Interactive Services Further Expansion

Interactive services are increasingly becoming the battleground on which broadcasters fight for digital subscribers. Cable group Telewest has announced a deal with a further 14 companies for its digital interactive service and rival group Open has completed a deal with online betting service, Blue Square.

Telewest added a further 14 brands to its interactive service “Active Digital” including Air Miles, Carlton Online, Flextech, and Iceland. This brings to 43 the total number of brands now providing content to the service, which launches in March. The group has added a further 15 companies to its line-up in recent weeks (see Retailers Back Telewest’s Cable Interactive Service).

Blue Square will launch its service on the Open platform in March 2000 in time for major spring sporting events such as the Six Nations Rugby, FA Cup semi-finals and the Grand National. Backed by BSkyB, BT, HSBC and Matsushita, Open is already available on Sky Digital and announced high sales in the months since its launch (see Open’s Sales Top £1m A Week).

QVC has been honing its television shopping channel to keep up with the competition and announced last week the imminent launch of its interactive service on Cable & Satellite Communications digital service (see QVC Launches Interactive Shopping Service On CWC Digital).

Telewest Communications: 01483 750 900 Open: 020 7332 7000 QVC: 020 7436 2100