Analysts criticised the Government's investment in digital
television last week, warning that interactive TV (iTV) will not be
a suitable medium for the vast majority of public services.
The criticism came as it emerged that the Government's aim to
launch its UK Online citizens' portal on all available iTV
platforms was under threat because of bandwidth restrictions on
Freeview, the replacement for ITV Digital.
Launching UK Online on digital TV is part of the Government's aim
to have all public services available online by 2005. The citizens'
portal has already launched on Sky and is preparing to roll out on
cable channels NTL and Telewest.
However, early indications suggest that bandwidth restrictions on
Freeview, jointly owned by the BBC and Crown Castle, mean that UK
Online will not be carried on the DTT (digital terrestrial
television) channel when it is launched.
Chris Tant, managing analyst at research firm Datamonitor, told
Computer Weekly the Government should not be focusing on iTV
platforms at all.
"I do not think iTV is a suitable medium for the vast majority of
government services," he said. "Firstly, there are a number of
technical limitations, such as the extremely limited bandwidth of
DTT, and secondly, iTV is all about leisure and entertainment, not
factual, dry public service programming."
A spokesman for the Office of the E-envoy, which is in charge of
the UK Online initiative, insisted there was demand for government
services on iTV. "It is appropriate for UK Online to be delivered
on a range of platforms and devices," he said.
"We have been overwhelmed by feedback from thousands of members of
the public who said they rate the service and like getting access
to government services where they might not have been able to do so
online."
However, Tant questioned whether there would be any demand from
non-Internet users. "Even if you do not have the Internet at home
you can get online in public libraries or Internet cafes," he said.
"If someone does not want to access the Internet at all you have to
question whether they will want to check social security
information or book a GP via iTV."
Meanwhile, a Datamonitor report released last week predicted that
consumer spend on iTV retail in Western Europe will exceed £4bn in
2006, equivalent to almost £60 per digital TV-using
household.
Due to a high level of association with programming and their
emotive nature, Datamonitor expects travel and media items to
provide the greatest iTV retail opportunities and dominate consumer
iTV retail spend.