TCI

[AriX]

So I'm a bit confused about UV's corporate structure. I have read in various places that TCI owned UV, but some places said it was independent, so I'm a bit confused. Did TCI own UV? If so, when did they acquire it?

It doesn't really make sense that TCI would own UV, because when UV bought TV Guide, they renamed the company TV Guide (which was surely not owned by TCI), which was then acquired by Gemstar and then Macrovision etc. etc.

[swest77]

Can't answer that, but maybe the confusion stems from UV having developed the first IPG software (Prevue Interactive) for a digital cable box in the USA - specifically under the oversight of TCI, for TCI's first digital cable system. Maybe TCI "owned" that, but not UV itself.

[AriX]

I wrote a few-paragraph-long response to this thread when Safari decided to crash. Will re-write some other time :p

[RAPP81]

It's a bit confusing because all parties involved (TCI, Liberty Media, AT&T, UVSG/TV Guide, Gemstar) were going through some sort of acquisition, merger, or realignment between 1998 and 2000

To go into detail will get a little messy, but in attempt to sum it all up...

UVSG officially merged with TCI in January of 1996.

In the late 90s, UVSG was majority owned by TCI along with Liberty Media with the minor stake. UVSG was operating as independent publicly traded subsidiary of TCI.

In 1998, AT&T announces plans to buy TCI

In 1999, AT&T's acquisition of TCI closes, while Gemstar announces to buy TV Guide/UVSG

In 2000, Gemstar finalizes acquisition of TV Guide/UVSG from AT&T & Liberty Media


Sources:
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/UVSG+SETS ... a017969718
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/TCI+Purch ... a020140930
http://news.cnet.com/2100-1033-212622.html
http://ketupa.net/liberty2.htm
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m ... _56290138/
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m ... _57604532/

[AriX]

Oh, makes a lot of sense. Thanks for clearing that up!