Category: ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½;
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½i
Date: 14.10.2004
Printable version
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Chairman, Michael Grade, today (14 October 2004) reinforced the
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'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 ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ had "a duty" to "invigorate
the market" by working more closely with independent production
companies and sharing the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s expertise.
"We must never forget that the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ 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 ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ would be prepared to share its expertise if companies
asked for help.
"The great store of knowledge the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ has amassed about interactive
[is] not just a ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ resource, but a resource for the whole industry
- including other broadcasters.
"The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ 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 ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s Board of Governors
"have a duty to ensure the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ is run in the public interest, and
that includes ensuring a level playing-field in the supply of content
as between ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ 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 ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ 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 ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ to deliver its public value commitment."
