GSN announced an interactive-TV venture, a digital-distribution deal and two promotions Tuesday.
The network teamed up with Oceanic Time Warner Cable in Hawaii to launch an ongoing one-screen interactive play-along component.
Using technology from GoldPocket Interactive, subscribers can now play along with live programs on GSN using their remote controls for their Scientific-Atlanta Inc. set-top boxes, rather than their PCs.
GSN shows with interactive capability include Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, World Series of Blackjack, The Mole, Celebrity Mole, Fake-a-Date, Kenny vs. Spenny, Spy TV, Match Game, Family Feud, The Weakest Link and Lingo.
The network also announced that distribution of its programming has been exclusively done using S-A's “PowerVu” digital system since late March.
“GSN's decision to move from analog to digital programming distribution is significant from both business and operational perspectives," said Paul Kosac, vice president of market development, transmission-network systems at S-A, in a prepared statement.
“Their new digital feed enables them to reduce their transponder-space requirements, while increasing the cost efficiency of their operations,” he added. “Additionally, the PowerVu architecture facilitates future [Internet-protocol] distribution applications, which can complement new programming being created by programmers like GSN.”
Finally, GSN announced the promotions of Scott Perlmutter and Michael Severino.
Perlmutter has been upped to the newly created position of VP of distribution, from VP of affiliate sales, Western region.
Severino, who had been director of affiliate sales, Western region, has been promoted to executive director of affiliate sales, Western region.
