SEARCH NEWS:

 

Fixed Odds Interactive TV Planned for UK

LONDON – (PRESS RELEASE) -- The interactive TV and mobile services specialist, Two Way TV, in partnership with interactive gaming solutions specialist Zone4Play (OTCBB:ZFPI), is set to launch two fixed odds interactive TV services across the UK on the ntl and Telewest Broadband digital cable platforms in the New Year.

The two interactive channels will be called The Winner Channel and The Roulette Channel. The first will provide a range of fixed odds formats, including Slots, Hi-lo, Keno and Dice and will also feature a headline jackpot of GBP500,000 at launch. The Roulette Channel will include a range of roulette-style games. The channels will provide digital cable viewers with their first opportunity to take part in many popular instant win, fixed odds games.

The new interactive channels will also offer viewers a customer loyalty programme and a variety of 'special events'. Viewers will be given the opportunity to accumulate loyalty points that can be exchanged for cash, prizes and other rewards.

The addition of these two new channels will build on Two Way TV's experience of running skill-based games channels on ntl and Telewest Broadband. These have proven to be a substantial revenue earner for Two Way TV.

The new channels are the result of a partnership between Two Way TV and Zone4Play. Zone4Play is providing the technology platform for the channels including: ZoneMAS(TM) and ZoneITS(TM) a multi-platform gaming back office solution that enables the delivery of gaming applications on any platform.

Guy Templer, commercial director of Two Way TV, said: "We have been running fantasy casino-style games for the last year and these have proved remarkably popular, so creating real betting services is a natural extension for us. Digital cable TV is virgin territory for these types of service and we believe that there is significant unmet demand".

David Thatcher, Director of Television at ntl commented: "Two Way TV was the first partner to launch premium interactive services on our platform and these have been amongst our most popular services to date. We're delighted to offer our customers more choice of interactive services at the start of a year which will see regular enhancements to our overall digital TV service."

Eric Tveter, president and chief operating officer of Telewest Broadband, added: "This is an exciting new genre of content for us and we're keen to give our viewers cutting edge interactivity. Together with Two Way TV and ntl we are making maximum use of the 'always on' connection and the multiplayer capability of cable set top boxes."

Two Way TV and Zone4Play have been working together on a number of projects for over two years.

Idan Miller, SVP of Marketing and Sales at Zone4Play noted, "interactive betting has proven to be the most successful genre of applications on iTV in the UK and internationally. As well as a first for UK Cable, this also marks Zone4Play's first deployment of our end to end technology platform in the UK."

The two companies already run the "play4fun casino service", currently on ntl and Telewest within the Two Way TV Games Channel. This service offers viewers fantasy versions of Video Poker, Roulette, Baccarat, Blackjack and Sic Bo.

< Gaming News