BBC CHILDREN IN NEED GOES INTERACTIVE

BBC Children In Need is going televisually interactive this year for the first time in its history, allowing millions of television viewers with digital TV access to donate to the charity from the comfort of their armchair.
The service operates across all digital TV platforms (digital cable, digital terrestrial and digital satellite) through BBCi, the BBC’s recently-launched gateway to interactive content.
By simply pressing the red button on their handset during the telethon, digital TV viewers will get special interactive features - depending on their platform - ranging from the latest news about the charity to the ability to make a donation - up to a maximum of £150 - through their TV set.
Digital Cable viewers have access to pages of content about BBC Children in Need, including Webcams from the three BBC Children in Need pop concerts being held in Doncaster, Leicester and Portsmouth. They will also be able to donate money through their television set by filling in the credit / debit card form.
Digital Satellite viewers can also donate money through their television set. Once the red button is pressed the screen shrinks to quarter size and viewers are taken step-by step through a simple process that allows them to make a donation by using their debit or credit card.
The ability to donate money through the digital satellite platform has been developed thanks to Sky Interactive’s expertise with the return path.
Digital Terrestrial viewers will have access to a special Children in Need section of digital text. The service provides all the latest news stories from the charity, as well as details of how to donate. Viewers with ITVActive will also be able to donate to the charity using web on TV. (CD)