Prime Turns Interactive With Two Way TV
Prime Television has signed a three-year deal with interactive television specialist Two Way TV that will see new forms
of interactive TV being launched as of next week.
The technology allows analogue broadcasters to be interactive without the need for any digital set-top boxes.
The interactivity will enhance Prime’s flagship new season current affairs programme, Paul Holmes.
Prime Television late last year signed the authoritative broadcaster from TVNZ to host a nightly 7pm current affairs
programme which debuts this Monday at 7pm.
“This is one of the world’s first deployments using mobile Interactive TV with a live current affairs programme,” the
Chief Executive Officer of Prime Television, Chris Taylor said.
“Interactivity is one of the key aspects of our new flagship current affairs programme because the programme needs to
reflect the views of the people of New Zealand.
“We wanted to include as many different voices from the community as possible. Two Way’s technology and concepts are
making that truly possible, in real-time and we are very pleased to be using this quite amazing, state-of-the-art
technology.”
“Two Way has created a mobile interactive service where all viewers who are watching Prime Television (free-to-air or
using a Sky NZ set-top-box) will be able to send comments and questions via their mobile phone - acting as a TV remote
control - to the studio,” the managing director of Two Way Mr Jim McKay said.
“These messages will be reactions to topics being discussed and potentially questions to guests being interviewed and
they will be broadcast live on-air, appearing as on-screen graphics reflecting the national mood in a much more
sophisticated way than the worm that was used during political debates.”
Viewers only need to be able to see the Prime Television picture on a standard TV set and have a mobile phone to be able
to interact without the need for a set-top-box.
ENDS