free-to-air

Bristol, UK-based digital TV software provider, Ocean Blue Software, is developing an interactive TV system that would complement the UK's free-to-air digital terrestrial platform, Freeview, with a range of services targeted at senior citizens. Dubbed Nexus TV and slated to begin trials early next year, the system is backed by a "growing consortium" of partners, the company claims. According to the company, the system will offer an audio EPG and menus (for the visually impaired); an interactive message board and other social networking features; tcommerce services; mechanisms for easy online access to local services such as taxi companies; and audio book downloads.

In a letter sent last Thursday to the DVB Project, Jean-Michel Bourdon,
president of Via Licensing, the company that administers the patent
pool for the international MHP interactive TV standard (note: it also
administers the patent pools for the OCAP/tru2way and TV-Anytime
standards), stated that the members of the MHP patent pool have
decided to remove the controversial requirement that free-to-air
broadcasters pay MHP license fees. Last year, when Via Licensing
unveiled the terms of the worldwide joint license agreement for patents
deemed essential to the DVB-MHP 1.0 standard, it stated that
free-to-air broadcasters generating no revenue from MHP-based
services could purchase a five-year license either for $3000 per year or