DirecTV responded to OpenTV's statement concerning the service's move to drop interactive services provided by OpenTV's Wink Communications subsidiary.
DirecTV confirmed it would not extend its carriage agreement with Wink and OpenTV beyond Dec. 22 after the company was unable to reach new terms with the iTV company. DirecTV said its deal with Thomson's Canal Plus Technologies, which was reached in June, will enable it to provide middleware capability to new enhanced standard set-top boxes.
"DirecTV customers will benefit from the middleware via a simplified and more consistent on-screen user interface, as well as the deployment of a new suite of interactive services focusing on weather, sports, news, games and more," the satellite TV company said. "These new interactive services will continue to keep DirecTV competitive within the interactive category and are expected to begin launching in 2004."
On Thursday, OpenTV said it was notified by DirecTV that it would not extend their agreement. OpenTV said it expects to deactivate about 10.4 million of its Wink-enabled set top boxes deployed in DirecTV's network.
OpenTV stock fell more than 10 percent to $4.43 during trading today on the DirecTV news.