Freeserve Launches iTV Ad Packages

Freeserve has launched branded microsite packages for advertisers on its interactive TV portal, following research into the habits of its iTV users, who were found to be different to PC users.

Freeserve’s advertising sales director, Caroline Pathy, said: “With over 100,000 Bush Internet TV units already sold in the UK, the potential for this medium is growing fast. We are getting an immense amount of interest from advertisers and we’ve been working hard to deliver practical solutions to take advantage of the manner in which iTV is viewed.”

Based on its research Freeserve has introduced tailored iTV packages designed to enable advertisers to target iTV audiences. The microsite packages will include the production and design of pages tailored for iTV viewing and will allow advertisers a series of flexible options dependant on their objectives.

The launch of the microsites will allow advertisers to create integrated campaigns across the Freeserve platform by combining internet TV advertising with advertising on the main PC version of Freeserve.

Research carried out by Happy Dog found that Freeserve’s iTV portal has a mainly male user base, with two thirds of respondents aged 18-44 and a third falling into the 25-34 bracket.

The majority of respondents were found to have no dependants, indicating that “the iTV audience is not as family orientated as the web user.” Interactive TV was also found to have more of a “sit back, entertainment orientated function” compared to internet accessed through the PC, which was viewed more as a “tool.”

Of those who viewed iTV using a set top box, 60% watched it in the living room whilst 30% viewed it in the bedroom and of those using integrated TV’s 40% viewed iTV in the bedroom, whilst 30% viewed it in the living room.

Freeserve: 01442 354 285 www.freeserve.co.uk

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