abstract:UltimateTV was the name of a Web site for all-things-television officially launched in May 1998 in Encino, California. Originally a hobby website ("TV Net") started by David Cronshaw, an engineer at KCAL-TV 9, it caught the attention of Jeff Rowe, a Vice President at NBC and JD Publishing, a publisher of TV schedules located in Wisconsin.
UltimateTV combined programming from Hughes Electronics ' (nyse: GMH - news - people ) DirecTV unit, digital video recording, live TV controls, interactive television and Internet access.