HONG KONG: News Corp's technology solutions arm NDS Group has announced that Sichuan Provincial Network has deployed NDS end-to-end solutions for the commercial launch of their digital and interactive cable TV broadcasting network.

Capitalizing on the digital infrastructure, Sichuan Provincial Network is launching a wide-scale deployment of subscription and interactive TV, and is now offering Sichuan Cable TV digital viewers Sichuan Provincial Network interactive stock information service, CCTV Sports Interactive World Cup 2002 coverage and Chinese-language interactive program guide, an NDS release says. All three Chinese-language interactive TV applications were co-developed by NDS. 

The Sichuan Provincial Network digital programming package includes over 60 channels. The basic subscription fee is RMB14 for 35 channels. Premium tier and interactive TV services, such as the iTV stock information service, are available for an additional fee. Sichuan Provincial Network is offering an introductory price of RMB2,580 for the digital set-top box and installation. 

NDS claims that its Open VideoGuard conditional access delivers secure digital cable TV services to over 7 million viewers