--Launches ITV Trivia Games for Australian Football and Rugby
Australian pay-TV provider, Foxtel, recently contacted [itvt] to let us
know about the various interactive TV services it is offering in
conjunction with its programming this month (note: Foxtel's ITV
services, dubbed Foxtel Active, are powered by OpenTV middleware):
- The fourth series of the reality show, "Australia's Next Top Model"
(began April 22nd) is once again featuring a red-button application.
The app allows viewers to vote for their favorite model, access
exclusive bonus footage, find out more about the lives of the show's
contestants, and win prizes.
- The 2008 MTV Awards (air April 26th) will feature an interactive TV
app that allows viewers to select from four options: 1) the awards
show's live broadcast, 2) commentary from selected at-home viewers,
3) backstage footage, and 4) special highlights, starting with the red
carpet.
- Sky News will dedicate two channels of its Active ITV service to
ANZAC Day (April 25th): the first dedicated channel will replay major
ANZAC Day events, "allowing the audience to view these ceremonies
at a time that suits them"; while the second channel will broadcast
interviews with and features on Australia's and New Zealand's war
veterans.
- Fox Sports is allowing viewers to select from up to four British
Premier League soccer games, through Foxtel Active's Viewer's Choice
application, during games broadcast on its linear channel on Saturday
nights and Sunday mornings. It is also offering interactive content to
enhance its coverage of National Rugby League, Australian Football
League and Super 14 Rugby Union: while watching a game, viewers
can press the red button to view alternate camera angles, score updates,
team and player statistics, and various different audio channels, such as
referee comments or main stadium sound.
- Movie Network is offering red-button ITV content during its premiere
of the film, "Flushed Away." The content includes video extras, movie
information and a quiz.
In other Foxtel news: the operator has launched two new interactive TV
games that invite viewers to test their knowledge of the Australian
Football League (AFL) and Australia's National Rugby League (NRL).
Entitled "AFL Daily Trivia" and "NRL Daily Trivia" respectively, and
developed in partnership with Two Way TV Australia, the new games
each provide viewers with 20 questions, updated on a daily basis. They
are located in the "Brainteaser Trivia" section of Foxtel's ITV games
portal, Gamesworld (channel 555). "By adding these new categories
relevant to individual viewers, Foxtel is creating a personalized
interactive service that can be expanded in the future with more sports
and other genres," explained Patrick Delany, Foxtel's executive director
of content, product development and delivery. The Gamesworld portal,
which can also be accessed by selecting the "Active" button on the
Foxtel remote, offers ITV games in three genres: "Kids Family,"
"Casino Sport" and "Brainteaser Trivia." Each genre is priced at
AUS$6.95 per month (AUS$16.95 for all three), and individual games
are priced at AUS$1 each.
