DIGITAL ISLAND AND PEARSON DELIVER ‘CONVERGED TV’

PEARSON Television Enterprises and Digital Island have announced the launch of a new ‘converged television’ concept that attempts to combine the traditional television broadcast with audience participation through the internet.
The game show, ‘Public Property’, asks its audience to visit the web and vote on life-changing personal decisions for contestants. The decisions determine the outcome of the next day's broadcast.
‘Public Property’, is broadcast from the UK over the ITV network. The website was developed by London-based activ8 and is managed by Pearson Television Enterprises.
Digital Island, one of the leading global providers of managed Internet infrastructure, was commissioned by Pearson to both host the site and distribute the video content through their Footprint streaming media network.
Grant Bremner, Interactive Manager, Pearson Television Enterprises, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to really demonstrate to consumers the potential of combining the Internet with a television broadcast. For the first time members of the public can talk to the people on the show and influence what is happening. This is a platform that doesn't take away from the show but extends it.
"The key was to make it simple and seamless for every day members of the public. By working with partners such as Digital Island and activ8, we were able go forward with a site that was completely functional, fast and reliable."
In the show, seven members of the public volunteer to become ‘public property,’ handing over complete control of their lives to the viewers at home for the show’s 13-week run. The resulting video diaries and web-based voting, which are updated daily, are an essential element of the ‘converged’ formula of the show.
The production team update the video diaries after each broadcast, and Digital Island, provide the total host services for the site, which includes the show's voting databases and site chat rooms. (CD)