Gemstar-TV Guide has inked a "long-term" deal to license and distribute its interactive program guide technology to Time Warner Cable, at last giving the IPG giant an entrée into one of the nation's largest MSOs.

The agreement gives TWC a license to Gemstar-TV Guide's IPG-based content, intellectual property and technology, and the ability to deploy those elements to its base of digital subs.

The deal also gives the Time Warner Cable the option to deploy all or a few components of Gemstar's IPG-related technology and content portfolio.

Time Warner Cable, depending on the market, presently offers IPGs from either Scientific-Atlanta or Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. TWC also signed on to test Microsoft TV 's IPG platform in Beaumont, Texas, one of just a few Time Warner markets that use the Motorola Broadband digital platform.

The "unprecedented flexibility" of the new IPG deal "includes a patent license which allows Time Warner Cable to use Gemstar-TV Guide intellectual property and technology in its own IPGs or in alternative IPG products supplied to it by its vendors," the companies said.

MSO spokesman Keith Cocozza said the agreement will give Time Warner Cable and its divisions access to another IPG option, while keeping "costs down and ingenuity high."

Because the deal enables TWC to leverage what items it wants from the Gemstar IPG menu, "we also have some new tools in our toolbox," he said, adding that the MSO plans to rollout full, customized versions of the "TV Guide Interactive" platform in some undisclosed markets by early 2004.

Time Warner Cable and TV Guide also plan to develop and deploy IPG-based advertising applications.