Interactive Television Networks Inc., a provider of Internet protocol television (IPTV), was recognized as Innovator of the Year at DigitalLife 2005.
Hosted Oct. 14–16 in New York City, DigitalLife is a three-day consumer event produced by Ziff Davis Media and dedicated to educating consumers about what the digital lifestyle means to everyday users. Products exhibited this year included home entertainment systems, TVs, consumer electronics, home networking, gaming hardware and software, PCs and laptops, and mobile technologies.
The Innovator of the Year award was one of 11 awards bestowed upon DigitalLife exhibitors by the editors at Ziff-Davis publications. The winner was selected from among 27 exhibitors, all of whom were invited to be part of the Class of 2005 Innovators Program. This was the first year for the award, which will be given annually.
"There is a lot of innovation on display at Digital Life, but the most innovative, ITVN, promises to do for TV what Skype is doing for phone service: give you a wide range of programming choices for a fraction [of what] you're paying now. The future of TV is broadband, and ITVN is right at the center of the revolution," PC Magazine’s Dan Costa wrote about the product in his DigitalLife 2005 coverage.
“ITVN is thrilled with this prestigious award, which not only validates our position as a leader in the growing IPTV industry, but as an innovative company in the entertainment, media, and technology space,” said Charles Prast, chief executive of ITVN. “ITVN is committed to remaining a leader in the IPTV market and in being the consumer’s choice for IPTV entertainment.”
ITVN manufactures a low-cost, compact set-top-box that links the home television to IPTV networks and services without the need for a personal computer. In addition, ITVN is a provider of proprietary interactive content networks delivered to the television over home broadband. ITVN owns or controls all aspects of its business from content licenses, management, billing, and streaming software to its proprietary set-top-box.
ITVN is making IPTV relevant to the everyday consumer by offering a growing number of niche-market networks while keeping the service affordable. The broadband connectivity of ITVN also allows for the addition of many interactive features to its networks. The programming is virtually limitless, as consumers select their on-demand content on an a la carte basis. Current and future networks include movie channels, music channels, news channels, and many other options.
IPTV is broadcast-quality television delivered over standard home broadband Internet. All content, including HDTV, can be distributed on a subscription or pay-per-view basis with content presentation tailored to each user’s preference. In addition, IPTV allows for two-way communication with services comparable to the Web.
