PHILIPS PROVIDE BBC WITH INTERACTIVE SERVICE

PHILIPS DIGITAL Networks have provided digital compression and transmission equipment that enables the BBC to broadcast their revolutionary new interactive television service for The Open golf championship at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in the UK.
Digital satellite viewers tuning in to the BBC's Wimbledon Interactive service were able to choose from a selection of five matches as seen on a 'multiscreen' display on their TV sets. The same interactive system will also be used for the 130th Open championship golf to be played at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in the UK.
Viewers access the service by pressing the red key on their handset. This takes them to the 'multiscreen' mosaic of five small screens. Viewers make their choice from the ‘multiscreen’ by using the up and down arrow keys on their handset and select by pushing the red button on their remote control.
Action from the last three holes is accompanied by a text guide on the player, including scorecards and stroke information. Pressing the select key on the handset shrinks the picture to quarter-screen and a dynamically updating leaderboard appears, allowing golf fans to be continually informed of the performance of their favourite players.
This latest system from Philips adds to the other compression and transmission equipment that is at the core of the BBC's digital TV broadcasting facility, embracing both terrestrial and satellite platforms. (CD)