ScottishTelecom Plc, the telco behind Demon Internet has made a deal to provide email through TV services to customers of UK digital terrestrial broadcaster ONdigital Ltd. ON, jointly owned by independent TV channels Carlton Communications Plc and Granada Plc, expects to roll the service out before the end of the year, to be followed by extra interactive services such as pay-per-view TV and shopping.
The firm will provide subscribers to its TV service with a lead to connect their set-top box to their telephone line free of charge. Users will have to buy a remote-control infrared keyboard from the company, costing tens of pounds. ScottishTelecom will split interconnection revenues from per-minute dialup charges between itself and ON.
ON had approximately 250,000 subscribers as of July, but this is expected to rise sharply now it gives its set-top boxes away free. The company says the email service alerts the viewer with a on-screen logo when they have mail, but it has not been made clear how often a user must connect to the ISP (and thus how much revenue is created) to achieve this.
The deal follows ScottishTelecom’s announcement that it was providing virtual ISP services to the British Broadcasting Corporation’s freebeeb.net service. Cable TV operators NTL Inc and Telewest Plc both offer or have plans to offer email via TV, and satellite operator BSkyB Plc runs an ISP separate to its TV operations.
