Australia: Canberra-based broadband company, TransACT Capital Communications and Australian interactive television pioneers, Total Television Australia Limited (TTA), announced today a joint agreement for TTA to provide a new generation of content over TransACT’s fibre-optic network.

Total Television Australia plans to offer TransACT customers true Video On Demand (VOD), enabling viewers to select and watch their favourite programmes in an instant. Viewers will be able to pause, rewind or fast-forward a programme in the same way as a videotape with unlimited plays over a 24-hour period. VOD is planned to be combined with enhanced TV Internet, TV e-mail, e-commerce and broadcast television channels on standard television sets.

The new service will be offered to more than 100,000 homes and businesses throughout the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), as TransACT rolls out its new fibre-optic broadband by mid 2002. The first services are planned to be offered early in 2001 when TransACT begins connecting homes to the network.

TransACT Communications Chief Executive Officer Richard Vincent said Total Television will provide a unique service to TransACT customers that the rest of the country will be truly envious about.

‘This venture will fully exploit the enormous potential of the TransACT broadband network and gives television viewers the flexibility to watch what they want, when they want – not when the traditional networks want them to,’ said Mr Vincent.

CableandTelecoms Chief Executive, Mr Geoff Babidge, on behalf of Total Television Australia said, ‘We are delighted to be part of TransACT’s exciting plans for their broadband network. This agreement is the first of Total television’s plans for commercial roll-out of our services.

‘Our strategy has always been to leverage much of the existing telecommunication infrastructure that is available in Australia such as ADSL and fibre optic cables to deliver our services to the home. We’re very excited to be bringing this innovative and revolutionary technology to subscribers in Canberra’

For more information:

Steve Garvey
Yes Television
(UK) +44 (0)20 7907 5725

Sarah Horner
MediaVision
(UK) + 44 (0) 208 674 1263
mobile: + 44 (0) 7771 780 775
email: mediavision@dial.pipex.om