Category: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ;
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔi
Date: 14.10.2004
Printable version
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Chairman, Michael Grade, today (14 October 2004) reinforced the
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's commitment to working more closely with the interactive TV industry
to create a vibrant market.
In his opening keynote speech to the Interactive TV Show Europe in
Barcelona, Mr Grade said the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ had "a duty" to "invigorate
the market" by working more closely with independent production
companies and sharing the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's expertise.
"We must never forget that the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has been able to achieve its
current leadership position in interactive partly because its secure
funding has allowed it to make substantial investments in this new technology
at a time when others in the industry have not been able to. That puts
certain obligations on us."
Mr Grade added that, as the world's foremost producer of interactive
TV services, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ would be prepared to share its expertise if companies
asked for help.
"The great store of knowledge the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has amassed about interactive
[is] not just a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ resource, but a resource for the whole industry
- including other broadcasters.
"The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is committed to sharing this knowledge freely and openly."
Stressing that for audiences "great content" is their imperative
for using new technologies, Mr Grade said the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Board of Governors
"have a duty to ensure the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is run in the public interest, and
that includes ensuring a level playing-field in the supply of content
as between Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ in-house producers and those working in the independent
sector.
"In principle that must apply to the supply of interactive television
content as to anything else."
As part of his speech to delegates from all over Europe and the United
States, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Chairman also announced the launch of Ten Extra, an
interactive service due later this month around the 10 O'Clock News,
which Mr Grade claimed would add an extra dimension to the news and
provide "another way for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ to deliver its public value commitment."
