August 19, 2005
3G launching truly interactive 2-way mobile TV channels
3G operator 3 is launching what is one of the first truly interactive two-way mobile TV channels, reports New Media Age.
Sky TV channel show Your Destiny is being relaunched over 3G as Psychic Interactive, and will enable viewers and presenters of the show to have full two-way video interaction.
The Psychic Interactive service enables users to access content by simply making a video call on a 3G phone to have it streamed to them. The content can be fully interactive, enabling the caller to be seen by the TV presenter.
Endemol has previously used this in shows to enable viewers to dial in to watch a show, such as Cosmetic Surgery Live, and send in video of themselves. But this is one of the first examples of full interaction with a show's presenters.
Viewers are presented with a split screen on their phone, enabling them to choose from interacting with one of three live presenters or watching the live show. "This lets the psychics see and hear the viewers, which lets them get a much better feel for their reading," said Marek Zwiefka-Sibley from Requestec.
The spread of such services into the mainstream depends on the adoption of video shortcodes by the other UK operators. Vodafone has already launched the service; O2 and T-Mobile are expected to follow by the end of the year.
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