–ESPN in Xbox Live Programming Deal
US satellite TV operator, EchoStar, and Disney and ESPN Media Networks recently launched two new interactive TV applications on EchoStar’s DISH Network platform: ESPN Interactive Zone and Disney Channel Interactive TV.
ESPN Interactive Zone is accessed by clicking an on-screen button that appears during selected programs on ESPN’s various channels, or through EchoStar’s interactive TV portal, DishHOME. It offers viewers updated scores for all of the day’s major professional and college sports games (before the start of a game, it displays the game’s start time); ESPN headline news and stories; a feature called "Interactive Bottomline," consisting of scrolling headlines and scores that appear at the bottom of the screen; a reduced-size video feed that allows viewers to continue watching ESPN channels while using the new app; TV listings for all ESPN’s channels; and interactive advertising.
Disney Channel Interactive TV, meanwhile, which is accessed via the DishHOME portal, allows viewers to schedule recordings of Disney Channel programs; obtain Disney Channel show information from a ticker on the main menu; and interact with show-related content: once inside the application, viewers can preview and play a range of arcade-style games, based on such brands as "Hannah Montana," "That’s So Raven," and "Kim Possible." Five games are available at any one time, and titles are updated on a weekly basis. The app also allows viewers to go to the East Coast feed of the Disney Channel from any of its pages.
In other ESPN news: the broadcaster recently signed a deal with Microsoft to offer high- and standard-definition full-length games coverage, TV shows and video game programming on Xbox Live, the online games and entertainment network that Microsoft operates for its Xbox 360 games console. Programming available on Xbox Live as a result of the deal includes NCAA college football and basketball games, "Summer X Games 13," "World Series of Poker," "The Contender," and "Madden Nation." "Establishing this relationship with Microsoft on Xbox 360 provides an innovative way to reach our target demographic through this dynamic next-generation entertainment console," Matt Murphy, SVP of digital video distribution at Disney and ESPN Media Networks, said in a prepared statement. "This agreement embodies our mission to deliver the best sports content to fans, and does it through an exciting and robust platform that reaches millions of people." Added Ross Honey, senior director of Microsoft’s Media and Entertainment Group: "We are dedicated to providing our diverse community of Xbox Live users the premium entertainment content they want, and partnering with ESPN is a great example of our continued dedication in the video-on-demand space, especially in high definition." (Note: at CES last week, Microsoft announced that it has also signed Xbox Live programming deals with Disney-ABC and MGM. The deal with the former will see Xbox Live offering around 500 hours of SD and HD programming from the ABC broadcast network, ABC News, ABC Family, the Disney Channel and Toon Disney; programs will be available on the service the day after they air on linear TV. Microsoft claims that around 3,500 hours of on-demand programming are now available on Xbox Live.)
Published in Issue 7.58 Part 3 January 14, 2008 Subscribe: http://www.itvt.com
Filed under: Content
