JML

(Note: Earlier this week, [itvt] published a news story on UK home shopping programmer JML's launch of an interactive TV service based on Miniweb's TV Keys and Key & See offerings. A Miniweb representative subsequently contacted us to let us know that the press release on which we based our story had, in error, been released too early. We are therefore publishing an updated version of the story, which contains information on how the new service works that was omitted from the earlier version of the release.)

UK-based Miniweb says that its TV Keys service is now powering an interactive TV application for home shopping programmer, JML, on the Sky satellite-TV platform (note: Miniweb, which was founded by former BSkyB interactive TV executive, Ian Valentine, recently raised $32 million in new funding and appointed a new CEO--see [itvt] Issue 8.06 Part 1). The application--which can be accessed from five JML channels (JML, JML Home & DIY, JML Choice, JML Lifestyle and JML Cookshop) by using the remote control to punch in a code--allows viewers to use their remotes to browse inventory and make purchases. Via a functionality that Miniweb calls "Key & See," the app lets viewers continue to watch the channel they launched it from while they use it.