Macrovision Solutions Corp. said Thursday it intends to sell its TV Guide Network property to media financier Allen Shapiro and One Equity Partners for around $225 million, along with as much as $45 million in earn-out provisions payable through 2012. TV Guide Network had been on the block since September without attracting much serious interest.

 

The structure of the deal also allows the company to utilize the strategic capabilities of TV Guide Online while remaining focused on its core competencies in technology.

 

Allen Shapiro was most recently the president of Mosaic Media Group and CEO of dick clark productions, where he served as executive producer of “So You Think You Can Dance,” The Golden Globes and the American Music Awards, among other events.

 

“This will absolutely be the starting point,” said longtime media executive Allen Shapiro Macrovision, which acquired Gemstar-TV Guide in May, recently sold the TV Guide magazine to another private equity group, OpenGate Capital, for a symbolic selling price of $1.

 

Macrovision is a maker of technology designed to protect against unauthorized copying of entertainment content. Also on Thursday, Macrovision said it now expects 2008 adjusted revenue on a pro forma basis - excluding TV Guide Online - to be in a range between $420 million and $430 million.

 

The TV Guide Web site is a popular source for TV listings and reporting from the magazine. Mr. Shapiro said it is unclear what the relationship will be between the new owners of the magazine and the Web site. Shapiro also gave his word that he and his partners will invest heavily in programming at the network.