COMMERCIAL SERVICES & NETWORKS
Interactive TV, or ITV, is any means by which viewers can interact with television programming. This rages from play-along games using telephone lines or other input methods to fully interactive video that is controlled by individual viewers. Below are those companies engaged in the development of systems or platforms for that interactivity
AT&T Home Information Center
Parent: AT&T Corp
101 JFK Parkway
Short Hills, NJ 07078-0996 USA
201.564.3893
201.564.3881 fax
A division of AT&T is introducing a product that connects people's televisions to their telephone lines. The AT&T Home Information Center takes textual information received by telephone and displays it on a television screen. Priced at $329, the HomeCenter starts as a digital telephone-answering machine, but also is a data receiver. Users pay a monthly fee to receive a bundle of data services, probably including weather and local traffic reports, news summaries, sports and stock-portfolio updates and a television guide. AT&T will be marketing the HomeCenter in conjunction with banks offering home-banking services through the device.
ACTV Inc.
ACTV uses four separate channels to allow viewers to customize programs. It plans to test an entertainment
service with the regional sports network Prime Time on the West Coast, providing programming where camera angles
at sports events can be changed and instant replay can be requested at any time. Play-along game shows are also
being developed. Group VideoTron - Montreal trial Cost: $15/month
Cableshare
Cableshare develops interactive television applications, multimedia information systems, and computer communications
products. It designed the system used by the
IT Network for the
Interactive Channel, a service which offers on-demand
programming, including information service, education, entertainment, games and electronic home shopping
FCC ruled that licenses cannot be sold until the winners have built transmitter, satellite cells and a station
serving at least 50% service area. Consequently, EON corp, Interactive Network
and
the three companies whose existing hardware platforms use IVDS technology are in the process of seeking alliances
with licensees.
Call Interactive
Call Interactive provides high-quality, high volume information processing and services related to credit card,
consumer funds transfer and telemarketing/teleservices for the interactive television industry.
DreamTime Imagineering Inc
DreamShop
Initially, DreamShop will encompass the shopping services already running on the Full Service Network
and on Pathfinder--including those associated with Catalog 1, Time Warner's 50-50 joint venture with
Spiegel Inc. Mall participants currently include: Warner Bros. Studio Store, Spiegel, Eddie Bauer, The
Sharper Image, Williams-Sonoma, The Horchow Collection, Time Warner Viewer's Edge, The Nature Company,
Crate & Barrel, The Bombay Company, Book-of-the-Month Club, Chrysler, and the U.S. Postal Service, the company said.
Eon Corporation
Formerly TV Answer, the Eon system is typical of the low-power radio broadcasting approach.
Eonı interactive programming is sent to a satellite which broadcast information to a multiple
cell transmitter station equipped with a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) and a cellular transmitter,
which in turn broadcasts the signal to remote transmitter units (RTUs) located in subscribersı homes.
Consumersı interactive broadcasts are sent back along the same route to the Eon facility which distributes
interactive data to the appropriate advertisers or programmers. Since Eonıs system is independent of the cable
network, it is capable of reaching the 40% of homes not connected to cable.
Cost: $500/hardware
eShop
eShop has partnered with General Electric Co.ıs financial services unit. The GE unit plans to help
retailers set-up services based on eShopıs electronic shopping software and may offer them billing,
transaction-processing and credit-card services
Evergreen Information Services
Evergreen has developed unique multimedia information databases with its N.tree navigational software.
It creates local data engines to deliver specific information about the community, such as arts, entertainment
and municipal information for interactive television and online services
GTE Main Street
Available in several cities, this I-TV service has a group of offerings similar to those of an on-line service.
Products include home banking, stock portfolio management, SAT practice tests and community calendars.
It works with coaxial cable and telephone lines, but has been designed to upgrade to fiber-optic networks
when they become available.
Cost: $9.95/month
Graff Pay-Per-View Inc.
Hearst Corporation
Hearst is a founding partner of UBI, an interactive TV service in Quebec Province, Canada, providing home banking,
interactive shopping and advertising, home game and lottery playing, electronic directory services, electronic mail
and home game and lottery playing
Interactive Channel (TM)
Interactive Channel, a division of Source Media Inc., is currently in a trial phase. Programming, delivered
over a combination of cable and telephone lines, includes on-demand news, electronic shipping, interactive yellow
pages, weather, a teachersı assistance program, sports, TV listings and interactive classified's. Users view still,
full-color images, accompanied by sound. Advertisers can sponsor programs. For example, Avis sponsored a travel
guide that allowed customers to select a destination city, view flight schedules and air fares and then connect
via telephone to a travel agent or an Avis reservations agent. It is in trial to 150 homes in Denton, Tex
Source Media Inc. John Reed, 214/890-9050 ext. 103
Interactive Digital Solutions
Interactive Digital Solutions is a joint venture of AT&T Network Systems and
Silicon Graphics. Formed in June 1994, Interactive Digital Solutions will develop and deliver fully integrated,
multimedia software environments for telephone company networks, cable TV systems, content providers and other businesses
around the world. This interactive multimedia environment will be integrated with hardware from open systems
suppliers to create products that deliver interactive services.
Interactive Network
Uses FM radio to send data in conjunction with the broadcast TV signal. Subscription gives viewers access to
play-along game show, sports contests and other programming
Cost: $199/hardware plus $15/month
Interaxx Television Network
Interaxx has developed an interactive television delivered service which it is marketing to cable operators,
merchants and cable subscribers. The system includes an Interaxx Machine, consisting of a CD-ROM drive, a
modem, a printer and an information manager. The system uses the vertical blanking interval to transmit data
to the unit.
inTouch TV
The InTOUCH TV system, a product of Interactive Systems, Inc. (ISI) and a member of the Tandem Alliance,
features an interactive home unit with microprocessor connected to a television, while the remote control
allows interaction with the broadcast television goal. The technology, VEIL encodes digital data onto the
active portion of all current types of television architecture. Since 1986, ISI has been creating and delivering
interactive television products and services throughout the world with strategic partners and customers.
Organizations in Spain, Australia, and the Netherlands already have completed extensive market tests of the
InTOUCH TVsystem. In 1,500 homes in Portland, Oregon, ISI has also orchestrated the broadest market test of
interactive television with participation from broadcasters, advertisers, programming producers, cablecasters,
telecommunications companies, and third-party service providers.
NTN Communications
NTN produces and broadcasts interactive television games and shows. The company's programming line-up includes 13
interactive games and programs. The network features 14 hours per day of interactive programming to the hospitality
and home consumer markets. The company broadcasts its signal 24 hours a day to North America and parts of the United
Kingdom
Programming is advertiser supported, with advertisers such as Chevrolet, Miller Brewing Company, American Express,
Cuervo, Gillette and Winston. Advertisers can also sponsor national competitions for those games that meet their
demographics. NTN is distributed in more than 1,500 hospitality businesses in the USA and Canada and 500 outlets
in the United Kingdom. It is available in homes on GTE's Mainstreet and General Electric's
GEnie service.
Response Reward Systems
Response Reward Systems has a technology that allows the dispensing of shopper-selected, product-specific,
advertiser-supported coupons in shoppersı homes in their absence or presence.
Scala Inc.
Scala is developing software for "computer television" - software that people use to deliver information via television. Scala has over 45,000 installed users in over 40 countries.
Sega Channel
The Sega Channel which began it national roll-out in December 1994, was developed by Sega of America,
Tele-Communications, Inc. and Time-Warner Entertainment Company, LP, is the industryıs
first interactive service, providing 50 of the hottest video games on demand, 24 hours a day. Sega Channel is priced in
the range of most premium subscription services. The programming is updated monthly. Inelegant but
functional, Sega Channel is suggestive of what is most workable in the near future in that it down loads
data and you work on that data locally.
USA Video
USA Video is a development stage company with a proprietary system for delivering video on demand.
The company's patented technology provides true video on demand where a remote user can search a library
of programming from a menu on a TV screen, order by remote control and receive individually selected
programming on demand.
World Interactive Network (WIN-TV) (TM)
Win-TV was established to launch 24-hour entertainment direct response television. The company produces entertainment,
home shopping, sponsored programs, promotions, contests and interactive television programs that are aired over its new
network. Additionally, World Interactive Network deploys and licenses their proprietary order management system to
support the fulfillment of goods and services offered through the television programming and by other home shopping
programmers.
Your Choice TV
Your Choice TVprovides a service that lets viewers order rebroadcasts of popular TV programming,
such as NBC's rebroadcasts of popular TV programming. Cost $1.00-$1.50/program
Zing Systems
Zing Systems develops and markets Zing, an interactive television system that involves viewers in all forms of
broadcast and cable television programs and commercials. Zing gives viewers the opportunity to compete along
with contestants in game shows, solve murder mysteries before the plot is revealed, become a judge in a boxing
match, send opinions to producers and on-air hosts during shows, and even purchase products or request information,
all at the push of a button
1270 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2401
New York, New York 10020 USA
212.262.2570
212.459.9548 fax
150 Dufferin Ave., Suite 906
London, Ontario
Canada N6A 6N6
519.663.4460
519.663.0339 fax
2301 N. 117th Ave
Omaha, NE 68164 USA
402.498.7595
402.498.7530 fax
Larry Matthews, 214/526-3080
Edelman Worldwide Reba Russell, Michael Ares, 214/520-3555
1941 Roland Clark Pl.
Reston, VA 22091-1405 USA
703.715.8600
703.715.8853 fax
1300 S El Camino Real, Ste 201
San Mateo, CA 94402 USA
415.573.7770
415.573.5167 fax
19 Indian Hill Rd
Westport, CT 06880-5713 USA
203.227.7647
203.226.7331 fax
Parent: GTE Corp
1 Stamford Forum
Stamford, CT 06904 USA
203.965.2244
203.965.4127 fax
536 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
212.941.1434
212.941.4746 fax
New Media & Technology Division
959 Eighth Ave., 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10019 USA
212.765.3528
212.649.2399 fax
8140 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 1000
Dallas TX 75231 USA
214.890.9050
214.890.9014 fax
Already has an audience of 30 million homes for its ad-supported weather, news and sports information delivered
via telephone. The service offers on-demand programming including information services, education, entertainment,
games and electronic home shopping. It is testing ITV serviced in Birmingham, Michigan
2011 North Shoreline Blvd., MS 9U-150
Mountain View, CA 94043 USA
415.390.3800
415.967.8496
2840 Junction Ave.
San Jose, CA 95134 USA
408.325.5000
408.324.2000 fax
12300 Biscayne Blvd., #800
North Miami, FL 33161 USA
305.893.9911
305.891.9498 fax
15725 Southwest Koll Pkwy., Suite 3-C
Beverton, OR 97006 USA
503.627.0149
503.643.1778 fax
2121 Palomar Airport Rd., Suite 205
Carlsbad, CA 92009 USA
619.438.7400
619.438.7470 fax
945 Treasure Lane
Vero Beach, FL 32963 USA
407.234.5440
407.234.5949 fax
2323 Horse Pen Road, Suite 202
Herndon, Virginia 22071 USA
703.713.0900
703.713.1960 fax
810 Seventh Ave. 32nd. Floor
New York, New York 10019 USA
212.484.6767
212.974.8790 fax
2020 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 350
Century City, CA 90067 USA
310.282.0260
310.282.0270 fax
1875 Century Park East., Suite 930
Los Angeles, CA 90067 USA
800.964.1875
310.556.1875 fax
Parent: Discovery Communications
7700 Wisconsin Ave
Bethesda, MD 20814 USA
301.986.1999
301.657.0860 fax
8480 East Orchard Rd., Suite 6600
Englewood, CO 80111 USA
303.488.2500
303.488.2505 fax
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