INTERACTIVE TV
Later this year, TCI will throw the switch on new, advanced digital set-top boxes in as many as 12.5 million homes. That's when Lee Masters, Liberty Media Interactive's president and former head honcho at E!, will take center stage, wheeling out more than 10 channels of interactive programming. Liberty, the content arm of TCI, also has holdings in 90 networks, including the Discovery Channel and Fox Sports. How will this ITV bet shake out? After the absorption of @Home and Excite, many are wondering if TCI has taken a more Net-centric tack. Here's a look inside Masters' mind.
What is Liberty and TCI's vision of interactive programming?
It'll be interactivity lite. TV first, and interactivity second. There will be one or two interactive features like impulse purchases or instant polling.
How will viewers navigate the new channels and features?
We're still working this out. There are two schools of thought regarding the first screen a viewer sees. One camp wants the TV screen to be set on the last channel you watched. The other camp asks, "Why not have a screen showing everything that's available - listings, email, interactive channels, et cetera?" I fall on the latter side.
Does AOLTV scare you?
My understanding is that AOLTV is going to be just a way to surf the Web over the television set. We're doing something completely different. We're going to create 24-hour-a-day linear cable channels with interactive capabilities.
What's your trump card?
I'll probably burn in hell for it, but gambling strikes me as a terrific business.
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