Who We Are
We are a team within Virgin Media that manages the delivery of Interactive Applications. This covers the delivery of Red button (enhanced TV or eTV) applications as well as 'walled garden' and full screen games.
What is Enhanced TV (eTV)?
Enhanced TV (eTV) is a term used to describe the access to interactive content, linked tightly to linear broadcast, that is generally accessed via one of the coloured buttons on the Virgin Media remote control. An example of an eTV application is shown below. This happens to be the BBC Bridge application which is accessible via any of the BBC linear TV channels.
The prompt appears during programming inviting the viewer to press red.
After a short time the BBC Bridge Loads presenting the viewer with a range of different option for further interactive content and applications
What is an Interactive or Walled Garden application?
Walled Garden content is interactive content accessed via the Interactive option on the home screen that is generally not directly related to programming on a linear broadcast channel. It can be likened to web pages for the TV.
The interactive menu:
An example of a 'walled garden' micro-site. Content is presented in basic HTML and Javascript set below Virgin Media branded content at the top of the screen which contains a PIG (Programme in graphic) and navigation controls.
In addition to this content partners are free to design applications around a full screen model whereby the application itself fills the entire viewable area. This format is most suitable for arcade style games as in the examples below.
Two-way TV have a library of gaming applications that charge the viewer on a pre-play basis using our Micropayments system.
An example full screen game 'Tactile' in which the viewer has to match pairs of identical shapes using the cursor keys on their remote.
