| Mediaset starts iTV trials with Sofia Digital's launcher |
|
Reti Televisive Italiane – Italian broadcaster of the Mediaset Group –
launches its digital TV trial using Sofia Digital’s Sofia Backstage®
Manager as a launcher. The DVB-MHP trial begins in September 2003 using
one terrestrial transmitter in Italy.
During the trial, a range of MHP services will be broadcast with TV channels Italia 1 and Canale 5. RTI uses the launcher application of Sofia Backstage® Manager for providing TV channel portals and controlling the interactive TV services available for viewers. The launcher loads, launches, presents, and closes MHP applications that are provided to the viewers. The product provides the viewers of the RTI channels with an easy access to iTV services. When a viewer pushes a remote control button, a full screen TV channel portal opens on the TV screen. The portal shows all iTV services available, and by clicking a link to an iTV service, the viewer opens the services he is interested in. The portals and their contents are different on different channels. Reti Televisive Italiane – R. T. I. S.p.A. – runs three national TV channels in Italy: Canale 5, Rete 4, and Italia 1. The viewing share of these three broadcasters is approximately 45 % making R. T. I. the most important commercial broadcaster in Italy. In addition to R. T. I. channels, the most profitable Spanish TV channel Telecinco also belongs to the Mediaset Group. Sofia Digital provides solutions for interactive TV services across the world. The products consist of tools for content providers, server applications for operators, MHP applications for receivers, and applications for return channel servers. Sofia Digital has built the world's first interactive digital TV services using the DVB-MHP. |
