• by adam.m , Michael Deibert , July 14, 2005

TV Works, a collaborative effort of Comcast Corp. and Cox Communications, Wednesday said it acquired the business and assets of Mill Valley, Calif.-based interactive TV developer MetaTV Inc. Details of the deal were not disclosed, but TV Works will likely continue with MetaTV's ITV applications, including those that will integrate with the GuideWorks interactive program guide platform. TV Works also hired all of MetaTV's employees.

Cox Communications Inc., the majority owner of TV Works, is a multi-service broadband communications company serving approximately 6.7 million customers, including approximately 6.3 million basic cable subscribers. Cox also provides analog cable television and digital video services.

Industry observers view the takeover as part of an industry trend towards consolidation.

"Clearly there is a long overdue consolidation of thought and activity in what has historically been known as the interactive television space," said Tim Hanlon, senior vice president and director of emerging contacts for the Starcom MediaVest Group, a brand communications company. "Deals like this one take these disparate approaches to technology and begin to harmonize them, and I think some of the dynamics that we have been expecting in that direction are finally starting to happen."