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AOL plans TV channel
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August 23, 1999: 6:41 a.m. ET
Case tells magazine: 'We don't want to turn the TV into a computer'
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LONDON (CNNfn) - America Online boss Steve Case told a German magazine that plans for an AOL TV channel are in the pipeline, although he failed to provide many details of the plan. "We don't want to turn the TV into a computer," he said.
In an interview with Germany's Focus magazine, AOL's chief executive said AOL-TV would be seen on television and not on the Internet.
"We don't want to suddenly mess around with people's normal viewing habits and force them to do interactive things," Case told Focus. "Above all, we want to expand the viewer's experience, either through a very simple directory or by providing additional information to the program that's currently showing."
Other features on AOL-TV will include traditional AOL staples such as e-mail and chat forums, confirmed Case, although he agreed with comments made a year ago by AOL's chief technology officer Marc Andreessen, who said "People on the sofa don't want to surf, they want to relax."
Case also ruled out any investment by AOL in Deutsche Telekom's cable-TV operator. Bids closed for the unit last Friday, and among the rumored bidders are AOL's archrival Microsoft (MSFT).
Still, Case nixed the prospect of AOL getting into the cable distribution business. "It's not in our interest to invest in infrastructure. It wouldn't be very smart for us to buy everything in the online world," cautioned Case.
Case refused to comment on repeated speculation of a deal with Deutsche Telekom (FDTE). Media reports have suggested Ron Sommer, Telekom's head, has met Case several times with a view to take a 10 percent holding in the U.S. group.
Case said it was possible AOL would participate in a television deal with German media giant Bertelsmann, its joint venture partner in AOL Europe.
On Tuesday AOL Europe will launch Netscape Online in Britain, its own cost-free response to the mushrooming free Web access services which have surged in popularity in the United Kingdom.
"We've learned the market functions a little differently in Europe," Case told Focus.
As a footnote, 41-year-old Case dismissed thoughts of retirement following his recent purchase of a pineapple farm in his home state of Hawaii.
"It's taken me 15 years just to get to the start line, the next 15 will be really interesting," he predicted.
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