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Rovi (Nasdaq: ROVI) hired Arris (Nasdaq: ARRS) and Motorola Mobility veteran John Burke to help it develop next-generation interactive program guides, naming him EVP and COO.
The move follows two recent Rovi deals that are aimed at helping it develop user interfaces for cable set-tops and IP-connected TVs that can respond to voice commands. Rovi announced on Feb. 24 that it would pay up to $69 million in cash to buy Veveo, which has built a "conversational interface" that could allow pay-TV subscribers to find a program by speaking commands such as, "show me some action thrillers," and "what about Bond?"