Newsclip Service
February 2003
These news-clips have been collated from various news sources because they are considered possibly relevant to Interactive TV learning developments.
26 February
(Luxembourg) E-DSL via Satellite Starter Pack for €69.99
Europe Online has announced the introduction of their "E-DSL via Satellite Starter Pack” for €69.99, which makes DSL availble to anyone. The E-DSL Starter Pack includes 1 satellite modem to fit in the PC, 1 month full access to the Europe Online E-DSL flat-rate service plus 1 year's membership to Europe Online's high-speed downloadcenter, interactive digital television quality streams and email service. Europe Online Investments Marketing Director Marcus Bicknell commented "The other advantage over terrestrial DSL is Europe Online's exciting MP3's, games, and full-length DVD's and movies, instead of jst movie trailers, right to the user's desk tops at guaranteed 2 MB speeds. In addition, the user has the whole array of free-to-air digital television and radio channels from the satellite on his PC as well". (Source: Europeonline)
(France) Monaco Telecom offer VOD service via ADSL
Monaco Telecom, in partnership with Alcatel and Moviesystem, is launching "SesameTV", the first in Europe to offer a Video-on-Demand (VoD) service on television via ADSL. The viewer can choose three payment options: à la carte (at 5 euros per film), a monthly subscription of 20 euros for 5 films, or a subscription of 52 euros per month for unlimited number of films. The viewer can then choose from a large catalogue of 400 films. .(Source: Telecom.paper)
24 February
(USA) AOL halts sales of interactive TV service AOLTV
America Online has stopped selling its interactive-television product, AOLTV, after a poor consumer response. AOLTV was launched in June 2000 and it allows users to surf the online service and send e-mail from their televisions. AOL will continue to support current subscribers using the product, spokeswoman Anne Bentley said. (Source: Seattle Times) (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/134640055_btbriefs24.html)
(USA) Set-top interactivity software from Microsoft
Microsoft has developed new affordable software for cable companies that will enable them to provide interactive digital TV that will enable them to distinguish themselves from the offerings of satellite television companies. The software is aimed at the installed base of ‘thin-client’ set-top boxes that have been distributed by cable companies. These new services are undergoing final trials and will be released in the second quarter of this year, these will include multi-player trivia games and local-content management for news, sports and weather. (Source: Europemedia) (http://www.europemedia.net/shownews.asp?ArticleID=15091)
18 February
(UK) European DVR Market will grow, despite TiVo's UK Withdrawal
Despite the withdrawal of TiVo from the UK market, research from IMS forecasts that the European market for DVRs will grow to approximately 4.1 million units shipped in 2007, translating to a market worth over Euro 1 billion in 2007. IMS highlights the internal competition for TiVo with Sky + DVR service and maintains that as a whole the European market still represents an area of great potential for digital video recorders, especially those that are integrated with an operator' s platform.(Source: IMS Research) (http://www.imsresearch.com/members/pr.asp?X=92)
(UK) 65,000 of Sky+ Boxes in Field
According to BSkyB's Interim Half-Year Results (up to 31 December 2002) , 65,000 of Sky+ Boxes are now in the field and the total number of SkyDigital subscribers in the UK and Ireland was 6,562,000. (Source: iTVT Issue 4.95 Part 1) (http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/lse/bsy.uk/interim.pdf)
(UK) iSeeTV deployed at a University
According to an article from ITVT, Media Logic's iSeeTV technology is being deployed at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. iSeeTV allows end-users who phone a call center to interact with a customer service representative who appears on their TV screen in real timeThe technology will enable healthcare counseling for students and distance-education courses from the university's nursing school. The healthcare service is set to launch March 31st, while the distance-education service will be rolled out at a later date. (Source: iTVT Issue 4.95 Part 1)
(UK) Possible US Deal for iSeeTV
According to an article from ITVT, Glyn Radcliffe-Brine, commercial director for Media Logic has said that his company is in "deeply serious discussions" with 2 leading US SVOD providers and a satellite-TV operator interested in using its iSeeTV technology as a marketing tool. . If the deal is concluded, iSeeTV would allow the company's telemarketers to invite consumers interested in the service they are selling to tune to a special channel to view a live demo of that service. (Source: iTVT Issue 4.95 Part 1)
(Italy) Itelco Trials Return-Path-Enabled DTT Standard
Italian broadcast equipment provider, Itelco, says it will conduct trials of the DVB-RCT standard next September. The standard provides a wireless-based return path for digital terrestrial environments, allowing operators to offer VOD and other more complex ITV services via DTT. (Source: iTVT Issue 4.95 Part 1)
(UK) DTV Version of NHS Direct
The UK's Department of Health has issued an Invitation to Tender, seeking commercial partners to help it build and run a DTV version of "NHS Direct". Their successful pilot projects explored various transactional services, including booking appointments, receiving reminders and even seeing an NHS nurse live on the TV. (Source: iTVT Issue 4.95 Part 2)
(UK) Market Research Channel for ITV
Murdoch University's Interactive Television Research Institute (ITRI) and Video Networks are to launch a market research channel for ITV. Called "The Lab," the channel will use Video Networks' VOD infrastructure to test new ITV marketing applications with consumers. The first test conducted by The Lab will examine various different ways of using ITV to market travel destinations including offering subscribers shopping vouchers and the opportunity to win a trip for 2 to Australia. (Source: iTVT Issue 4.95 Part 2)
17 February
(Luxembourg) Europe Online and Datacargo Sign Cooperation Agreement for VOD Services on Set-Top Boxes
Europe Online Investments and Datacargo have signed a cooperation agreement that will see Europe Online providing video-on-demand services for set-top boxes equiped with Datacargo´s Visiongate software. As a strategic partner of Fujitsu Siemens, Datacargo relies on the “Activy” series of set-top boxes. The end user application is currently being marketed on the German market and will soon be offered in other European countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The cooperation between Europe Online and Datacargo will also cover a number of B2B projects, as both companies expect a growing market for the satellite-based distribution of multimedia content and data to closed user groups and business customers (Business TV, E-learning, niche programmes).(Source: Europeonline)
10 February
(France) iMagicTV acquired by Alcatel
French telecom equipment maker Alcatel has acquired iMagicTV, a software developer for managing digital television over broadband networks. Alcatel already holds a 16% stake of the share capital of imagicTV, and both companies are working together on numerous developments of TV over DSL projects for Alcatel clients. Under the terms of the agreement, Alcatel is offering an equivalent of US$ 1.20 (EUR 1.11) per ImagicTV common share, subject to certain adjustment based upon the movement of the Alcatel Class A ADS price, by issuing new Alcatel Class A shares. The transaction has an implied equity value of approximately US$ 30 million. (Source: Telecom.paper)
9 February
(USA) TiVo offers lifetime subscriber free upgrade
TiVo has announced an offer for its current lifetime subscribers to transfer their memberships to new recorders when they purchase a Series2 set-top box with 80 hours of storage capacity. Customers must purchase their 80-hour Series2 boxes directly from TiVo for $349 after a $50 mail-in rebate. The promotion ends March 10. (Source: ZDnet) (http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1103-984241.html)
7 February
(Ireland) Freeview Style Digital TV service considered for Ireland
Addressing the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Mr Ahern the Minister for Communication announced that he is considering a digital TV project for Ireland modelled on Britain's Freeview service run by the BBC and BSkyB. Customers pay £99 for a set-top box capable of receiving 30 channels. The service would mean that customers can pay a once-off fee of approximately €160, with no further payments and would make RTÉ 1, Network 2 and TG4 freely available to viewers throughout Northern Ireland."It is certainly a potential solution to our digital terrestrial television problems and it is in line with the broadcasting commitments in the Good Friday agreement," Mr Ahern said. (Source: Irish Times) (http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/front/2003/0207/960113757HM1TELEVISION.html)
(The Netherlands) Dutch cable sector urges for personal broadband project
The Dutch cable sector is urging politicians to support a broadband version of their well known and successful personal computer projects that stimulated the personal use of computers. The cable sector, in a letter to politicians, proposes to make a start with a Personal Broadband project which they consider will be instrumental in transforming the Netherlands into a knowledge economy. The Dutch cable sector are willing to invest in this Broadband Project in full competition with providers of ADSL like KPN. But in reaction, a group of developers in the ICT sector claimed that the lack of services that appeal to consumers is the real problem that hampers the roll out of broadband. (Source: Telecom.paper)
5 February
(The Netherlands) TV Trial gets thousands of viewers
XS4ALL, the Dutch ISP got an enthusiastic response to it's six week trial in television broadcasting. XS4ALL offered their subscribers with higher-capacity ADSL connections access to six TV channels with travel, fashion and adult content. 15,000 subscribers to XS4ALL’s broadband service participated in the trial and XS4ALL plans to analyse the results from this experiment, including data from the viewer survey conducted, before deciding on its next move, a spokesperson stated. (Source: Europemedia) (http://www.europemedia.net/shownews.asp?ArticleID=14765)
(UK) No new TiVo devices for the UK market
TiVo is scaling down its business in the UK and will no longer be manufacturing its digital video recorder (DVR) set-top boxes for the UK. The company said, that all current customers and any new purchasers will continue to receive the TiVo service. This includes features such as an automated television programme guide that keeps track of scheduling changes. A spokeswoman said the company plans to pursue the UK market through licensees in the future. Sony and Toshiba have both licensed TiVo's technology. (Source: ZDNet) (http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t278-s2129912,00.html)
4 February
(USA) New Tier for Knology's ITV Service in Montgomery, AL
Cable overbuilder, Knology, is offering a new tier to enhance the "Preferred Digital" ITV service it launched in Montgomery, AL, last September. In an interview with itvi, Knology's manager of interactive media, Mark Adams talked about the new tier, which is branded "iTVx" and adds $6.95 to the monthly price of the "Preferred Digital" service. It allows subscribers to personalize the service's information-on-demand offerings, provides more informational content and also includes an email application that can be used while watching TV. (Source: iTVT Issue 4.93 Part1)
(German) T-Online to Offer DSL-Based ITV Service with PVR Functionality
T-Online is planning to offer a DSL-based ITV service by late 2003.that will include a version that is optimized for viewing on the TV screen, as well as email and messaging, VOD, and an EPG. T-Online are negotiating with a number of set-top box manufacturers about developing boxes that will support the new service and include PVR functionality, according to the company. They also plan to work with TV stations to offer broadcast-synchronized enhanced-TV applications over the service. (Source:iTVT Issue 4.93 Part 1)
3 February
(Germany) ARD to make way for MHP
German public broadcaster ARD have shown their commitment to MHP interactive applications standard in their announcement that all interactive services in their digital package are to be solely MHP-compliant and the current OpenTV system will be switched off at the end of this year."We are committed to MHP," confirmed an ARD spokeswoman, adding that whether the deadline could be met would depend on the development of the media market, most notably the cable industry, since Deutsche Telekom has just sold its remaining cable assets to a financial consortium that has yet to state its position on MHP. The main German TV broadcasters agreed to use MHP as their joint system in September 2001. (Digital TV Group) (http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/world/-ard_opentv.htm)