Nanjing Launches Cable TV Network Convergence Services
LMTW, 8/01/11
Nanjing's first batch of network convergence trial households gained access to "Yun Meiti Dianshi" ("Cloud Media TV," previously known as "All-Media TV") today, in preparation for the service's launch for all 600,000 Nanjing subscribers by the end of the year.
A spokesperson for the Jiangsu Broadcasting Television Network's Nanjing subsidiary said that Cloud Media TV would offer access to 15 websites, including Sina (Nasdaq: SINA) and the Nanjing municipal government website (www.nanjing.gov.cn), and will seek to attract more websites to the service.
The service's TV literature function provides access to nearly 100 newspapers and fifty magazines. A Jiangsu Broadcasting Television Network employee said the next step will be to digitize and make available content from the Nanjing Library.
The same employee said that subscribers wishing to use the service's videophone feature, slated for an October launch, will need only to connect an ordinary telephone and a webcam to their set-top boxes (STBs). Jiangsu Cable will provide a unique "TV number" for each television connected to the service, allowing users to call one another. The company has yet to draft fee schedules for the service.
The employee said that subscribers would be able to purchase items from an All-Media television shopping mall using their remote controls, after which the system will automatically retrieve subscriber name, address, and contact data for rapid product delivery. Chinese consumer electronics and home appliance retailers Suning (002024.SZ) and Gome (0493.HK) are among the retailers available through the service.
The "Wanshitong" service platform will provide daily living, government and civil service, and financial information services.
The "My Payments" section of the All-Media interface will let subscribers pay water, electricity, gas, and other utility bills, including cable bills, via their TV sets.
Editor's Note: For more information on this topic, please see "Nanjing Cable TV to Debut Network Convergence Services in H2 2011," MD 5/05/11 issue.
Keywords: Jiangsu Broadcasting Television Network bi-directional DTV video calling e-payment third-party payment convergence television cable TV Jiangsu Cable TV shopping channel set-top box
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