Yoomedia PLC
13 September 2004
News Release
13 September 2004
YooMedia and ICTV to trial broadband TV on ntl platform
BroadbandTV Group, the recently formed joint venture between YooMedia and ICTV,
is to break new ground in UK interactive television by pioneering broadband
quality interactivity in a trial with ntl, the UK's leading digital cable TV
provider.
ICTV's HeadendWare (R) technology allows for far richer content within the
interactive broadcast stream than conventional interactive TV platforms because
it uses the techniques and tools that define high-end web experiences. Its
capabilities, which will be made available through ntl's existing standard cable
set-top boxes, include Flash and Shockwave (R) animation and high quality
streaming audio and full motion video.
YooMedia's chief executive, David Docherty, describes the difference in quality
as similar to that between dial-up Internet and broadband Internet. 'It has the
potential to transform the interactive experience for the viewer in the same way
that broadband transformed the Internet experience for web-users,' he said.
Mike McGrail, chief executive of ICTV, said: 'Until now, interactive television
has lacked the vivid quality of linear television or the best of the worldwide
web. Our technology gives BroadbandTV Group the opportunity to create a new
elite class of interactive services.'
BroadbandTV has also created a Partner Programme for broadcasters and content
providers to familiarise themselves with the possibilities opened up by the
HeadendWare (R) technology. Initial Development Partners include the BBC and
MTV.
Under the trial, BroadbandTV services will be made available to selected ntl
customers in 2005.
YooMedia
David Docherty, chief executive, 020 7462 0870
Powerscourt PR
John Murray, partner, 020 7236 5630
ICTV
Mike McGrail, chief executive, +1 408 364 9200
Paul Schneider PR
Paul Schneider, Principal, +1 215 702 9784
About BroadbandTV Group
BroadbandTV Group Limited is a UK joint venture company, equally held by
YooMedia plc (
www.yoomedia.com
) and ICTV Inc. (
www.ictv.com
). BroadbandTV Group
creates an exclusive partnership between the two companies for the purposes of
providing a complete next-generation interactive TV solution for the UK market.
The joint venture brings together YooMedia's expertise and track record in
delivering interactive media with ICTV's proprietary Headendware interactive TV
platform. BroadbandTV delivers the best broadband content, re-defining
interactivity on TV.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
Ruth Garrett Stockmarket Report.
Interactive services group YooMedia saw its share price soar almost 30%, after its joint venture with ICTV, BroadbandTV, announced an agreement with NTL. The venture will trial interactive services with greater bandwidth on the cable TV provider's services from 2005. The company compared the difference between current interactive TV offerings and its new technology as similar to the difference between a dial-up modem and broadband for internet services. The shares gained 5.75p to 26p.
Originally posted by davidtAnymore insider dealing?
Ruth Garrett Stockmarket Report.
Interactive services group YooMedia saw its share price soar almost 30%, after its joint venture with ICTV, BroadbandTV, announced an agreement with NTL. The venture will trial interactive services with greater bandwidth on the cable TV provider's services from 2005. The company compared the difference between current inte ...[text shortened]... etween a dial-up modem and broadband for internet services. The shares gained 5.75p to 26p.
http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk/247
YooMedia plc signs joint venture agreement with ICTV™
YooMedia Plc
03/11/2003
YooMedia plc, the interactive TV and wireless application service provider, and ICTV, the creator of HeadendWareâ, today signed a joint venture agreement to introduce the next generation of interactive services to UK cable operators.
HeadendWare is a centralised platform that enables cable operators to deliver next-generation subscriber services to any digital set top box. HeadendWare uses headend-based processing power and the existing digital plant to deliver cost-effective, two-way services including high-fidelity audio and full-motion video by performing real-time digital video and audio encoding of existing digital content.
With HeadendWare, digital cable subscribers can use their existing set top boxes and remote controls to interact with robust multimedia applications developed with standard PC, Web and Java tools. HeadendWare supports the latest versions of HTML, JavaScript, Java, Windows Media Player®, Flash®, RealPlayer® and QuickTime®. HeadendWare removes set-top box and middleware constraints on the delivery of compelling interactive multimedia content.
Under the terms of the partnership agreement, YooMedia will work with ICTV to introduce advanced levels of interactive multimedia entertainment to YooMedia’s existing digital cable partners in the UK. YooMedia intends to use its existing cable user management, portal and billing technologies, alongside the HeadendWare technology, to deliver a new generation of original and third party interactive content on cable in the UK.
Eddie Abrams, YooMedia’s Development Director says, “This agreement has the potential to revolutionise the UK digital cable interactive experience. We believe that the versatility of the ICTV HeadendWare solution, combined with YooMedia’s experience in developing sophisticated interactive TV applications, is an unbeatable combination.”
Rick Cluthe, Managing Director of ICTV Europe comments, “The availability of content and applications is vital to the success of interactive television. YooMedia’s commitment to digital cable interactive television in the UK is well recognised; we expect that their applications expertise and the HeadendWare platform will combine to speed the pace of interactive deployment in Europe.”