(9 March 2009 2:30 pm)

MUMBAI: ZillionTV has launched its personalised television platform and service in the US.

Through agreements with major Hollywood studios, TV networks and Visa Inc, the ZillionTV service will offer entertainment content, targeted and addressable advertising opportunities, and television commerce, enabling consumers to make convenient and secure purchases through their television.

ZillionTV CEO Mitchell Berman says, “ZillionTV is building a new television ecosystem grounded in partnerships spanning from powerhouse TV networks and Hollywood studios, to Visa and major advertisers. At the same time, we have built a business model where all parties benefit — consumers can access an expansive collection of entertainment when and how they want; content providers gain a new digital distribution platform; and, advertisers get closer to engaged viewers by providing relevant and addressable TV advertising.”

The ZillionTV™ Service, currently in its Beta phase, will offer instant, subscription-free access to entertainment content from Hollywood studios and TV networks, tapping the libraries of Disney, 20th Century Fox Television, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution.

All content is offered on-demand and delivered directly to the television set via a common high-speed Internet connection. There is no costly hardware purchase required, as viewers only pay a nominal, one-time, initial service activation fee to receive the ZillionTV device and innovative motion-sensing ZillionTV remote control.

All of the ZillionTV service programming is available instantly as it’s streamed to the television set — no downloading, progressive streaming or peer-to-peer networking necessary. Programming will range from select library content from 20th Century Fox Television to new releases and a selection of library titles from The Walt Disney Studios, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution.

ZillionTV viewers choose how they want to watch programmes — they can watch targeted and addressable ad-supported content for free, rent content for a nominal fee, or “buy to own,” depending upon what options are offered by each content owner tied to each specific program. For example, television content from NBC Universal will be available via “buy to own”.

ZillionTV viewers select advertising categories based on their interests and preferences — and, as a result, get ads that are more personally relevant when selecting to watch ad-supported content.

All programmes are available through an on-screen interface called the VUI Experience that features intelligent multi-dimensional search to help viewers instantly find shows or discover new programs by genre, actor, year, subject matter and more. Based on these choices, the system creates personalised recommendations specifically for each viewer.