi, its deal with SKY Perfect JSAT covers intellectual property used in EPG's that are employed in SKY PerfecTV!-branded set-top boxes. "As viewing preferences become diversified, more TV viewers are demanding channels that broadcast their favorite sports teams or artists," Akitaka Nishimura, Rovi's SVP of Asia Pacific, said in a prepared statement. "Responding to this growing demand, we are pleased that Japan's largest multichannel operator, SKY PerfecTV!, has signed on as a part of our patent licensing program for its use of IPG technology to help consumers sort and find content."