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In
the U.K., leading cable operators are already telecasting state-of-the-art,
interactive programs on 2 way TV (DTT)? And of these, adult shows
based on sex-related games & contests are already highly popular?
As
everyone knows, Interactive (2 way) TV will be the most important
technology-based stories of this decade. And U.K. is by far the
leader in Digital Television.
But
going by the recent NCTA Convention in New Orleans, the U.S.A. is
not ready to be left behind!
A
series of announcements at this week's U.S. National Cable Television
Association Convention (NCTAC 2002) in New Orleans, U.S.A. indicates
that interactive television has begun its climb back to respectability.
Most of the behind-the-scenes activity was between cable operators
and content providers. With a clear acknowledgement that video-on-demand
(VOD) and subscription VOD are just stepping stones to future iTV
applications. Despite the the conservative approach to industry
economics, there was a clear sense of re-juvenation. Along with
acceptance that digital TV growth would be slow, leading to significant
revenue after another 5 years or so.
The
major announcement of NCTAC 2002 was by Liberty Media's creation
of LibertyBroadband Interactive Television (LBIT) along with the
acquisition of the world's leading middleware developer OpenTV.
This annoucement becomes very significant when coupled with the
following:
Liberty's acquisition of ACTV (one of the earliest developers of
iTV technology.)
Liberty's launch of its Spot On service, which enables advertisers
to simultaneously distribute multiple commercials to different target
audiences.
Liberty's recent acquisitions under the Liberty Livewire umbrella,
which has purchased several large program & commercial post-production
studios in the U.S. (This will make it easy to assure that most
broadcast & cable programming has iTV content built in.)
In contrast, NCTAC 2001 witnessed AT&T Broadband virtually regressing
on its agreement to deploy full 2-way interactivity (by deploying
Microsoft's advanced middleware). This was followed later by the
collapse of @Home.
Today,
ironically high-speed service is the most important revenue stream
for cable operators!
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