Game Set And Match To BBC’s Interactive Wimbledon

The BBC has announced that its Wimbledon interactive service (see BBC And Sky Team Up For Interactive Wimbledon Broadcasts) is a “smash hit” with digital satellite subscribers, after more than 1m viewers tuned in to the new BBC service on its first day, according to unofficial BARB overnight figures.

The BBC say that this figure represents over 25% of the total number of digital satellite viewers watching the BBC’s coverage of Wimbledon’s opening day and have hailed the success as a breakthrough for interactive TV.

Head of interactive TV at the BBC, Scott Gronmark, said: “We are delighted with the news, particularly as the figures come from only one of three platforms on which we are offering services. We look forward to rolling out further interactive services in the near future.”

Created by the BBC’s New Media division in partnership with BBC Sport, the service allows viewers to choose the tennis match they want to watch from a selection of five different courts, “providing them with a virtual courtside seat at Wimbledon.”

The digital satellite service is one of three available to digital subscribers throughout the Wimbledon fortnight and this year digital cable viewers also have access to a text service to keep them up to date with games.

The service is thought to have attracted the largest number of users to a single interactive application news which may calm fears that interactive TV is failing to inspire viewers (see Interactive TV Yet To Inspire, Says Research).

BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk

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