Eclectic Innovations

This was written to a government fund manager in the gaming sector.

The request concerned leveraging a console to get onto the television.  Unfortunately, even this, most senior of all gaming industry people – australia wide – could not obtain any interest in a system that connected TV with a console.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

I’ve been working on the development of a standards based platform for interactive Free To Air TV.  Then I want to make Interactive Content.   Stories, with multiple paths, or advertising directories, for small businesses…

I’ve self funded 5 months development works towards a collaborative development project between the UK, EU and AU.  Things have been going well, but I’ve run out of cash, and need an investor to get over the next few hurdles.

Regarding the application of these ideas towards gaming, one of my many suggestions / ideas, would be to enable social networking / social media to be interfaced with FTA.   Providing the ability to produce new content from segments of on-network and broadcast content.

Perhaps ensure all content segments are less than 30 seconds or 15 seconds…

Other ideas would include

1. the production of content from home movies / photo’s, and the ability to upload to websites.
2. The ability to view Niche Channels
3. The Ability to Produce Content / Channels
4. The Ability to contribute to Channels
5. The Ability to distribute game stats / videos / etc.
6. The ability to advertise things for sale
7. The ability to access key web-sites (YouTube, etc.)
8. Other capabilities pertaining to the distribution of free to use content (excluding Broadband costs and any costs associated to the connectivity – ie: xbox live, etc.)

Overview of the iTV Project – Media Guide Networks

The Project aims to produce the software platform required for the distribution of Interactive Media To (branded) Consumer Electronics.  The platform business, produces and sells the software nationally, and internationally via Franchise / distribution agreements.  The platform generates revenues via the sale of channels (low cost in comparison to Foxtel, etc.) the distribution of content (pay per minute of SD or HD).

I’ve had initial conversations  with parties connected to the TV-Anytime Specification, that lead me to believe if the platform is made available to them on a cost effective basis, they will take it up on an international basis, as a means to standardise Interactive TV for Free To Air Services.

The Platform forms the basis of IPTV Licenses, and ensures content is “family friendly” etc.  The Project also provides the means to standardise the format of an interactive TV Content Package.  There are many potential patents.

Over the past 5 months, I’ve established the top-level specifications, sourced interest from the UK, Denmark and Australia (Distribution) sourced potential partners / industry people who are principally interested in signing up on LOI’s / MOU’s for Distribution, etc.  Operationally, I’ve set-up relations as required throughout the Educational, government, Commercial, Technical, advertising, industry bodies and other related industrial drivers to help push the commercialisation curve if / as required upon successful acquisition of growth milestones.

Government funding has been researched, and the project initially seems to be aligned well with the requirements, for accessing the funds.  I have also acquired quotes for the  external business planning / validation process, which includes formulation for government funding (COMET, START, etc.), at an upfront cost of 15k, and total cost of 30k.

At this stage, I have projected a cost of 150k Cash for the development of a prototype, and the formulation of the business, so that it incorporates all the legal, partnership, membership requirements as well as the commercialisation framework required for build and commercialisation

The Technology platform is based on Standards, Primarily TV-Anytime.  The Project aims to produce a platform (and a platform operations business) for Free Interactive TV.  Pay for use services can be leveraged through the platform, however is likely to require ISP Billing integration.  Revenue forecasts for Free iTV Only Services suggest revenues exceeding $30 PCM, Per STU.  If Paid TV Services are also included the total revenue goes up, but the margin is diluted, through licensing and billing management processes.

The End-Game for the technology specification is to provide the means to deliver non-linear TV programming.  I have attached part of the specifications integrated business model documents, to provide you a window into the potential…

Regarding the Commercialisation – there are multiple opportunities.

1. The Production of a Console game / title, in a similar manifestation to singstar, but designed to leverage for iTV, through distribution of the title with a DVB-T Connector.
   1. This would fund the development of the specification, that can then be repackaged for repurposing to STB’s.

Let me know of your thoughts.

Timothy Holborn

The ITV Company

This entry was posted on Monday, July 23rd, 2007 at 10:19 PM by ubiquitous and is filed under ideas, The iTV Company. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.