Interview: Yahoo!'s Patrick Barry Discusses the New Yahoo!-Intel Widget Channel

At the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco last week, Yahoo! and Intel announced plans to launch the Widget Channel, an application framework which they say will allow operators, content providers, advertisers and others to develop Internet-based mini-applications, dubbed "TV Widgets," for broadband-connected TV's and other consumer electronics devices, using Web standards and tools such as JavaScript, XML, HTML and Adobe Flash. The companies--which say that the TV Widgets will, among other things, enable consumers to access Internet videos, track stocks or sports teams, interact with their friends, read news reports, find out additional information about the programs they are watching, and share content with friends and family--have unveiled a line-up of partners that are developing TV Widgets, including Blockbuster, CBS Interactive, CinemaNow, Cinequest, Comcast, Disney-ABC Television Group, eBay, GE, Group M, Joost, MTV, Samsung Electronics, Schematic, Showtime, Toshiba and Twitter. In this recorded episode of [itvt]'s talk radio show, "The TV of Tomorrow Show with Tracy Swedlow," Patrick Barry, VP of connected TV at Yahoo!'s Connected Life division, provides an overview of the Widget Channel and its partnering and monetization strategy; discusses the technology that underlies it; explains why Yahoo! is seeking to enter the interactive TV space; outlines future plans for the Widget Channel initiative; and much more. To listen to the show, click here.