LOS ANGELES: This is an event that aims at showcasing advanced television programming. On 2 December, the American Film Institute will conduct its annual Enhanced TV Workshop (AFI eTV). The event is in its sixth year.

An official release informs that consumer spending on extended cable and satellite services is surging. Digital video recorders seem poised to replace the VCR. Retail purchases of high definition TVs are predicted to skyrocket in 2004. TV viewers want the more powerful entertainment experience that digital technologies offer. AFI Enhanced TV explores how advancing technologies change the experience of watching and producing TV.

The workshop is a research and development environment. Its goal is to prepare the television creative community for digital, interactive broadcast storytelling through a hands-on prototype production process.

It will debut the results of its most recent production season. It will unveil eight broadcast-capable think pieces utilising existing and soon-to-be-available enhanced TV technologies. Some of the shows include ABC's Celebrity Mole, US public broadcaster PBS' Independent Lens and Disney's Kim Possible. Among the more than 50 participating eTV design and production companies are Beyond Z, Goldpocket Interactive, Autonomt, ICTV, NDS Americas, Schematic, Zetools.

AFI brings the television production community together with leaders in the creation of digital content for TV. AFI claims that its creative environment provides professional consulting, support and "mentoring" by world-class leaders in content production, interactive technologies, design, business and distribution. Issues influencing and accelerating the development of this new medium in the US and internationally are identified and addressed within the AFI programme. The result is advanced production work which serves show producers, networks and the community as a whole.