The BBC is launching the first ever live, interactive Olympic Games from Salt Lake City, Utah next month. From 8 to 25 February, digital interactive viewers will have access to information and pictures on the events they want to see throughout the Winter Games.
The BBC will have daily coverage from late afternoon when the day?s events commence in the US, which continues through the night. Digital interactive viewers will also be able to access highlights of all the days action through BBCi the following day as video or text.

During live broadcasts, Digital Satellite (Sky) viewers will be prompted to press the Red Key to access a multiscreen with the options of Grandstand, plus two additional streams of live events at the Games, such as the adrenalin of the Skeleton or the grace of Ice Dancing. Viewers can select the event they want, or even watch all three. An updated schedule of events and the medal table is available through the Blue Key. During non-broadcast hours the interactive service will be available through pressing the Text button on the handset.

Digital Terrestrial (itvDigital) and Digital Cable (ntl and Telewest) viewers will receive a text based service alongside a live screen with current BBC pictures. The service will include details of medal winners and overall medal table, the schedule of forthcoming action, a "Guide to the Games" explaining some of the more unorthodox sports and expert analysis from former Olympians and BBC pundits, Graham Bell and Robin Cousins.

Head of Interactive TV Scott Gronmark said: "The multi-event format of the Olympics is perfect for providing simultaneous picture streams interactively. It gives viewers the power to choose which events they watch, as well as adding to the appeal of the Winter Games for a greater number of winter sports enthusiasts. The other terrific service we?re offering interactive viewers is next day highlights of action which took place in the middle of the night. This way, viewers can catch up on key events when it suits them - it?s all about choice and flexibility."

For news, events schedule and medal table information, plus interactive

Weather need no longer remain at the fag end of news shows. The first ever interactive weather channel using terrestrial digital television (DTV) spectrum has recently been launched in the US.

Promoted by NJN Public Television and Radio (NJN), AccuWeather, Triveni Digital and Zenith Electronics Corporation, the channel utilizes the flexibility of the ATSC Digital Television standard. Each viewer can interact with the received content individually, while not requiring any type of back channel to a central server.

This innovative digital television application uses the Advanced Television Enhancement Forum (ATVEF) Transport B specification for sending interactive TV data over the DTV spectrum. The data is stored in the STB memory and is available for interactive retrieval using the viewer‘s remote control.

TV-based interactive weather information is compelling in that it provides immediate access over TV while being easy to use with frequent updates. Taking advantage of the flexible 19.4 megabit-per-second broadband pipeline that the ATSC DTV standard provides, NJN plans to expand the portal offering to include local traffic, news, and other innovative local channels from Triveni Digital.

Scientific-Atlanta has announced that over 30 per cent of the MSO systems using its digital platform and interactive set-tops are carrying some form of interactive television (ITV) services available to millions of potential subscribers.

They run the gamut from video-on-demand to email, Internet access, enhanced viewing and t-commerce applications. Cable operators are deploying Scientific-Atlanta networks and Explorer digital interactive set-tops to provide subscribers with compelling interactive content to reduce churn and increase revenue, claims the company.

Adding to the pool of interactive TV applications cable operators have to choose from, Scientific-Atlanta also announced that InformTV has joined its CreativEdge Developer Program and is working to obtain certification of its new application, InformTV Sports 1.0. As a member of the CreativEdge Developer Program, the company will receive ongoing development support and testing and integration services throughout the application development process from Scientific-Atlanta.

The application, which InformTV expects to be available during the first quarter of 2002, complements existing broadcast programming by making sports scores, statistics and information available on every cable channel, completely independent of broadcast video content.

Despite filing an urgent application before the Bombay High Court, InCable lawyers today requested for the postponement of the hearing of the case, an ESPN Software spokesperson said today.

An urgent petition was filed by InCable Network on 8 January, 2002 in the Bombay High Court for restoration of ESPN and Star Sports signals which were switched off by ESPN Software India Pvt. Ltd. following the expiry of the period of the service contract on December 31, 2001. ?It appears that InCable is not keen on pursuing its application and instead, is using the pendency of the matter before the Honourable High Court to confuse and mislead its sub-operators and customers into believing that the ESPN and Star Sports signals will be restored shortly. InCable Network also continues to hold its own customers to ransom by charging them the usual subscription fees without showing them ESPN India and Star Sports India signals,? the spokesperson said.

Even though ESPN Software lawyers were present in court and ready to argue the case, InCable lawyers chose not to argue and instead requested for the postponement of the matter. Due to such a request, the Honourable High Court directed the matter to be taken up in the regular course and no date as such has been fixed for the next hearing.

Meanwhile, most cable networks affiliated to MSOs Hathway, Siticable and Wincable in Mumbai, as well as over 60 independent cable operators in and around Mumbai city, have signed the new service contracts for ESPN and Star Sports. Only the cable networks affiliated to InCable (that includes Seven Star which has a major presence in the western suburbs of Andheri-Juhu-Vile Parle) are yet to sign the new contracts.

?Regretfully it has also come to our notice that some cable networks affiliated to InCable are stealing the ESPN and Star Sports signals. This is a criminal offence under the Copyrights Act and the Indian Penal Code. We will initiate appropriate action against those cable network indulging in piracy of ESPN and Star Sports signals,? the spokesperson added.

When contacted, Ashok Mansukhani, executive V-P, corporate services, Hinduja Group said as the matter was sub judice he would not like to comment on this at this stage. X