TV Guide Goes Electronic with News Corp

News Corp plans to launch its TV Guide online at the News Corp/MCI site sometime next year. TV Guide online will feature chat rooms with celebrities, interactive games, questions of the day, and feature stories.

News Corp has also announced a joint venture with Gemstar International Group, developer of VCR Plus+, to create TV Guide Plus+, an interactive onscreen guide that lists television programs up to 48 hours in advance. The service will allow viewers to access program listings and watch TV at the same time, according to company officials. A chipset with the TV Guide Plus+ utility will be embedded within certain new television sets starting next year.