MEDIA-I: CLP takes interactive TV plunge in HK

<p>HONG KONG: CLP Telecommunications, a subsidiary of CLP Holdings, </p><p>and Yes Television, a domestic pay television programme service </p><p>licensee, will launch Yes Television interactive TV services in Hong </p><p>Kong under the Oxygen brand later this year. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>CLP TeleCom plans to form a joint-venture with Yes Television to operate </p><p>an interactive TV service as part of a fully convergent communications </p><p>and entertainment offering to Hong Kong households. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>CLP TeleCom said it would own 75 per cent, while Yes Television will own </p><p>the remaining 25 per cent of the joint venture. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Oxygen interactive TV service will offer Hong Kong families broadcast </p><p>television, video on demand, internet access and email ability from </p><p>television sets. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>It will also offer a dual-language interface in English and Chinese, and </p><p>will eventually provide broadband access, business to business (B2B) and </p><p>business to consumer (B2C) initiatives for small- to medium-sized </p><p>enterprises and business customers, as well as other multimedia and </p><p>communications services. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>A pilot test will be conducted in Taikoo Shing and Kornhill on Hong Kong </p><p>Island between May and August to "fine-tune the service in preparation </p><p>for the commercial launch later this year". </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>CLP TeleCom launched its retail brand Oxygen in late April, offering </p><p>various internet services. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>According to CLP TeleCom managing director, Peter Heavyside, the company </p><p>spent HKdollars 50 million (USdollars 6.4 million) in developing the </p><p>Oxygen brand. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Heavyside added the company would not depend on online advertising to </p><p>generate revenue, but would charge users for the service. It is hoping </p><p>to offset its late entry into the market by offering filtering software </p><p>that blocks indecent material. Other Hong Kong power utilities, </p><p>including Hong Kong & China Gas (Towngas), launched similar services </p><p>last year. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Services such as Towngas' iCare also offer internet access through TV </p><p>and e-commerce facilities. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Yes Television recently launched Easy Television, an IP-based </p><p>interactive television platform in Australia. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>