TV over Internet protocol (TVIP) talking root in Europe

A new breed of TV -- featuring on-demand programs and choose-your-own music video channels -- is delivered over phones lines that are equipped with a high speed Internet connection, reports Reuters.

"TV over phone lines, also known as TV over Internet protocol (TVIP), is already taking root in Europe, with offerings from France Telecom, Italy's FastWeb, Britain's HomeChoice and others. There are many more on the way, with Britain's top fixed-line phone company BT Group in talks with content companies as it prepares to launch its own service.

In Washington, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell said on Sept. 15 that almost every major U.S. phone company he has talked with is working to develop TVIP offering.

TVIP takes advantage of the increasing popularity and prevalence of broadband Internet, plus improved technology for delivering customized video and compressing it to a manageable size without hurting quality.

For many of the TVIP companies it is still early days, but there is ambition to spare. Britain's HomeChoice has a mere handful of subscribers, though it plans to hit 20,000 by year-end, thanks to a heavy marketing campaign."

emily | 3:05 PM | TV on Cell Phones |
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