Sony and Panasonic have signed multiyear licensing agreements with Gemstar-TV Guide to incorporate interactive program guides (IPG) into electronic devices. Under these agreements Gemstar licenses consumer electronics IPG and technology to Sony in the United States and Japan, and to Panasonic in North America, Japan and Europe.
The TV Guide On Screen IPG will be built into Sony products such as digital TVs, DVD recorders and CableCard set-top boxes in the U.S. market. Using CableCard technology, viewers without a set-top box will also be able to receive digital cable TV
Panasonic recording devices and televisions in Europe will have the IPG capability built into them. TV Guide-Gemstar's IPG service is marketed under different names in the U.S., Japan and Eurpoe, including TV Guide On Screen, G-Guide and GUIDE Plus+.
The IPG allows viewers to navigate, select and sort through television programming. The guide delivers updated program listings to users, whether they have cable or receive over-the-air broadcast.
