DigiTV launched

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The UK Government-backed Digital Interactive TV project has finally gone live on NTL's platform. DigiTV is sponsored by a £2.87 million (4.3 million) grant from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and assists local authorities wanting to offer e-government services.

DigiTV has agreed contracts with those UK digital platforms that offer return path services: Sky, Telewest and NTL. Services had already launched on Sky and Telewest, but due to a systems upgrade at NTL they were delayed until now.
It is thought that some manufacturers will issue software upgrades for existing set-top boxes, enabling them to display the full eight-day guide. Eight days' worth of information is required since personal video recorders (PVRs) need to know what is happening on a 'this time next week' basis. The launch of the eight-day EPG is expected to lead to the introduction of more PVRs for the digital terrestrial market.
Since the platform's launch in 1998, digital terrestrial EPGs have only offered viewers information on programmes currently on air, and those about to follow them - the so-called Now-Next guide.

But this week, after extensive trials, a full eight-day EPG is being rolled out on a region-by-region basis and should be completed by the weekend.