KEY POINTS:
Kiwi company TargetCast is negotiating to provide a local TV network with a user-friendly broadband and IPTV platform technology solution, that is capable of providing TIVO-like functionality.
It is understood that the Auckland start-up is in the final stages of a significant deal that will provide the local network with a system that will redefine the local viewer experience.
Consumers will be given far more control over what they want from a TV experience.
Providing an optional full screen mode and pre-emptive downloadable client and content management capabilities, access will be provided to both current and archived shows.
TargetCast's system is already attracting interest overseas, with its intuitive system of pairing both content and advertising with each viewer profile, and recommending content for potential viewing.
Community features and functionality are built into the system, with the ability to recommend content or ads to friends.
The system is unique in its ability to compare users, identify potential common interests, and present content either intuitively or through community recommendations that can then be accepted, denied or given a moderated rating with regards to future delivery.
Even news programs will be sliced into separate stories to better serve each user what they choose to watch.
If users are sick of politics, they can just say no - or preset the system to deliver what they do want.
Paul Martin, TargetCast's CEO, believes viewers aren't always best served by predictive content systems, as recommendations are typically focussed on content and not consumers.
"Our business objective is to stay focused on consumer needs, in this instance viewers - although the TargetCast back-end can deliver all forms of digital media across all platforms" he says.
"Given the ever increasing demands upon peoples time, we wanted to develop as ystem that delivers what the consumer needs and when they want it, without compromising their privacy"
Advertisements are treated as content and delivered in a similar consumer orientated fashion as a 'necessary evil' when accessing pay content.
This approach works on the belief that ads are acceptable, provided they are relevant and don't waste viewers time.
The system will run on all Flash-capable browsers, and has even been successfully trialed on the Sony PlayStation 3 - which opens up all sorts of opportunities.
