OpenTV Appoints Veteran TV Executive John Michaeli to Head Newly Created Worldwide PR Operation

Business Wire, August 8, 2000

Business Editors

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 8, 2000

OpenTV (Nasdaq:OPTV)(AEX:OPTV), the world's leading interactive media solutions company, announced today that John Michaeli, a veteran entertainment industry public relations executive, has joined the company in the newly created position of Vice President, Worldwide Public Relations.

Michaeli will have oversight and strategic planning responsibilities for the company's internal and external public relations operations. He will report to Jan Steenkamp, CEO of OpenTV.

Michaeli joins OpenTV from Paxson Communications' PAX TV where he was responsible for the 1998 national publicity launch of the network, which is now in the process of merging with NBC. Michaeli came to PAX from the Fox Family Channel where he directed strategic trade and consumer publicity originating from departments in Los Angeles, New York and Virginia Beach, Va. He has held key PR and corporate communications positions with several leading production and distribution studios including Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, DIC Entertainment and Hanna-Barbera Productions.

"John's extensive experience in publicizing and strategic planning for television programming directed to a wide range of distinct audience segments -- from kids to teens to adults -- makes him a perfect addition to the OpenTV marketing team," said Steenkamp. "John's tremendous industry savvy and leadership, in concert with the impressive breadth and depth of our current executive team, promises to accelerate our momentum as the worldwide leader in interactive television."

"It's an exciting opportunity to be part of the industry's most dominant player to help raise OpenTV's marketing visibility," said Michaeli. "I look forward to ensuring that OpenTV remains widely recognized as the world's most innovative and complete provider of ITV operating software and applications that are enhancing our lifestyles today -- from the way we enjoy our entertainment and news to how we shop and do our banking."

Michaeli began his career with Taft Broadcasting Company's Hanna-Barbera Productions, where in 1978 he was appointed vice president. In 1983, he was elevated to senior marketing officer for Taft's West Coast division -- The Taft Entertainment Company -- where he supervised marketing campaigns for Taft's various television and motion picture divisions. Michaeli holds a bachelor's and master's degree from California State University, Northridge.

About OpenTV

OpenTV is the world's leading interactive media solutions company. OpenTV builds a complete software and infrastructure platform that enables digital interactive television and brings on-demand content to other digital communications devices. OpenTV solutions are crafted to meet the needs of all digital communications networks and include operating middleware, content applications, content creation tools, professional services expertise and strategic consulting.

OpenTV middleware has been shipped with or installed in more than 7.8 million digital set-top boxes worldwide and has been selected by 34 digital cable, satellite and terrestrial Communications Networks in more than 50 countries, including BSkyB in the United Kingdom; TPS and Noos in France; PrimaCom in Germany; Via Digital in Spain; GLA, the exclusive provider of DIRECTV(TM) in Latin America; and EchoStar's DISH Network in the U.S. In addition, 29 digital set-top box manufacturers have licensed OpenTV's middleware, and OpenTV's authoring tools are licensed to more than 400 independent developers and content service providers.

OpenTV is supported by investments from leading Internet, broadcast, and broadband companies, including: America Online (NYSE: AOL), Motorola (NYSE: MOT), Liberty Digital (Nasdaq: LDIG), News Corporation (NYSE: NEW), EchoStar Communications (Nasdaq: DISH), and Time Warner (NYSE: TWX), in addition to Sun Microsystems and MIH Limited (Nasdaq: MIH).

Worldwide headquarters for OpenTV is located in Mountain View, Calif. Information on OpenTV is available at www.opentv.com.

Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated herein, including but not limited to timely identification, development, acceptance and pricing of new products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, and other risk factors detailed in the Company's Registration Statement on Forms F-1 and F-4, as well as its Annual Report on Form 20-F, each of which is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.