Interactive TV

by Sandi Kilcollins
October 2000

Big Brother is watchingand being watched. In the tradition of MTV’s The Real World and the CBS sensation Survivor, CBS’s Big Brother has become an instant hit with an interactive twist. As most of the world knows by now, ten complete strangers are spending three months together in a two-bedroom, one bathroom house, equipped with 28 cameras and 60 microphones (yup, even the bathroom is wired).
Participants, called "guests," have committed to spending three months packed together in a closed environment[no computer, TV, radio, mail, telephone nor newspapers. The entire world is watching] their lives unfold, via television and AOL’s 24-hour-a-day record-breaking Internet video feeds (boasting the longest ongoing Webcast and most simultaneous video streams in Net history).
Every two weeks the houseguests will nominate two of their own for "banishment." The last guest remaining takes home a cool half million dollars. The interactive part? Viewers decide which contestant to eject via a telephone poll. It’ll cost you $.99 per call to cast your vote and interact with Big Brother.
Big Brother is currently airing on CBS six nights a week and has been collecting some impressive ratings. Viewers are encouraged to participate on-line via message boards, opinion polls and on-going chat (www.bigbrother2000.com), but a call to the 900 number shown at the end of each episode is the only way to actually impact the outcome of the show.

Liberty Media Pursues Interactive Content Development

Liberty Media’s new subsidiary, Liberty Livewire, will soon have completed the purchase of three of Hollywood’s largest post-production companies. Headed by John Malone, former head of TCI, Liberty plans to begin integrating interactive Web content during the creation of films, TV and advertising. They will then be in place to deliver broadband content over cable modems and phone lines to televisions, PCs and Internet appliances.
Liberty’s plans include a high-capacity server network for caching multimedia programming and elements, electronic cinema distribution for theaters, interactive video programming and advertisements and interactive delivery to nontraditional venues such as theme parks, restaurants and malls.
One day soon, you’ll be able to sit on the couch, order up pizza and a first-run movie, discuss the show with other viewers and choose your own ending. At the same time, you’ll be able to download a program upgrade for your washing machine and view commercials tailored to your income, buying habits and personal style. What a life.

Interactive TV Guide

You’ve got a TV. Maybe you’ve got a black box. Maybe you’ve got a computer. Either way, you’re ready to interact with your TV. There are just a couple of things you need to know. Exactly how and where do you go to actually do it?
The how. Interactive TV currently comes in two flavors, one-screen interactive television and two-screen interactive television. One-screen interactive televisionsometimes called "enhanced"combines additional content with the broadcast signal. A special receiver decodes the embedded data and displays it on your TV screen. You then use your remote to click icons on the screen, or a keyboard to vote, compete or make purchases while you watch.
Two-screen interactive TV requires a computer with Internet access available in the same room as the TV. While you view the program, you vote, purchase or compete via the Net. You don’t need a special receiver.
The where. Following is a partial list of programs currently offering interactive content.

One-Screen Interactivity
(ATVEF-compliant receiver may be required)