Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. has inked a patent license agreement to let mobile entertainment firm MobiTV use its intellectual property to create program guides for mobile content.

The multiyear agreement will enable the creation of interactive program guides for mobile video programming carried by and through MobiTV. This is the first large patent license agreement that Gemstar-TV Guide has signed for mobile.

"It extends the reach of our brand," said Eileen Murphy, senior vice president of corporate communications at Gemstar-TV Guide, New York. "It's certainly a growth area. We're looking at emerging platforms such as mobile and international. Mobile is very important in terms of emerging markets."

Gemstar-TV Guide is the publisher of TV Guide magazine and also owns the TV Guide channel. The company also offers interactive program guide services and intellectual property licensing.

One of the pioneers in mobile entertainment, MobiTV delivers live television, premium and primetime programming, video-on-demand, satellite and digital music services from leading broadcast and cable networks and record labels. The Emeryville, CA, firm launched in 1999.

The deal between Gemstar-TV Guide and MobiTV is evidence that a market for mobile video content is becoming more viable.

"As mobile video becomes more popular with users, there is more of a need to have a program guide for that mobile programming," Ms. Murphy said. "So that's what a deal like this is addressing -- the creation of a guide for mobile content."