Interactive TV: a dream to come true
Using all necessary equipment and technology, ORF focused initially on broadband-via-IP for creating a service portal called tv.jet2web.tv. This is capable of offering video on demand in a 360 k-quality along with archive options and additional interactive text content for all Austrian digital subscribers. Furthermore, ORF also aimed at broadband-via-TV for optimising production and delivery of smart multimedia and broadband contents. More specifically, ORF involved in authoring and production of content material for Interactive TV (iTV) and Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) technologies. Additionally, they specified the functionalities of the SMARTCAST authoring tool, that is the Integrated Multimedia Production Line. Employing the SMARTCAST authoring tool, ORF was also able to develop three innovative interactive content formats. The first interactive content format concerning a big flood Austria experienced in the past is offered via "Zeit im Bild"- an enhanced TV-news program broadcast three times daily. Thereby, the user may get further textual or visual information on weather and climate or may take part in specific polls referring to politics. The second interactive content format refers to the opera ball and is available through the "Seitenblicke", an entertaining society and gossip-orientated news show. Synchronised with normal TV-info, it offers additional, enhanced text information and a poll and trivia section for interactive use by interested users. On the basis of the children's TV-game show "Eins, Zwei oder Drei", the third interactive prototype involves textual contents and game rules appearing by simple mouse clicking or button pushing. All three interactive iTV prototypes were produced on the grounds of the MPEG-4-standard and may be delivered via IP on the Internet or digitally broadcasted for reception by set-top boxes. In future, the same formats may also be offered on appropriate set-top boxes that use the emerging MHP technology that may provide a content environment that combines increased interoperability and enhanced interactivity in the broadcast services.
