BBC ANNOUNCE INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SERVICE

Digital subscribers with ntl will soon be able to enjoy the BBC’s innovative interactive television services for the first time.
The deal represents a considerable milestone in the carriage of BBC digital services, which will now be available to viewers across all platforms.
As from June 20, ntl viewers will have access to thousands of pages of the BBC’s enhanced text service, BBC Text, which covers news, sport, weather, education and children’s content.
It also means that digital subscriber’s will have access to the BBC’s interactive service in time for Wimbledon when the tournament begins on June 25. Viewers enter the BBC service by pressing the interactive button on their handset. Once in the BBC area they will find: Scores and results; Headline News; Reports and Stats; Experts view; Player profiles; Order of Play and The Draw.
The BBC’s Director of New Media & Technology, Ashley Highfield, said: “The BBC aims to use all viable methods of delivering enhanced, interactive services to the home. This is increasingly important as platforms continue to multiply and improve in coming years. This ensures licence fee payers are increasingly able to access enhanced BBC services whenever and wherever they want – with the hallmark of BBC quality and choice.”
The BBC already offers interactive enhancements to their television services on the digital terrestrial and digital satellite platforms, and have had an interactive service on digital cable through Telewest since August 2000. (CD)