E-Vision's interactive services promise to redefine TV viewing

E-vision, the cable TV arm of etisalat, yesterday announced the commercial rollout of its interactive services which could transform the TV viewing habits of people in the UAE.

A key highlight will be the opportunity for customers across the UAE to redefine their television experience with more than 600 hours of multilingual programming through E-vision's interactive video on demand service called VideoClub which is being showcased at Gitex Technology Week 2009.

E-vision will be providing an exciting array of content for VideoClub customers in various genres ranging from feature films, TV series, cookery, lifestyle shows, religious programmes and live events in different languages such as Arabic, English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam.

Customers will also be able to experience Trick Play technology that helps them to fast forward, rewind or pause a programme which is what they can do when watching a conventional DVD.

Subscribers to VideoClub can also enjoy Catch Up TV which will allow them to catch up on premium content such as daily news, chat shows, live events at convenient timings after original broadcast for free.

Customers using Catch Up TV will be able to watch content from E-vision's exclusive channel e-junior, Dubai TV, Dubai One, Abu Dhabi TV and MBC. The Catch up TV channels will gradually be increased to 50. The new Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) will provide a view into programme highlights and timings across 250 channels for the first time in the UAE.

The EPG will provide information on programme schedules for the week for a period ranging from three days to one week.

It will thus provide a convenient planning mechanism for customers who have busy lifestyles so that they can decide on their entertainment options during the week. This way they will not miss their favourite programmes.

E-vision also unveiled its Targeted Messaging service to offer a direct messaging mechanism for customer communication.

The service is highly versatile and can be used to send messages to groups down to one individual and across any segment in terms of population, ethnicity or geographical area.

Using this service, E-vision can now create a customized message for any audience size.

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