GEnie Livewire e-zine/LW9408MM.ZIP/CTV.TXT

Text File | 1994-07-26 | 5.5 KB | 143 lines

The Great White North has hit the infobahn. The
country that brought you Bob and Doug MacKenzie,
John Candy, hockey and ice beer, now stands poised
to take the fast lane on the Information Highway.

Thanks to a new partnership between GEnie and the
CTV Television Network, Canadians (and other GEnie
subscribers) now enjoy direct access to Canada's
largest private broadcaster. With the launch of the
Inside CTV RoundTable (Page 1226, Keyword CTV),
comes an opportunity to participate in an
interactive exchange of ideas, opinions, and
information with some of Canada's most influential
people.

Proud Accomplishment

For those outside Canada (or inside for that
matter) who don't know, the CTV Television Network
is the largest commercial network in Canada.
According to Drew Williams, CTV's Director of
Marketing, it encompasses 26 affiliates and holds
an impressive 98% market penetration. Its two
primary functions are to purchase and re-package
U.S. programming, and produce or co-produce
original programs like Lonesome Dove, TekWar, Due
South and sell them to the American Networks. "Just
like the guys on U.S. TV," he adds with a smile.
"Except we're nicer. Canadian, doncha know."

Inside CTV offers a host of services, effectively
linking the television community in Canada -- and
its major network -- to the virtual community here
on GEnie. And everyone is understandably proud of
the accomplishment. "We're pleased to play such an
integral part in creating this online
television/viewer relationship," says David
McIntosh, manager of GEnie Canada. "Giving
Canadians direct access to culturally relevant
information has always been one of the priorities
of GEnie's Canada RoundTable."

Drew Williams agrees and points out that GEnie was
chosen because of its dedicated commitment to
Canadian content. "We're trying to provide a
high-profile response mechanism to our viewers by
bringing in a sense of immediacy and a certain
amount of access," he explains.

Interactive Magazine

Inside CTV is a different kind of RoundTable: Its
mandate is to create an open, interactive link
between the network and its viewers, with an
emphasis on communication over information.

While the basic RoundTable structure is there, the
format reflects the unique nature of the area.
Instead of the usual definitions of Bulletin Board,
Real-Time Conference and Library, for example, the
main menu refers to Discussion Areas, Live and
Interactive, and TV-Files. But the differences
extend beyond that.

"The topics included in the Inside CTV Discussion
Areas are structured more like articles in a
magazine, designed to entertain, inform and provoke
you," Drew Williams explains. "Some articles are
written for CTV's trade (the ad industry) and some
are written for CTV's viewers. What sets these
articles apart, of course, is your ability to
respond immediately to anything that catches your
interest."

Unique Opportunity

Categories in the Discussion Area adhere to this
magazine analogy by being structured in sections,
each with its own central theme and purpose, each
emphasizing viewer interaction.

For example, CTV BUZZ (Category 2) is aimed at
providing behind-the-scenes information on programs
and celebrities in the entertainment, news and
sports arenas. Users are encouraged to contribute
"ideas, comments, questions (or heck, even a
script)."

CTV PIPELINE! (Category 3) gives subscribers direct
access to the "newsmakers and shakers in Canada,"
employing monthly topics and polls as a springboard
to discussion and debate of current issues. The
board has committed to enlisting the aid of
high-profile Canadians to ensure that comments and
opinions will be seen by the country's movers and
shakers. It's a unique opportunity to talk directly
with the folks who make the decisions that affect
our lives.

Inside CTV's "Live & Interactive" is a Real-Time
Conference area that extends that opportunity even
further. Their mission is to produce a parade of
entertainment, sports and news VIPs for live (and
lively) discussions on all sorts of burning (or
not-so-burning) issues. A list of upcoming guests
was unavailable at the time of publication, but
details and schedules will be posted on both the
Inside CTV and Canada RoundTables, as well as the
CTV Television Network. So be sure to check them
out.

The TV-Files area differs from other libraries on
one important point: Instead of being dedicated to
uploading and downloading applications and
utilities, it has been developed specifically for
the press. While everyone is able to download CTV
press releases and program or celebrity photos,
journalists can order specific materials.

Finally, Inside CTV offers a couple of additional
and entertaining variations not normally found in
your average RoundTable -- Poll of the Month, which
presents members with a different question every
month designed to provoke and enlighten; and the
Photo of the Week, which features a new still from
an upcoming CTV program each week.

Talking Back

Inside CTV is still very new, but the potential is
huge and the growth is phenomenal.

From its creation some 50 years ago, television has
been a dominant force in our lives, inundating us
with a flood of sounds and images, embued with the
power to shape our thoughts, behavior and
attitudes. For years we have been passive
observers, sitting on the wrong end of a one-way
mirror. Television could talk to us, but we were
powerless to respond.

And now, at last -- we can talk back!