The BBC has released details of its interactive TV plans for the upcoming soccer World Cup 2006. It plans to offer World Cup interactive services on all three major digital TV platforms (satellite, cable, terrestrial) both during and between game broadcasts.
During live game broadcasts, digital cable and satellite viewers will be able to press the red button, whenever a "BBCi" icon appears on-screen, to enter an interactive application: the app will feature a menu bar along the top of the screen, with various options linked to the color fasttext keys of their remote controls. The red menu key will provide alternative audio streams: viewers will be able to choose between listening to commentators from BBC Radio Five Live or selecting a "No Commentary" option which will allow them to listen to the sounds of the crowd. The green menu key will provide viewers with rolling highlights–complete with graphics–from the current game. The blue menu key will allow them to access a statistics menu with constantly updated facts and figures from the current game, such as possession, corners won, and fouls conceded, as well as schedules, results and tables from the World Cup as a whole. Finally, the Yellow button will take viewers to an area, dubbed "Your Shout," that will be devoted to user-generated content, including text messages, emails and player ratings (viewers will be able to rate players via interactive TV, the Web and mobiles). The simultaneous group matches in the final group phase will also be accessible here. Viewers on the UK’s free-to-air digital terrestrial platform, Freeview, meanwhile, will be able to choose between commentary from BBC television or from Five Live; will be able to view the rolling highlight updates and simultaneous group matches; and will also be able to access the statistics menu.
Between live broadcasts, the BBC will offer a service called "BBCi World Cup Zone." Digital cable and satellite viewers will be able to access the service by first pressing the text button on their remote to reach the BBCi-bar (appears on the bottom of the screen); a prompt will then appear, telling them to press "Select" to enter the service (note: the BBC says that the service has been designed for ease-of-use, with step-by-step on-screen instructions). The service’s "homepage" will be a mosaic display with three mini-screens, a quick guide to "What’s on now," and a schedule of upcoming games. Viewers will be able to scroll down to their preferred screen using the arrow keys on their remote and press "Select" to watch it in full-screen mode. Viewers will also be able to access an interactive service devoted to the England team: it will provide interviews with team manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, coverage of press conferences, video profiles of players, news and opinion on the World Cup, and repeats of England games. In addition, viewers will be able to access 15-minute highlight reels of every game, and a reel dedicated to notable goals from the tournament. Freeview viewers, meanwhile, will be able to access the 15-minute game highlights, the goals round-up, and a less comprehensive selection of content devoted to the England team.
The BBC will also offer a show, called "BBC World Cup Extra," on its interactive TV platform. The show, which will be available after every England game and after other significant games, will provide analysis and commentary.
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