PBS Plans iTV Strategy

by Alan Sheckter, Smart TV & Sound news editor

At the recent PBS annual meeting in Philadelphia, PBS iTV Director Deron Triff said that the network is currently working with Sony to develop interactive features for some of the set-top boxes it supplies to cable subscribers.

In an interview with Interactive TV Today, Triff said goals included ensuring that PBS iTV content was compatible with all digital cable systems, arranging interactivity onto those systems and making it possible for individual PBS stations to enhance national programming with their own local iTV content. PBS anticipates testing this local iTV/national iTV concept with NJN in New Jersey and WNET in New York.
Recently, seven PBS stations across the country tested local iTV insertion methods during some episodes of “Scientific American Frontiers.”

Interactive TV Today also reported that PBS is working with Microsoft to test interactive content performance on additional, advanced set-top boxes. St. Louis’ KETC would be the test station for this project.

While PBS is first focusing on DTV capabilities, Triff told Interactive TV Today that PBS’ iTV strategies are based on three goals. First, iTV content must work well across multiple platforms; second, that PBS aim high technologically as it tests and develops iTV content, and finally, to prepare cable and satellite providers to carry national and local PBS iTV content.