News Round-Up:

Here is a round-up of some other recent interactive TV-related stories that we didn't have room for in this issue:

• UK incumbent telco, BT, plans to introduce advertising in the first half of 2011 in association with the VOD programming it offers on its Microsoft Mediaroom-powered hybrid DTT/IP platform, BT Vision, Marc Watson, chief executive of TV and online services at BT Retail, told Media Week last week. "Absolutely we will look to offer advertising [for certain content]," Watson said, adding that, while the company "will not show ads on our children's programming, and our customers want to experience movies without ads...we do want to install an ad system." Watson also stated that BT Vision is interested in the potential of targeted advertising: "We are very interested in targeting advertisers...," he said. "What broadband enables us to do is know our customers very well. We know their likes and dislikes and what they want to watch. This is subject to privacy laws, but there are commercial opportunities there." In related news: The Guardian has published an article that argues that a sports programming price war between BT Vision and BSkyB is "part of struggle for power to control the next generation of on-demand TV services."
• DirecTV and Panasonic have announced the launch of three 3D channels on DirecTV's satellite-TV platform: n3D, n3D On Demand and DirecTV Cinema in 3D.
• Broadcasting & Cable's John Eggerton has an update on the efforts of the Center for Digital Democracy, Consumers Union and other advocacy groups and professional organizations to persuade the Federal Trade Commission to expand the scope of the Children's Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA) to interactive TV and other forms of new media; and on the efforts of the NCTA to prevent such an expansion.