Channel 4 goes green

3 March 2009

Broadcaster makes it even easier for Sky customers to manage their viewing schedules by introducing a ‘remind me’ green button service.

3 March 2009, London, UK - mirada, the audiovisual content interaction specialist is today announcing it has worked with Channel 4 to make use of an interactive service available on the Sky platform that will help Sky viewers catch all Channel 4 programmes whether on C4, More4, E4 or Film4.

Viewers will now see a green button appear in the top-right of screens during trailers (promotional spots) for all Channel 4 programmes. Those that would like to watch that programme can then select the green button on their remote control to trigger a visual prompt that will appear when the programme is about to start, reminding the viewer to switch to a different channel. Similarly if the viewer is using a personal video recorder (PVR), the box will record the selected programme meaning fewer viewers will accidentally miss the programmes they wanted to watch.

Jennifer Carey, Media Strategy Manager, said: "People dip and out of our schedules and may not remember to tune in for a programme, despite being attracted by the promo trailer. We show a wide variety of programming across the network and want to help viewers make an appointment to view our digital channels such as Film4 and More4."

With over 9 million set-top-boxes and PVRs in Sky households, the fully-automated green button service offers a clear benefit to viewers who still find they miss programmes because they haven't remembered the time, or channel, a programme is on. Part of the service uses mirada's xPlayer to ensure the prompts appear at the correct time and provide a one-touch alternative to scrolling through the pages of an Electronic Programme Guide. With so many channels in the EPG showing up to a week's worth of programming in one and a half hour blocks, the current search method can be a laborious process.

Andy Wood, xPlayer product manager at mirada adds; "The green button offers benefits to both broadcasters and viewers alike. Broadcasters are able to provide the additional interactivity demanded by viewers to build loyalty, and viewers are given more control of their viewing schedules. With broadcasters looking to cross-promote their channels and consumers not wanting to be bound by a broadcaster's schedule, the green button is a service that will no doubt be replicated across different platforms, and for all broadcasters."

-ends-
For further information please contact:
K Simon or Matt Humphries at Babel PR for mirada
T: +44 (0) 20 7434 5550
E: Mirada@babelpr.com
W: www.babelpr.com