ITAA Launches Interactive TV Council

A consortium of companies leading the development of interactive and enhanced television technologies have formed the Interactive Television Council (iTVC) under the auspices of the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA). The new organization will promote the development and deployment of these technologies and related services to provide member companies with a venue for the regular discussion of issues of common interest to the industry.

Founding members of the Council are: Canal+Technologies, Inc., Concurrent Computer Corp. , OpenTV MQUOTE NASDAQ:OPTV>, Liberate Technologies , MetaTV Inc., Microsoft Corp. , SONICblue Inc. , TeleCruz Technology Inc. and TiVo Inc. .

Interactive and enhanced television includes technologies and services such as video on demand, electronic programming guides, customized and localized information (such as news, weather and sports), Internet access, games, digital video recording, and T-commerce (TV-based shopping and banking), as well as viewer-to-viewer applications such as email, chat and game networks.

“Interactive television promises to transform the television viewing experience for consumers around the world. We are delighted that the interactive and enhanced television companies shaping the future of this burgeoning marketplace have opted to be an important part of the ITAA community,” Harris N. Miller, president of the Arlington, Va.-based ITAA. “While their technology may be new to many Americans, market research firm IDC expects interactive television services will reach 36 million U.S. households by year-end 2005. ITAA is ready to play its part in helping these firms bring the digital revolution to the American people.”

The ITAA consists of over 500 corporate members throughout the U.S., and a global network of 46 countries’ IT associations.