Tele Columbus selects Alcatel-Lucent to offer Interactive TV applications to its German cable network subscribers

Friday, 04 September 2009 10:46

Alcatel-Lucent and Tele Columbus, one of the largest German cable operators serving 2.5 million households, have signed an agreement to introduce interactive television applications and a new TV experience to its independent cable networks throughout Germany. The service is scheduled to go live during the fourth quarter of 2009.

Interactive TV services will enable viewers to use their remote controls to access and purchase additional content linked to a specific consumer brand product. Other services include voting, quizzes and games.

Alcatel-Lucent will deliver these engaging iTV services across the Tele Columbus platform using its Interactive Media Manager solution which enables the creation and management of unlimited interactive applications for multiple platforms and devices. This integrated and flexible approach can reduce the cost of creating and managing interactive TV applications by over 80 percent.

"As one of the leading cable network operators in Germany, we are a major driver of digital TV and additional value applications. With our interactive program, we will be among the trendsetters in our market. We are delighted to be cooperating with such an experienced partner, whose solution will make distributing interactive content considerably easier," explains Tele Columbus Chief Commercial Officer Dietmar Schickel.

"Our partnership with Tele Columbus illustrates the aim of Alcatel-Lucent to set the pace in the introduction of new digital communications. Our innovative solutions support Tele Columbus in building a new relationship with its customers and broaden its horizons by introducing new potential sources of revenue," said Alf Henryk Wulf, President of Alcatel-Lucent Deutschland AG.