--UPC Launches Company's Games in the Netherlands
French interactive TV games company, Visiware (note: while best-known for its ITV games, the company has begun pursuing a "triple-play" strategy that sees it offering integrated gaming across ITV, the Web and mobiles), has partnered with ESPN Classic, a channel that has a presence on European cable, satellite and broadband and that showcases great sporting moments and sporting legends, to develop a game called "Rugby Fun." According to Visiware, the game--which is comprised of 10 mini-games (all of which are played using the TV 
remote), and which is being sponsored and promoted by ESPN Classic (the latter's corporate colors are currently featured in its design)--presents viewers with a series of increasingly "wacky" challenges, which they have to complete in order to gain the coveted title of rugby team captain. It has been released in France on Visiware's ITV games channel, Playin'TV (channel 243 on CanalSat and TPS, and channel 58 or 180 on Numericable), and to the European market in general on ESPN Classic's new Web site. "We are very happy to announce this joint venture with Visiware and Playin'TV, which highlights the importance of reaching out to our public and of strengthening the bond that brings us closer to rugby fans," ESPN Classic managing director, Roch Pellerin, said in a prepared statement. "This cooperation represents a fresh opportunity to create a strong, interactive gaming relationship in an area of sport which currently has the French in a frenzy of excitement. This is also a way of expanding our target market to introduce the network to the mass market; the game can be enjoyed by the family and its three generations (from seven to 77 years old)!"
In other Visiware news: the company's interactive TV games have been launched in the Netherlands by Liberty Global-owned cable operator, UPC. The operator is currently offering four Visiware games in its Vegas Games portal, and plans to launch four more over the coming months. The Vegas Games portal and the new Visiware games, which are priced from 0.50 Euros per play, are located within UPC's interactive TV portal, which is managed by Chellomedia Interactive Services and which is accessed via the "interactive" button on the UPC remote.
Originally Published: October 12, 2007 in [itvt] Issue 7.39 Part 3A
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