Newsclip Service
Archive - December 2001
25 December 2001
Digital TV – We want it!
A telephone survey of 1,000 Americans shows
that More than four in ten American consumers are likely to buy a digital
television set in the next few years. Edward O. Fritts, president and CEO of NAB
said "They know about digital television, they like it, and they want it.
That is why local broadcasters are investing billions of dollars in new
equipment and transmission facilities to make free, over the air digital
television available to all Americans."
(see press release)
Video on Demand is taking off
The ability to call up a film or programme through your television when you want and stop and start it is now gaining momentum. Through digital cable, cable operators can compress the content and deliver more channels into a consumer's home. Video-on-demand is expected to be in about 5.5 million homes this year and digital cable systems in about 15 million homes by the end of 2001. (see article)
18 December 2001
Broadband
DSL & TV come together
Global leaders in broadband
access and entertainment solutions, Alcatel and Thomson multimedia demonstrated
broadband DSL technology delivery of entertainment services over television. The
instant, interactive and personalized TV and movies can be delivered via a
simple telephone line. This breakthrough will unleash further potential of DSL
technology and broadband entertainment. (see
press release)
17 December 2001
Youth
market embrace pay-per-view
Studies show that younger
users are more willing to sample new media options and that pay-per-view options
are popular even amongst younger users who are likely to be earning less. More
than 70% of viewers under the age of 35 have purchased pay-per-view programming
(see
press release)
NHS
health info for Video on Demand
The NHS is piloting video
on demand as a method of spreading health information and extending the NHS
Direct telephone advice service to TV. The channel is called NHS Direct Digital
and will provide 10,000 households with text-based consumer health information
supported by dozens of short video clips. (see
press release)
Astound
iTV selects Worldgate
for TV applications
Astound Broadband has
joined with WorldGate to bring Interactive TV (ITV) services called
"Astound iTV." to Astound's digital cable customers by the beginning
of 2002. They will offer instant interaction through remote control or infrared
keyboard to link from what they're watching directly to the related Web content.
(see press
release)
13 December 2001
There is demand for Video-on-demand
Research forecasts that as many
as 8.6 million homes will be subscribing to Video-on-Demand (VoD) services by
2006 and market research shows that that customers would welcome the increased
choice. Now it is both technologically possible and economically viable to offer
customers VoD on a large scale. (see
report)(see
article)
10 December 2001
“Digital Households” are the future
At the
Streaming Media East 2001 conference, Bob
Pittman, CEO of AOL Time Warner, discussed the idea of a “Digital Household”
where telephones, PC’s, television’s and stereo’s are all connected. He
also predicts that “(by creating compelling content and experiences, you will
succeed”.(see website)
Government
stalls Educational digital broadcasting
The Education and Skills
Secretary Estelle Morris announced “The Government has always recognised the
potential for digital broadcasting to support educational services,
particularly for independent learners and in the home. But since the launch of
the competition in 1998, the rapid development of technology and the recent
development of Curriculum Online has led us to conclude that it is not right
for us to proceed with the competition. This allows us the opportunity to
review options once it is clearer how Curriculum Online is developing.”(see
DFES press release)(see
BBC press release)
BBC to be involved in Curriculum Online
The BBC will supply a ‘backbone’ of digital content for the government initiative "Curriculum Online". The Government, recognising the potential for digital broadcasting to support educational services, will be review their options once it is clearer how Curriculum Online is developing. (Source: BBC) (see press release)