Motive TV sees signs of end of contract inertia in US

Motive Television says its patented 'Television Anytime' technology has now received 300,000 subscribers with Italian firm Mediaset.

In addition, the company has a market test beginning shortly with Granite Broadcasting's TV station in San Francisco.

Motive's Chairman, Michael Pilsworth, has previously identified the US as the essential market for the company to crack. "In this business, if you are not known in America, you don't exist," Pilsworth told Sharecast in August of last year.

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Motive, which has a technology that enables TV set-top box makers to provide TV on-demand even for those "on the move", says it is also awaiting an agreement with a Peruvian outfit, Media Networks Latin America, to exhibit its pay TV platform to providers across South and Central America.

Monday's trading update, which assured investors results would be "broadly in line with expectations", initially saw the stock price jump 7% in morning trading, although the shares subsequently retreated.

Motive says 2011 was "challenging" partly because interested clients have taken longer to commit to projects because of concerns over the general economic climate.

The company said that, in the United States, at least, the market appears to be looking more optimistic and businesses are exhibiting signs of renewed confidence. This will have a direct effect on Motive's ability to complete sales in 2012 and indications are that the United States will be an important market for Motive, the company said.

Things are not looking so bright in Europe, where the market remains sluggish, while the Eurozone debt crisis rumbles on.

Asia and South America have remained somewhat insulated from the global downturn and Motive is exploring opportunities in these fast-growth markets.

The firm's Chief Executive, Leonard Fertig, commented: "The company is in a better position than ever before and with game-changing products, a stronger management team and enhanced market awareness it is looking forward to this year being one in which Motive moves from a development to operational focus."

Related item: Motive nation (an interview with CEO Leonard Fertig (pictured)

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