A brief description of the motivation and vision for the concept

I have been developing standardised interfaces for interactive TV.  This work has been self funded.  The outcome I sought is the ability to create interactive advertising, as well as making the same opportunity available to others.

Free iTV can be achieved through advertising sponsorship, as the content and exposure is more valuable to businesses than the value it provides home users, with internet alternatives.  Therefore, this application provides a basis to create that advertising, for later sponsorship of content assets, distributed over IPTV networks.   There are a number of “tricks” that makes this style of advertising mechanism more compelling than previously available methodologies, including advanced geo-targeting.   Geo-Targeting enables localised advertising products and services to be sold to small to medium businesses, as a tool to pay for the delivery of on-demand content.  My initial figures suggest that it would take 14 advertisers per hour, at a cost of 7c USD per advertiser, per user, to pay for the download of content, in a profitable manner.  In Telecommunications terms, this means approximately 98 cents per user per hour of viewing.  However, that model may be some time away.

In-order to develop a content repository, of participating businesses and related content asset; an interactive TV business directory would provide the framework required to cultivate this new industry, and the content it could produce.  Once a mass of content has been developed, it can then be applied to entertainment and educational content, for sponsored delivery.

I believe this product, is a method and system, providing tools that are required in-order to substantiate the development of business advertorial products and services, by content developers.

I believe that in the future, every business will have interactive TV Advertising made available to them, in an affordable way.

A short personal or company presentation (competences, references and, if appropriate, areas of activity, number of employees, sales figures, form of company, etc.)

The iTV Company Pty. Ltd. is an Australian private company limited by shares.   It currently has a sole director, being myself – Timothy Holborn.   I have an advanced international network of professionals who are highly skilled in the area of IPTV.  Provided funding, these resources can be activated.   Further information about me can be found at www.linkedin.com/in/ubiquitous

The company has been facilitating a process of research and development, which has not required significant operational resources.   It has been difficult to attract investment in Australia for the projects undertaken by the company; including but not limited to, a low-cost live webcasting technology; and, an online media management featuring a live Transcoding and distribution system, to any format / broadband connected device; and, an international standard for interactive TV.

The company’s focus is upon interactive TV technologies and the application of such technologies on broadcast and broadband networks, in an economically useful manner.

Concept Proposal

The iTV Company would collaborate with Project Contributors to develop an Advanced Interactive Multimedia Business Directory.  The Interactive Video Business directory would provide localised advertising content to consumers.  It would be produced for all businesses either by the business themselves or through a production company of their choice.  This advertising content will showcase local businesses and their product / service offerings to the market.  The business directory and its content would be used to source products and services by consumers on a pro-active basis.

The system will act as the businesses “iTV home page” for client exposure throughout the iTV platform.  The Interactive Business Directories will provide mechanisms for advertisers to get value from their content.  Their iTV Advertisements / titles would be made available to consumers in a range of ways; including but not exclusive to,

1. A Reference ID
2. User Search
3. Integration into vertical market presentations (ie: the wedding guide, or the car repair guide)
4. The ability for businesses to use their content, for sponsoring content delivery in their local areas.

The project would incorporate software development of all the relevant mechanisms required, for integration of any-such content into the media room platform.   It would also require a range of marketing and operational development processes, to effectively promote the availability of the functionality throughout alpha, beta, pre-launch, and post-launch stages.  Sponsorship and advertising business systems will be one of the principle aims of the project; in being able to associate any-such content, to other content as a market based content sponsorship and free on-demand, content delivery.

The Interactive Multimedia Business directory project would provide the tools and processes required to make it easy for all businesses, to produce an advertisement for their business.  The advertisements would incorporate Video, Audio, user interactivity and other computer generated programmatically input-output based presentation materials.  As previously mentioned, any such advertising packages could be produced either by the business or by a professional organisation, which specialises in such work.

The online video business directory provides the subsidisation of video content as well as the paid content delivery by businesses, of content packages that might leverage the content archives made available through the introduction of an interactive multimedia business directory.

A description of the concept proposal – Business model

Potential advertorial participants may be businesses, government, not-for-profit organisations and even start-up businesses or videographers.  The delivery of content is charged to someone by the network operator.

The “interactive multimedia business directory”, is envisaged to incorporates a number of key components

1. A content publishing system that provides media-room compliant content packages
2. An menu-system complaint content management and presentation system
3. An advanced targeting system
4. A subscriber management, billing and measurement platform
5. A media packaging and presentation API for the Mediaroom platform
6. A web based content production system

The content production system would ideally be online WYSIWYG.  Principally, such a system would enable a user with basic knowledge to produce a content package and deliver that content package to the media-room platform without any programming knowledge.

If a content producer is hired to produce content, for distribution over this platform – the system should provide the means for an advanced user to create more advanced packages for the system.

For the purposes of demonstrating the concept, I will focus describing the components to make available, for the WYSIWYG interface.

The User would need to create an account on a website affiliated, and at the discretion of the platform operator.  The user would be identified, the account set-up, and the user would be “enabled” to the web-media room production package.

The production package would include a range of options.  Including “add new page”, “add new content title” and “Add new assets”, as key functions.   All assets required for the produced title, are uploaded to the content production platform.

Initially conceived revenue lines for the concept

1. Advertising distribution
   1. Pay per viewer
   2. Pay per product (i.e. compilation)
   3. pay to sponsor content
      1. i.      fixed fee
      2. ii.      Auction
      3. Production
         1. Pay to create an account
         2. Pay to get the SDK
         3. Pay to get someone to make a video for you

1. Content related revenues
   1. Broadcasters pay to manage accounts and/or incorporate functionality to broadcast delivered content
   2. Advertising pays for content viewership
   3. Click-through related revenue
      1. Pay for Referrals
      2. Pay for Sale
      3. Pay for SMS

A presentation on technical realisation (block diagram, basic technologies used, functions involved, resources required, scaling, etc.)

Regarding the technical feasibility of the project; I have spoken to the Microsoft TV Executives around the world, and the outcome is that this project is technically feasible.  However, without an agreement with a service operator connected to an existing media room platform, the software development kits are not made available.   Essentially the system is a web-based system.  There are a range of international standardised specifications that should be used, principally delivered in XML.  I believe the project can be for filled within the funding commitments made available by the Project Contributorsinteractive TV Award, as prescribed by the promotional materials.

I have not prepared advanced technical architecture or functionality specification, as I believe the spirit of this competition is to win the opportunity to collaborate with Deutsche Telekom, and there is likely a range of key business requirements your organisation would like to include; therefore, the principles I investigated pertained to whether there was any such existing system (whether or not it was unique) – finding that there is no existing system, and that it is a unique proposal at the time of due-diligence in preparation for this application; and, whether it was technically feasible to create – which I found to be so.  There are no foreseeable technical problems preventing the development and commercialisation of this opportunity.  I have existing agreements in-place that will help to lower the cost of development and commercialisation.

Industrial property rights or copyright in connection with the project ideas they have submitted.

The Concept of “the interactive multimedia business directory” was conceived by Timothy Holborn, founder of the iTV Company.   There is no third party Intellectual property rights known to The iTV Company or Timothy Holborn, that might preclude the right of Timothy Holborn / The iTV Company in producing and commercialising the products and service conceived as part of the project.

Throughout the project there will be intellectual property assets of 3^rd party organisations that will be utilised under standard commercial licensing terms.  Principally, such Intellectual Property will be incorporated into commercially available software solutions and/or specification licensing parameters.

Thankyou for your time in considering this proposal.  I look forward to a positive response, and a continued working relationship revolutionising local media industries, and the broader economic platform such tools provide our communities.

Project Owner: The iTV Company Pty. Ltd.

Founder and Director: Timothy Charles Holborn

Streaming Platform is a sophisticated website designed to provide online digital media services through a web-interface.

Streaming Platform will provide a customer with the ability to;

• Convert live or pre-recorded media files into a multitude of formats in real-time
• Distribute media files via a URL interface to any broadband connected end-point
• Store and search media
• Accelerate and enhance the distribution of high quality media over existing (and emerging) networks
• Track and govern distribution rights for media
• Implement digital rights on media
• Sign-up and manage an account online
• Automate the media management processes with an XML formatted file
• Interact with the external internet programs such as the Media Guide Networks channel platform and advertising sales systems

Media Guide Networks  www.mediaguidenetworks.com www.mediaguidenetworks.net

Media Guide Networks (MGN) is a sophisticated internet application framework designed for end-to-end management of interactive TV over broadband networks.

The Company foresees the future of broadcast networks and TV connected devices providing an interactive end-user experience.   This experience will be powered by hardware that supports media storage, broadcast reception and broadband delivered content.  Such devices will provide interactive menu systems within each channel, supporting an unlimited number of potential content asserts for use by consumers on a participation and broadcast basis. The MGN platform is designed to supply the features and benefits required to make this happen.

In existing digital broadcast networks, end-user devices have an interactive guide which helps a user change from one channel to another: This is called an Electronic Program Guide or EPG.   Through the introduction of interactive channelling each channel will require an additional interactive menu system. This will enable users to navigate and interact with the library of content each channel provider will provide on an advertising-sponsored basis over the broadband network, sometimes interacting with the broadcast.

Through investigations earlier in the year, the name of this type of interface was suggested to be a “media guide” in Europe, the leader of technology development in this area.  The Company purchased the domain, Media Guide Networks, to brand a service whereby a delivery system for media guides and related media assets, would be sold and marketed to international vendors and media companies.

The technology development project will incorporate a range of globally ratified existing standards such as TV-Anytime (Content Referencing), Globally Executable Multimedia Home Platform (GEM-MHP) (interactive content), DVB-SI / DVB-IPTV (possible signalling and content delivery specifications), VC-1 and H.264 or Mpeg 4 / AVC (media formats), XML (mark-up language), and a range of other associated standards.

There are a number of levels throughout the fulfilment process (from production to end-user) that this project (and The Company) will need to take into account.

1. 1. Media format

Existing interactive TV, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD platforms provide a consistent approach to interactive television design, application and software development. The MGN network will continue to develop upon the existing foundations archived by these formats and hopes to provide an automated encoding procedure from Blu-Ray or HD-DVD to MGN / SP enabled systems.

1. 2. Interactivity between disk or broadcast and broadband delivered video

Existing digital broadcasting standards support data insertion into broadcast feeds.  This function can be used to send links that signal consumer devices to get broadband data, from broadcast driven events.

1. 3. Channel Management

The channel management platform is the perceived brains of the operation, providing producers the systems and tools necessary to publish and meter channel content usage.  The channel system also enables distributors to manage usage, distribution territories, advertising information, design differentiation and interactivity with the end-user devices.

1. 4. End-User Devices

The software platform is designed for implementation on Hybrid Personal Digital Recording Devices.  These devices have started to emerge in the market.  In the near-term, interfaces for existing devices and gaming consoles (ie: media centre + Xbox 360) can be produced cheaply and easily, and are likely to accelerate adoption and growth of Set-Top Usage MGN usage.

Existing High Definition DVD players (both HD-DVD and BluRay) incorporate network content access.  These interfaces will be used as a sales interface that the business will seek to capitalise on.  Disk driven usage offers the business a low-tech way for a user to interact with broadband delivered media.  For disk providers, it is possible to provide new business models to disk distribution by providing updated and expanded media for HD-DVD / Blu-Ray content titles; potentially also securing premium content on the disks, by providing the usage rules over broadband.

The method and system for this integration, is believed to be innovative, unique, and therefore protectable, via IP laws and processes.

In summary, MGN is designed to be a standards package for providing interactive TV content to customers. The platform provides interactive media to a range of devices and interfaces including mobile phones, interactive digital radio devices and web-browsers.  MGN is an integrated platform solution designed to deliver an interactive content solution to channel operators.

1. Interactive television will evolve to become part of the new standards for the broadcasting industry.
   1. The broadcast media industry requires these new standards to compete and participate in the new landscape of digital communications technologies.
   2. Content providers cannot produce interactive content, until standards exist that provide the assuredly that any-such produced content can be used in multiple environments / territories.
   3. Collaboration is required on an international level, in order to obtain the critical mass requirements for the production of associated products and services, as required for the introduction and operation of non IPTV based, interactive television services.
   4. Broadcast and other video media markets have been detrimentally affected by the introduction of fast broadband connectivity and the use of this utility for viewing broadcast media, without a business system that supplies revenue back to the content producers. Content Delivered via Internet often originates from a single viewer somewhere in the world, rather than a legitimate license holder, providing revenue to the supply chain.
   5. Advertising dollars have broader market options, such as paying per user, to anywhere in the world and/or to local communities via specific WWW estates.  Broadcasters need a method to capture some of this market, in order to maintain a current standing, in an internet connected market.
   6. There are many differences between the World Wide Web (www) and Internet Protocol.  Interactive television will be best leveraged with the benefits Internet Protocol offers differentiating its “business systems” to protect related communities and viewership audiences, through localisation, privacy protection, and the development of existing business systems, operated by existing broadcasters…
      1. The www is an application of internet, providing freedom of speech, with very few restrictions.
      2. Broadcasting operates upon geographical territories as a licensed service, governed by local bodies to protect a range of sociological requirements and their effects on the local communities such systems serve.
      3. WWW, without broadcast mechanisms is unlikely to support local community development in a way evolutionary to existing broadcast systems.
      4. WWW only content distribution risks a critical business systems failure of the broadcasting industry, through its inability to compete in advertising markets.  This would be economically disruptive, propagated through multiple levels of social media, and small to medium business sectors.
      5. The iTV Company is able to produce a platform that could be used as an interactive TV standard. The project will be funded through advertising and become successful through ease of use and the demonstration of the solution to local markets.

The business plan was developed to source funding for the development, and establishment of an open-standard, operational platform for DVB and IP Delivered Content, to TV.  These proposed systems incorporated all such aspects end-to-end, including content production, content storage, content security, content distribution and content display.   The principle area of work surrounded advertising supported content.

This proposal cuts across a group of industry sectors, however, the profit drivers were based upon advertising, media and telecommunications.

For years, industry leaders have been discussing “convergence” and its effects on a range of industry segments as internet protocol becomes the leading format for information communications networks, and compounds in the number of formats or types of information made compatible and transferred across such networks.

This has lead to a boom in telecommunications revenue opportunities and core business associations to the rest of the community. It has also provided new opportunities for growth and has developed to provide a leadership role in the growth of new economies, and related intellectual property capitalisation.

A problem incurred through such ubiquitous compatibility, is a degradation of the organically positioned stepping stones, incurred by operations that did not involve telecommunications as a foundation for business growth.  Telecommunications have broadened their cross-section of economical effect, to an extent whereby almost no business can operate without payment to telecommunications businesses.  This has incurred a dramatic change in parity and IP capitalisation drivers, harboured by companies that traditionally monetised other formats, that are now “compatible with internet”, for distribution purposes…

The telecommunications industry has not successfully developed security measures to protect business from risks associated to the operation of their core business.  Whereas in pre-internet markets parties were required to obtain physical copies of materials prior to replication, internet does not require such precursors.  In fact, one physical copy can be “enabled” onto the global telecommunication network for replication.  The only party, who will, in all cases, make direct revenues from this process, is the telecommunications industry.

Beneficially, this platform enables global, free speech and low-cost distribution of ideas, concepts and other intellectual property. The iTV Company aims to purport a specification for this platform, calling it HTTP internet, whilst segregating and opening opportunities for other market segments to utilise the same infrastructure to support their key business drivers in an economical manner.

This, in media terms, is Intellectual Property (“IP”).  Although the acronym is used in a similar format to Internet Protocol (“IP”), the terms actuate very different things in terms of economics.

In internet terms; Intellectual Property values the information, made possible through interpretive publication of data.

Whether it be media, financial, medical, social, corporate, government other personal information there are intellectual property associations to such “data”, that are and should be valued at a different rate to the cost of transacting the data asset.

This has not been implemented in the foundation for the internet networks.  In fact, internet networks, and the telecommunications companies who operate such networks, take very little responsibility for any data that is transferred over their commercial services, the appropriation of such data in information format to recipients and/or the commercial model in which the data was transacted on an information level.

Televisions sit in our lounge rooms and are family orientated devices.   They have been developed and continually used as a format of social communications, governed by local social decisions of content suitability and access-form.  It is seemingly important to attempt to adapt the new technology, around the social principles that have been established through precedent.

The key sectors include broadcast, telecommunications, media, media production and advertising.  Secondary markets are predominately the small to medium enterprise which, as a market, provide both the funds to support distribution and the funds to support advertorial uptake.

• Telecommunications companies are commercialising content assets in a variety of formats.
• Broadcasters are developing internet strategies, differentiating internet from their broadcast markets, and delivering a disparate and disconnected approach to the sale of content assets, over “multiple” networks.
• Free to air broadcasters (both radio and television) are losing “eyeballs” to a range of factors, including pay TV networks, and broadband internet users who are increasingly able to download new-release programming from international sources.

The SME market is being affected through their ability to advertise their goods and services, to their local markets as internet marketing continues to elude them, and broadcasting becomes less effective.  Print based, mail-drop campaigns continue to work, but do not offer similar proportional effectiveness that video advertising offers.

Furthermore, through the invention and effective commercialisation of the products and services described in this business plan, existing business is offered a new format of advertising never before made available, within the commercial pricing framework, offered by The iTV Company.

Industry Groups

Industry groups who support the commercialisation of Interactive TV include:

• Media Companies
  • Advertising producers and buyers
  • Publishers
  • Content owners, aggregators and producers
  • Broadcasters
  • Technology and Communications Infrastructure Companies
    • Telecommunication and internet service providers
    • Consumer electronics manufacturers
    • Software vendors and internet portal businesses
    • Governments

The most influential group is the advertising sector, backed by the government departments responsible for small to medium business growth and prosperity.  With advertising dollars, content can be distributed free of end-user charges. With IPTV, small advertising budgets can provide interactive advertisements and sales support interfaces (such as leads generation and enquiry systems) to local and niche markets.

• Media companies generally require advertising dollars at some stage along the supply-distribution chain, in order to obtain a profit from the sale of their products and services.
• Technology companies require content, to distribute and enhance distribution
• Government ensures the parties play “fairly” and in the interests of the larger population.

The iTV Company tried to combines these industry groups, by working to provide a standard platform, for (local) advertising-sponsored content to be distributed, in a framework that adheres to and is administered by a governance framework, in part implemented by the government.

The iTV Company does not have a core business interest in competing on a content brand level, by rather a methodology for content supply to end-users and the framework that enables such business systems in an economical and socially sustainable basis.

Market Size

The free to air broadcasting market in Australia operates in excess of 1 billion turnover per annum.

The internet advertising bureau in an article published on the 4th of October, states that during the first six months of 2007, internet advertising revenues (US) were nearly 10 billion dollars (USD) representing nearly a 27% increase over the first half of 2006. (Source: http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/5230 )

The potential market size of digital interactive video advertising is massive.

The financial assumptions provided in association to this business plan, are aimed at acquiring a very small percentage of the total transaction value for each content delivery, then backed by a very small percentage of the potential market for interactive television and the platforms that make the market.

The iTV Company’s technologies enable it to operate with a relatively small industrial footprint in the global market.  As the technology platforms evolve, the supply and services systems can be exported, with relatively little local management infrastructure, in each commercial market.

Target Market/s

The business will focus on small to medium businesses for the production of advertising.  This advertising will be used to sponsor content, which will be distributed over The Company’s technology platform.

As The Company evolves, it will sell channels to companies who seek to produce and manage interactive TV channels, using the companies technologies platforms, as well as production solutions to enable businesses to contribute to the channels, operated by The Company, and its’ customers.

The technology capabilities provide a cost effective platform for video media distribution.  Whether it is a channel provider who wants to use the “tools” to do it themselves, without worrying about the technology or a local community organisation who would like to broadcast their annual fund raising event to give it more opportunity to raise funds for their endeavour.

The technology platform is designed to facilitate the needs of current and potential content developers.

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

Below is an example.  sorry if its too difficult to understand…

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Per Attached:  The Free iTV Presentation provides the wrong revenue figures on the last slide, is generally in a draft status and is currently being updated.  I will forward the newer one across when it’s ready.

tv anytime Presentation

Teac IPTV Capable STB

Free iTV Powerpoint

dtg tva

personaltv standards paris

www.theitvcompany.com.au

Please note:  the site is still very much in beta.

As your aware, I’m looking for investors on both a resource and cash investment level.

The Seed Capital requirement looks to be approx $150k Cash.  The funds are to be supplemented via Government Grants, and potentially a JV agreement for the Development of the Platform.  We have a range of non-cash deals that are being offered in association to the development of the commercial and technical frameworks required pre-build.

The milestones within this segment is expected to include;

1. Web Development (www.theiTVCompany.com.au + www.mediaguidenetworks.com )

1. Technology Specifications (TV-Anytime + DVB-SI + HTML, etc.)
   1. CDN
   2. DAM
   3. Streaming Platform
   4. Content Packaging / Encoding Interactive Packages
   5. DRM
   6. Meta-Data
   7. Interfaces
   8. ETC.

1. 3. Legal
   1. IP
   2. Contracts (Commercial)

1. 4. Investor Materials

1. 5. Infrastructure selection / contracts, etc.

1. 6. MOU’s / LOI’s
   1. Channels
   2. Technology
   3. International
   4. Strategic
   5. Set Top Boxes (DVR’s / PDR’s)

The build phase is currently expected to require about $500k Cash, under similar scheme’s of funding to the initial trench.

The business model initially provided organic revenues via channel and Set Top Box Activation Related Revenues from early stages, however later projections suggest that such revenues will be delayed until the build phase is completed.

There are many ways to “skin the cat”, I am currently focused towards an industry development strategy, that can leverage funds throughout an “alliance” community – rather than building and owning the system end-to-end (which I do not think would work in any-case).  There are differentiating effects and methods to build the system.  Through the development of a “commercial platform”, we’ll be able to properly assess the opportunities, and make a range of selections prior to seeking the commercialisation funding.

Key aspect The iTV Company wishes to operate, is the services software platform and support infrastructure.  The Revenues are projected @ approx $28 ~ $34 Per Set Top Box Per Month (to iTV), via Advertising.  I expect the ad. sales to compete with Internet pricing, and gradually increase with brand / product awareness.

The Differentiation is the ability to extend the Advertising opportunities in connection to the services being provided (ie: Broadband + Broadcast, vs. 1 Channel Broadcast)

Our network is cheaper to operate than any equivalent internet hosting platform, due to the networking platform and technical relationship with the last-mile.  This also has a direct relationship to the quality of content, this platform is able to deliver (theoretically HD, in a commercially enviable position of not needing to buy internet bandwidth or contend with internet networks)
Total Revenue for the 3 FTA Stations (7/9/10) in 2006

The number of households in Australia is projected to increase from 7.4 million in 2001 to between 10.2 and 10.8 million in 2026, an increase of between 39% and 47%. This growth is faster than Australia’s projected population growth of 25% for the same period.  Source: ABS

~ 8 Million Households (not all watching FTA) / 2.6176B = $327.20 Per Household, Per Annum or $27 per month.

The Venture is directed towards commercially exploiting the technology project in the global market.  (Namely Nordic (Denmark, etc.) UK, EU + AU.  However the DVB Market is easily adapted to any initial development works facilitated.), and exploiting the network operation business in Australia (as a means to contribute to the global market, etc.).

A Franchise System (On-Going Rev. Share + “Version Control” in Aus.) needs to be developed, as does a suitable licensing methodology.  Such methods will probably be consistent with any IPTV Laws that become introduced.

I further expect the project to have gained official support from the DTG and DR (or related parties) prior to the build phase.

The product provides DVR’s / PVR’s (Personal Video Receivers?  Digital Video Receivers? Digital Video Recorders?) the ability to connect via broadband and Broadcast to Channel providers.

The Platform is based on the TV-Anytime standard, leveraging BD-J (Blu-Ray DVD Formats) for interactive content titles.

The distribution is managed by a Service Provider (ie: Media Guide Networks, Owned by The ITV Company pty. Ltd.) and is monetised on a per Minute of video watched Basis; as well as basic service fees in connection to the establishment and on-going maintenance of the channel provider systems.

The System retains Ad. Spending in existing Broadcast markets (broadcasters / Channel Providers) by providing a Non-Broadcast method to sell advertising, whilst also providing the means to generate new “broadband channels”, to enhance the advertising impact of Broadcast(/IPTV) Related Media, therefore encouraging more local advertising (& content) growth, in localised systems.

It is expected that this system will come under the relevant Broadcast laws, more specifically associated to ensuring the platform is “family friendly”.

This system will be capable of full HTML, High Definition, Extensive storage, Ethernet, Broadcast, Home Network – TV Content Experiences.

I’m looking forward to building content with multiple choice story lines, or helping friends and family produce content through the “point and click” editing of existing “stock” made available from my camera and broadcast “community” pages…

All Licensed properly so the artists get paid.

All standardised, so it can be packaged and sold to other broadcasters in other territories.

Commercially;

So far, I’ve received 100% positive feedback.  Everyone I’ve approached, has offered a deal to get involved.  So, the next steps involve pulling such opportunities together under “The iTV Company” banner, and formulating the opportunities into the project / business plan.

Please find attached Documents, to assist you in defining the technology platform and the opportunity.

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My name is Timothy Holborn.  I have started a new business, in Australia focused upon the development of Interactive TV. One of the key technologies i am looking into for full-scale development, is the TV-Anytime specifications.  From a business perspective, I’m also very interested in potentially utilising the “freeview” brand.  I imagine that there are many components to the jigsaw already figured out, which would make things much easier to commercialise a similar system in Australia.  Furthermore, it may  immediately provide relationships to share and develop Free View Styled solutions via any software systems developed, being cross distributed and contributing towards further standardisation of Free iTV distribution and content production.

The basis to my iTV technology and business concept, is an ability to bind broadband connectivity with DVB-T (inc. DVB-MHP) and produce an interactive television platform, that is focused maintaining a “Free TV” styled delivery experience - Free to Watch and Interact TV, managed by channel providers (“broadcasters”).

One of the many problems in Australia for this type of project is the size of the Australian market.  Without wanting to re-invent the useful components of the wheel, I believe I have a unique style to fixing the problem of how Free to Air TV maintains and grows it’s audience.

So, I’m going about building the plan, for investment and would really like the opportunity to work with the DTG and related organisations throughout this endeavour.

Please let me know if there are any opportunities to solidify some initial understanding and potentially form an initial agreement that would help Free TV into the future.

This presentation describes the iTV Challange with implementing IPTV Systems within a reasonable pricing framework.

1. The iTV Platform is a Technology solution incorporating open source technologies to enable the delivery of Interactive Television programming.

1. The iTV Platform will incorporate many existing, international standards to deliver a solution that can be embraced by the broader interactive television Industry.

1. To build the iTV platform a range of standards will be integrated deliver a prototype.

These standards may include (but are not exclusive to);

3.3     DVB-MHP

3.3.1           Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) is the open middleware system designed by the DVB Project.   DVB-MHP has been ratified as a standard for existing Digital Broadcasters, in Australia and throughout much of the world.

3.4    TV-Anytime

3.4.1           “TV-Anytime” (TVA) is a full and synchronised set of specifications established by the TV-Anytime Forum. TVA features enable the search, selection, acquisition and rightful use of content on local and/or remote personal storage systems from both broadcast and online services.

3.5     ISMA

3.5.1           Founded in 2000, the Internet Streaming Media Alliance (ISMA) is a global alliance of industry leaders dedicated to the adoption and deployment of open standards for streaming rich media such as video, audio and associated data over Internet protocols. The goal of its membership is to promote standards-based solutions that offer greater choice, flexibility, extensive cost efficiencies, and higher quality of service. The organization achieves this by providing the industry with technical specifications based on new and existing non-proprietary standards and testing solutions that enable multiple vendor, multiplatform interoperability with its product conformance program. ISMA collaborates with other trade associations and standards bodies to promote interoperable solutions across the entire content delivery spectrum.

3.6    Blu-Ray Disk Association

3.6.1           Blu-ray Disc is a next-generation, optical disc format that enables the ultimate high-def entertainment experience.

3.6.2           BD-ROM is designed not only for pre-packaged High Definition (HD) movie content but also as a key component of a consumer HD platform. As shown in Figure 1-1 below, the Blu-ray Disc (BD) platform is designed to provide access to HD content throughout the home via HD digital broadcast recording and HD playback functions.

3.6.3           BD-ROM also provides a fully programmable application environment with network connectivity thereby enabling the Content Provider to create highly interactive, updateable BD-ROM titles. This mode is based on a platform that is fully compliant with the J2ME Personal Basis Profile Java platform (PBP 1.0) and the Globally Executable MHP specification (GEM 1.0.2). It is known as “BD-J”. Content Providers are able to include interactive Java applications on a BD-ROM disc in various ways (one application for the entire disc, one application per Title, etc.).

3.7    Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)

3.7.1           The Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) a working group of ISO/IEC in charge of the development of standards for coded representation of digital audio and video. Established in 1988, the group has produced MPEG-1, the standard on which such products as Video CD and MP3 are based, MPEG-2, the standard on which such products as Digital Television set top boxes and DVD are based, MPEG-4, the standard for multimedia for the fixed and mobile web, MPEG-7, the standard for description and search of audio and visual content and  MPEG-21, the Multimedia Framework.

3.8    Darwin Streaming Server

3.8.1           Darwin Streaming Server, the open source version of Apple’s QuickTime Streaming Server technology that allows to send streaming media to clients using the industry standard RTP and RTSP protocols. Based on the same code base as QuickTime Streaming Server, Darwin Streaming Server provides a high level of customizability and runs on a variety of platforms allowing you to manipulate the code to fit your needs.

3.9    Linux

3.9.1           A significant amount of the technology platform will be designed to operate on the Linux platform.   The Preferred Operating System is Red-Hat Linux, subject to licensing agreements.

1. The iTV Platform is a largely Open Source Platform designed to connect interactive content publishers via a channel platform, on compatible TV connected devices.

1. The iTV Platform generates Revenues from the use of the iTV platform by 3^rd parties.  Key Revenue drivers  will include, but is not exclusive to;

5.1    A Per Minute Video Usage Charge from Server to End-User device

5.2    A Per MB Data Distribution Charge from Server to End-User device

5.2.1           Product and Service charges in connection to the deployment of technology and content services to customers.

Intellectual Property Protection Strategy of The iTV Platform.

1. Licensing.

The Service will use a specific license, for distributing the Open Source software package free of charge. Certain elements of the software platform will require licensing from relevant license holders, however it is likely that this will be minimal.

The Licenses will allow the use of the software components, by third parties who would like to adopt the standard for their device.  Although the Standard is available free of charge, the company will not be able to use the trademarks of The iTV Company (or other entity) in association to the promotion of compatibility with the platform; unless, they would be license holder pays for relevant standards validation by the company.

1. Data Distribution, Tracking and Control Mechanisms.

The Service will utilise a monetisation system, that both provides the location of an iTV Asset to the network and a method to pay / charge for the use of the system.  This will be facilitated through a domain name, that will use a sophisticated Distributed Billing Engine that will identify what transactions are being processed, by who and what specifically.

The systems, in-order to interoperate need to register with this domain in-order to become functional / active.

The data-generated will be an encrypted string that will be send from one device to another across the network upon initiation of each and every transaction.