AccuWeather has unveiled a channel that uses ICTV's ActiveVideo technology to enable viewer interaction and deliver a range of broadband video from the meteorological programmer's Web site. According to AccuWeather, the new channel, which the company is targeting at cable and IPTV operators, features interactive, real-time forecasts and other weather information, delivered to the television as a single programming stream, enhanced with targeted, interactive advertising. It allows viewers to navigate through such programming as searchable local forecasts, animated satellite-generated weather maps, and local TV weather broadcast programming. "Consumers have learned to count on AccuWeather for immediate access to weather conditions at any particular time," Jim Candor, AccuWeather's SVP of new media, said in a prepared statement. "Our AccuWeather ActiveVideo Channel will allow us to take the information and targeted, interactive advertising opportunities that already have been created for the Web and bring them to the larger audience of television viewers."
The new channel is delivered through ICTV's ActiveVideo Distribution Network. The company's ActiveVideo technology mixes linear and on-demand programming with broadband content from the Internet, and delivers it as personalized MPEG video streams. Because content can be created and modified using standard Web tools and creatives, ICTV claims, network operators, programmers and advertisers can create content once for delivery via the ActiveVideo Distribution Network to any cable or IPTV set-top box, regardless of hardware, software and EPG differences. Viewers can then navigate through, and interact with, the individual elements of the stream, using key clicks of their remote controls. ICTV bills ActiveVideo channels as allowing "network operators and programmers to provide an unlimited variety of content in a personalized experience that includes access to entire libraries of video, navigational elements, channel branding, targeted, interactive banner advertisements, and links to ad showcases." (Note: AccuWeather will be demo'ing its new ActiveVideo channel at the upcoming TelcoTV show in Atlanta, October 23rd-25th.)
In related news: at the recent IBC show in Amsterdam, ICTV demo'd new ActiveVideo channels from Reuters and Fox. Other companies using the ActiveVideo platform include HSN and TAG Networks.
Originally Published: October 12, 2007 in [itvt] Issue 7.39 Part 3A
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