It's TV - But Not As We Know It

Coleraine could be about to switch on to a whole new television experience if plans to pilot an exciting BBC project are confirmed. The development would also see a huge input from the local community across a broad spectrum including local history, music, drama as well as news and current affairs in the area. It would be based on a trial already underway in Hull in England. There, the experiment has enabled the BBC to push the boundaries of modern broadcasting, freeing the viewer from the constraints of television scheduling and use of new services and technologies. The would empower viewers giving them the ability to watch what they want when they want, with the full functionality of being able to fast forward, rewind and pausing of MPEG video streams, without a hard drive or video cassette in site. Local Assembly member David McClarty says he is delighted Coleraine is being considered for the innovative project. “I have heard from sources that the town is likely to be the choice to pilot the new system. If that is the case it would give the community a tremendous platform to express itself,” said the UUP MLA. “I think this exciting development is something everyone should get behind and, where possible, become involved in.” The system communicates information to and from servers via telephone cable. However the ADSL method is unique because the service does not disrupt the standard telephone service or does not require a call up to a modem for connectivity. BBCi Hull is the BBC’s first ever in-depth trial of broadband television. The service sits on Kingston Communications’ KiT broadband TV platform, effectively creating one of the UK’s first digital cities and is also a joint initiative between BBC News and BBC Nations and Regions. Since its inception, BBCi Hull has pushed TV editorial and technical boundaries to create a new relationship between the BBC and its audiences. It delivers local and national TV and internet content and, with features such as video–on-demand, lets local residents take full control of what news they watch.

08 Apr 2005 by Editor 0 comments