ITV Launches Digital Information Services
ITV is launching two new interactive services for digital viewers today. ITV Text+ is an information service filling the gap left by Teletext, which is not available on digital TV, while UEFA Champions League football coverage is to be enhanced with an additional information service.
Jolie Powell, ITV’s head of business development, said, “ITV Text+ and enhanced UEFA Champions League are the first products of a huge commitment that ITV has made to interactive digital TV, with a significant investment in technology which further enhances our ability to offer great entertainment for viewers, and excellent opportunities for advertisers.”
When using the Text+ service, viewers will be able to retain the TV picture in the lower left hand quarter of the screen, while accessing news, including regional news, ITV listings up to two days in advance, weather and sports news. From today’s launch it will be available by using the text button from Channel 16, but it is shortly to be available from ITV, ITV2, S2 (in Scotland) and UTV (in Ulster) by pressing “text” on digital remote controls.
The UEFA service will be available to support ITV and ONdigital coverage of Champion’s League matches. During live matches on ITV or ONsport2 showing on digital terrestrial TV, viewers will be able to get live score updates from other matches playing around Europe that night, match statistics, team lists with comments from Ron Atkinson and group tables. The service will also include games and quizzes, giving the chance to win match tickets.
Both services have been produced by Carlton Active, the interactive TV arm of Carlton Television, which is also working on the first interactive adverts and more interactive programming to show on digital ITV (see Carlton Active Prepares First ITV Interactive Ad, Looks At A Busy 2001).
Carlton Active: 020 7440 3030 ITV: 020 7843 8222 ONdigital: 020 7819 8000
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