Los Angeles - Some 75% of TV viewers who have access to interactive program guides (IPG) consult them as soon as they turn on their televisions, and 80% see the guides as "a necessity" for their viewing experience, according to a survey conducted by Lieberman Research Worldwide on behalf of program guide maker Gemstar-TV Guide (NASD: GMST) and Comcast Spotlight (NASD: CMCSA), the cable company's ad sales division.

Los Angeles - Gemstar-TV Guide International, a provider of electronic program guides for digital TV services, on Thursday announced a long-term program guide distribution and advertising agreement with CBS. Under the deal, CBS owned and operated stations, and participating affiliates will transmit TV Guide On Screen data with their digital broadcast signals, allowing viewers to search programming and set recordings. CBS will have access to a portion of the ad inventory on the service.

Los Angeles - Gemstar-TV Guide International, a provider of electronic program guides for digital TV services, announced on Thursday that it has signed a license agreement with Japan-based Presentcast. Under the deal, Presentcast -- a joint venture of Japanese broadcasters and advertising agencies including Nippon, Fuji and Asahi -- will be able to use Gemstar's listings on its Dogatch online video portal in Japan.