TV
Teletext signs new 10-year deal with C4
Published Monday, Jun 16 2003, 16:47 BST | By Neil Wilkes
Teletext has today signed a new deal with Channel 4 to provide both analogue and digital teletext services for the next ten years.
The contract replaces the broadcaster's existing one with Intelfax, who operate the FourText service on analogue.
As a result, a new service, 'Teletext on Four' will launch on analogue at the end of the year, with digital rollout on cable, terrestrial and satellite planned for early 2004.
"The new Teletext on 4 service will have an expanded programme support function," a Teletext spokeswoman explained. "We will cover a wider range of Channel 4 programming with dedicated text support such as features, interviews and dynamic content, including allowing viewers to post real-time messages in chat pages."
Planned information services include news, finance, sport, weather and travel, racing, lottery results, regional cinema listings and a dating service for viewers to post and reply to personal ads.
"This deal will enhance our text service editorially and promises to be a good commercial deal for both Channel 4 and Teletext, but it is also a great deal for our viewers," said Anmar Kawash, Deputy Commercial Director at C4.
"We know they value the services available to them via the text button and they will hugely appreciate being able to access the traditional strengths of an enhanced text service in a digital environment as well as having the additional choice of 4 Active’s interactive services via the red button on their remote controls."
The contract replaces the broadcaster's existing one with Intelfax, who operate the FourText service on analogue.
As a result, a new service, 'Teletext on Four' will launch on analogue at the end of the year, with digital rollout on cable, terrestrial and satellite planned for early 2004.
"The new Teletext on 4 service will have an expanded programme support function," a Teletext spokeswoman explained. "We will cover a wider range of Channel 4 programming with dedicated text support such as features, interviews and dynamic content, including allowing viewers to post real-time messages in chat pages."
Planned information services include news, finance, sport, weather and travel, racing, lottery results, regional cinema listings and a dating service for viewers to post and reply to personal ads.
"This deal will enhance our text service editorially and promises to be a good commercial deal for both Channel 4 and Teletext, but it is also a great deal for our viewers," said Anmar Kawash, Deputy Commercial Director at C4.
"We know they value the services available to them via the text button and they will hugely appreciate being able to access the traditional strengths of an enhanced text service in a digital environment as well as having the additional choice of 4 Active’s interactive services via the red button on their remote controls."
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