Content Focus: Tiscali recommends
- Published: 03 July 2008 09:37
- Author: Robin Parker
- More by this Author
- Last Updated: 04 July 2008 16:21
As the BBC overhauls iPlayer to create a more personalised user experience, other on-demand services are following suit.
The format
On Friday 4 July, Tiscali TV will unveil Tiscali Recommends, an entire channel on its linear service that offers a way through its package of on-demand and linear programming. An online version is planned to follow.
The service is designed to give more of an editorial voice to the IPTV provider's shows and to promote both its popular and premium content. As iPlayer has proved, smaller channels can receive a major boost from highlighting their -programmes and Tiscali's service also aims to direct viewers to shows that they might not know about.
At its core lies Showcase, an entertainment hub featuring six channels, or "screens" promoting US and UK comedy and drama, film, sport, stunts and special events.
As well as staples such as a channel devoted to new and returning series (screen one), a guide to the six most viewed shows of the past week (screen three) and a "last chance to see" channel (screen four), the service will host a more tailored offering.
Screen five is a themed channel bringing together a range of content each week, starting with a look at memorable pilot episodes, while screen two will host a "channel of the month" and screen six is a movie guide.
Tiscali managing director of content strategy Jonathan Sykes said he hoped the Recommends service would make the search for content less daunting.
Tiscali plans to add more bespoke editorial and extra video content to the service in due course and to use its data mapping to make personalised changes based on users' habits and wider trends.
Where can I find it?
www.tiscali.co.uk
