Media buyers welcome potential of Freeview Plus, but warn networks not to over-promise
Ian Perrin
Australia’s major media buyers have welcomed the launch of hybrid broadcast broadband TV (HbbTV) platform Freeview Plus but cautioned the networks to be realistic about the time it will take to achieve a critical mass of audiences and changing consumer behaviour.
Speaking to Mumbrella ahead of the formal launch of the service, which will offer consumers a new aggregate platform for watching broadcast and catch up TV on their home televisions, senior media agency bosses said they were excited about the potential of the HbbTV technology but warned of several “barriers to entry” which must b addressed.
“We are seeing lots of promises and lots of presentations on the advantages it will give,” said ZenithOptimedia boss Ian Perrin. “We have been made a lot promises in the past around the future of television and obviously this technology is fantastic, but it also involves the consumers catching up and using the technology. That will take a bit longer than we would all like.”
How much will it cost to get Freerview Plus technology?
Hi Jane,
They haven’t released the full list of TV and set top boxes yet but Freeview told us yesterday that the starting point for a new HbbTV was $600 and a set top box $100. You can read the story here.
Cheers
Nic – Mumbrella
$100 bucks to buy outdated tech? ANOTHER box (and probably remote) in my lounge room? Tell’em their dreamin!
Who wants to watch catch up TV when most of it repeats after repeats.
Oh goody…. repeats of repeats of repeats of…. and it costs more???
People, I ask you – can you wait? Huh? Can yah?
They might want to change Freeview to Costview.
Oh goodie (yawn) more of reality tv (shudder).