OpenTV Launches Movie Portal Application for Bell TV

Interactive TV middleware and advanced advertising technology provider, OpenTV, has launched a movie portal application for Canadian satellite TV provider, Bell TV. The portal, which is available with content from Bell programming partner, the Super Channel, allows movie content providers to promote specific channels, as well as individual movies on those channels, through a customizable application that runs on OpenTV's Core middleware platform. Among other things, the portal features a themed search option, as well as a scheduling option that lets viewers set up recordings and reminders several weeks in advance of a movie's broadcast. According to OpenTV, the new portal is designed to drive viewership by non-subscribers, by giving them the option of subscribing to the featured channel directly through the portal. "This launch is another demonstration of the advanced capabilities OpenTV middleware can offer its customers relative to other technology providers," Mike Ivanchenko, OpenTV's SVP of worldwide sales, said in a prepared statement. "This portal gives network operators and content providers new options in promoting their channels and content, and we are very excited to partner with Bell TV on this first launch."

In other OpenTV news:
--Comcast Spotlight, the advertising-sales division of the eponymous cable MSO, has launched the company's ad-campaign management solution, OpenTV EclipsePlus, in two more markets: Philadelphia and Seattle. Comcast first launched EclipsePlus in Baltimore earlier this year (note: Comcast is currently conducting a six-month trial of addressable advertising on its Baltimore systems). "Managing increasingly complex ad buys requires robust solutions that streamline processes and make the job easier for our ad sales teams," Steve Feingold, Comcast Spotlight's SVP of operations and strategic planning, said in a prepared statement. "We've found those capabilities in EclipsePlus and we look forward to rolling out the platform in additional markets." OpenTV bills EclipsePlus as being capable of handling thousands of local and interconnect networks, scheduling complicated channel environments, and running multiple DMA's within a single database. Differentiators of the platform, according to the company, include an automated scheduling system which it claims improves inventory yield and reduces labor-intensive activities in large systems, as well as support for electronic real-time data exchange. Earlier this year, OpenTV appointed former Comcast Spotlight SVP of technology, Paul Woidke, as SVP of advanced advertising. (Note: for an in-depth interview with OpenTV CEO, Ben Bennett, in which he discusses how EclipsePlus fits into the company's "three-phase" strategy, see [itvt] Issue 8.01.)
--Israeli pay TV provider, HOT (has around a million digital subscribers), has deployed the company's Core2 middleware to power its new HDTV services. "The industry is seeing a transition to the next generation of services such as high definition, and Core2 continues to demonstrate its capabilities in supporting advanced digital television launches around the world," OpenTV's Mike Ivanchenko said in a prepared statement. "We are extremely pleased to have been selected to expand the offering for Israel's largest operator and look forward to a strong partnership. OpenTV Core2 provides HOT with a base to move forward to the next generation of services and hardware without having to worry about migration issues." Added HOT CTO, Meidad Katz: "OpenTV was selected to provide us with a robust and scalable solution which we needed to accommodate our growing business and new services. We look forward to a continued and strong partnership with OpenTV and to bringing more advanced services to our subscribers."