British Interactive Broadcasting (BiB), the joint venture formed by BT, BSkyB, Midland Bank and Matsushita to provide digital TV interactive services, announced today that it is to have a new brand – it is renaming as Open…..
BiB was recently given permission to launch by the EU (see Newsline), and is expected to begin running a promotional service on Sky Digital by the end of this year, and to be fully operational by the autumn of 1999.
The services Open…. will offer will be obtainable using a set-top box and ‘Smart’ remote control to operate a virtual shopping mall. Email, home banking and holiday and travel options are amongst the features to be offered, as well as educational services, games and booking facilities for concerts, theatre and cinema.
Several companies have signed provisional contracts to provide services, including Great General Stores, Iceland, Midland Bank, Talk 21, Visionik and Woolworths.
BiB also revealed today that the first interactive television advertisers will be Coca-Cola, Ford and Unilever.
James Ackerman, chief executive at BiB, commented: “Open…. will redefine television. It will transform television to give viewers greater control and an exciting new interactive experience.” He continued: “It offers companies a new way to build relationships. It offers consumers a fun, exciting way to shop, learn, play communicate and do business. But most important of all, it uses the television and has a framework which will provide the security we can all trust.”
BiB: 0171 489 7770
