October 7, 2009

Pushbutton designs for ITV relaunch

Filed under: 2007 archive, Press — Tags: , , , — Eugene @ 1:38 pm

Release date: November 10, 2007

The recently relaunched interactive services on ITV’s digital satellite channels make use of designs originally created by Pushbutton.

These include the 24/7 menu, which has undergone a complete revamp, and most of the show-specific areas, including The X Factor, Rugby World Cup 2007, Trinny & Susannah Undress The Nation, Dolmio (sponsorship), and Maltesers (sponsorship).

Pushbutton’s Development Director, James Cumberbatch, commented – “It’s great to see that these great UI designs have stood the test of time; the fact that they’ve been successfully ported across to ITV’s new application framework is further testament to their lasting appeal”.

The new interactive services are built using the Modelstream suite of tools.

‘Hannahween’ stickers for Disney

Filed under: 2007 archive, Press — Tags: , , , , , , — Eugene @ 1:35 pm

Release date: October 30, 2007

The popular “Stickers” game, that features in the interactive content for Disney Channel UK, has been “spooked up” a bit today by Pushbutton, with the addition of some new stickers.

The stickers tie in with the autumnal seasonal theme that Disney are promoting as “Hannahween” (a play on the name of Hannah Montana, one of the most popular live-action characters).

Amongst the new stickers is an animated black cat that users can drop onto their TV screens; once unleashed, the cat has a mind of its own, running from side to side, mewling, and jumping!

Also newly featured are stickers featuring some of the best-loved characters from Disney Channel’s live action shows. Other Halloween stickers include pumpkin, ghost, and an animated cloud of bats!

Pushbutton’s Managing Director Paula Byrne said “It’s great that the game can be kept fresh in this way; regularly adding new stickers means kids have a reason to keep coming back to explore, and it means they feel they’re really interacting with Disney Channel’s seasonal programming”.

Stickers game for Disney channel

Filed under: 2007 archive, Press — Tags: , , , , — Eugene @ 1:32 pm

Release date: October 22, 2007

Disney Channel UK’s interactive TV portal was enhanced today by the addition of an innovative “Stickers” game, the first game that Pushbutton have supplied for this channel.

Viewers who play “Stickers” can take snapshots of their favourite Disney Channel shows, and decorate them with a selection of virtual stickers, some of which are animated.

The “Stickers” game works with users in several ways… It can act as a simple ’snacking’ game experience, for viewers who are waiting for their favourite show to come on, or it can provide an novel and rich way for viewers to interact with the characters, and with the Disney Channel brand as a whole.

The application was rapidly developed by Pushbutton using their proven OpenTV SDK code libraries. The broadcast content is carefully structured to facilitate inclusion of fresh stickers, themed by season or to tie in with new Disney Channel show launches; this means the service can be kept fresh and interesting, and also gives the channel operator plenty of opportunities to get across their brand or marketing messages.

Pushbutton’s Development Director, James Cumberbatch, said “We’re really pleased with the way this product turned out; above all, the game is great fun to play with! We’re sure it’ll be a great hit with viewers”.

To view the game, visit the Disney Channel portal application by pressing red on Disney Channel or Disney Channel +1.

TV Search for BSkyB

Filed under: 2007 archive, Press — Tags: , , — Eugene @ 1:12 pm

Release date: October 5, 2007

With Pushbutton’s help, BSkyB today launched a new interactive service that brings together detailed TV listings, recommendations, and reminders. The interactive application, called “TV Search”, features a front end developed by Pushbutton.

Developing the application meant Pushbutton’s developers working closely with UI designers and illustrators, business owners, and technical staff in a project team based at Sky’s Isleworth headquarters.

TV Search gives users access to a database of information about forthcoming TV shows that’s significantly more detailed than that currently available through the EPG. A “most popular” search facility is also provided, that allows users to quickly find information about key shows.

Users can also see the dates and times of repeats and episodes across Sky’s digital satellite channels. They can then arrange to be reminded about forthcoming shows by SMS or via a free email reminder service.

The live data for the application is retrieved by the set-top box via a freephone number, so the search facilities are offered to users without charge.

Paula Byrne, Pushbutton’s Managing Director, said: “We’re delighted to have had the opportunity to work with Sky on this project; TV Search is an innovative service, and a great addition to Sky’s interactive platform.”

TV Search can be accessed by all viewers of Sky Digital, via the Sky Active main menu. Links to the service from other interactive access points will be rolled out later in the year.

Interactive portal for Disney channel

Filed under: 2007 archive, Press — Tags: , , , — Eugene @ 1:11 pm

Release date: September 3, 2007

Disney Channel UK has launched an ambitious new interactive service for viewers watching on the Sky digital satellite service, designed and built by Pushbutton, the interactive television specialists.

The service is accessed via the red or text buttons, and offers a rich menu of content and games based around the channel’s most popular shows.

The new service is designed to be ‘ultra lite’ in terms of its bandwidth overhead – yet it loads fast, is highly performant, and has much more content than the old service.

The main viewer benefits are a package of enhanced TV content services – such as quick access TV listings, Quizzes, links to overlay and games, and dedicated content hubs for key Disney Channel franchises such as Hannah Montana, Suite Life of Zack & Cody, That’s So Raven and High School Musical.

A ’shout out’ service that viewers can use to send messages to a ticker on the live channel via the Disney website.
Pushbutton provided Disney with a sophisticated and custom built content management system that has proven to be a robust and flexible tool for updating the service.

Pushbutton Managing Director, Paula Byrne, said ”That a global media giant like Disney has placed its faith in Pushbutton is a tremendous endorsement for the company – and it is a trust that we believe we have more than paid back with the quality of the service we have designed and built. Delivered on time, on budget, to a bespoke design agreed with the client – we are extremely proud of the work we have done for Disney.”

”It sailed through Sky’s exacting SSSL testing procedure, achieving a first time pass, which again given the complexity of the project is a huge compliment to the expertise and quality of the Pushbutton team,” added Byrne.

Jeep sponsorship for Nat Geo channel

Filed under: 2007 archive, Press — Tags: , , , — Eugene @ 1:09 pm

Release date: June 18, 2007

Pushbutton has designed and built an extensive Jeep sponsorship for National Geographic Channel’s popular Wild Things series.

An interactive Quiz tests viewers knowledge of wild life, with fact tickers and ‘Did You Know’ sections offering additional fact-based interactive entertainment.

A ‘New Jeep Range’ feature is promoted from all menus within the sponsored content – taking viewers to a selection of screens where they can see images and read information about the latest range of Jeep vehicles.

Pushbutton managing director, Paula Byrne, said, “This is a highly innovative campaign. It shows a great new way for brands to achieve high quality interactions and exposure”.

Sponsoring existing eTV content and knitting marcoms messages in seamlessly with an interactive asset that is permanently available, frees the promotion from the limiting 30 second availability of a broadcast trigger.

“We are delighted to have worked on the Jeep brand. Pushbutton is on mission to improve the quality of interactive advertising for the auto industry. We aim to do for an auto manufacturer what we did for Guinness, produce an interactive ‘red button’ ad that blows everything else out of the water,” added Byrne.

Pushbutton designed and developed National Geographic Channel’s interactive TV service on Sky. It went live in September 2006.

Formula One interactive for ITV

Filed under: 2007 archive, Press — Tags: , , , — Eugene @ 1:04 pm

Release date: June 14, 2007

Pushbutton has revved up ITV’s Formula One coverage this season with a ‘go faster’ interactive service available to viewers watching on Sky by pressing the red button on their remote controllers.

The service enables viewers to select exclusive video, read profiles of the drivers, and keep abreast of latest news from the teams and the tracks.

The video section of the application is sponsored by Honda, featuring exclusive video of Honda driver, Jenson Button. This part of the interactive is strongly branded with Honda’s distinctive ‘Type R’ red badge, promoting a range of cars that shares the technology and heritage of its racing team.

Paula Byrne, managing director of Pushbutton said ”We are very excited at the prospect of building interactive TV content in the automotive sector. Our role as core developer in the F1 project, was a good place to start. But we can go much further, and we have some very strong ideas to help auto manufacturers sell more cars via interactive advertising on television”.

”Having upped the quality of interactive advertising in the drinks sector – with a highly acclaimed ad for Guinness, automotive is the next big challenge for Pushbutton,” added Byrne.

Interactive for Gameshow Marathon

Filed under: 2007 archive, Press — Tags: , , — Eugene @ 12:58 pm

Release date: May 3, 2007

ITV’s popular Saturday night show, Vernon Kay’s Gameshow Marathon is enhanced by an interactive TV application that viewers can call up by pressing the red button on their Sky remotes.

The interactive TV service was designed and built by Pushbutton Ltd, the iTV specialists responsible for ‘red button’ services in many top ITV shows and interactive TV advertisements for Guinness and Kodak.

The Game Show Marathon Service provides simple but essential information about the show, and its host Vernon Kay. Viewers can also use the service to enter a competition via the red button for a chance to win the ‘Prize Mountain’ featured on the show they are watching.

Pushbutton Managing Director, Paula Byrne, said ”We are delighted to have helped Gameshow Marathon interact with its audience. The viewer experience for this kind of show is greatly enhanced by providing show information and competition opportunities whilst live.”

Grease is The Word red button app

Filed under: 2007 archive, Press — Tags: , , — Eugene @ 12:54 pm

Release date: April 7, 2007

The hit musical Grease is now the subject of a popular talent show on ITV called Grease Is The Word.

In the show, hopefuls compete for the star roles of Sandy and Danny in a West End theatre production.

Pushbutton has built an enhanced TV application that viewers can access via the red button on their Sky remote, to enable them to read profiles of the hopefuls, catch the latest news from the rehearsals, enter competitions, and vote for their choice of Sandy and Danny.

Grease Is the Word interactive is sponsored by Ribena, the blackcurrant drink. In addition to the main show interactive, Pushbutton also designed and built a sponsorship area for Ribena, which viewers can access by following links from the main show interactive. Here viewers can find out more about Ribena and enter a further competition.

Pushbutton Managing Director, Paula Byrne, said ”We are delighted to be a part of Grease Is The Word. Interactivity adds real viewer value in this kind of show, enabling them to vote, play games, and keep abreast of who is out and who is still in as the competition unfolds.”

Pushbutton is the most prolific designer and developer of popular television interactive services in the UK – having designed and built interactive services for several leading TV shows and their sponsors. Hit shows supported by Pushbutton interactive applications include I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, The X Factor, Dancing On Ice, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, and the National Geographic Channel.

Saturday Cooks McCains sponsorship

Filed under: 2007 archive, Press — Tags: , , , , — Eugene @ 12:48 pm

Release date: February 5, 2007

Pushbutton has designed and built an interactive sponsors area for the frozen foods brand, McCains – linked in from ITV’s popular Saturday Cooks show.

Pushbutton has designed and built an interactive sponsors area for the frozen foods brand, McCains – linked in from ITV’s popular Saturday Cooks show.

Viewers can enter the McCains interactive by pressing red during Saturday Cooks and then following the directions to the sponsors’ area.

The interactive provides product information about McCains Traditional and Rustic oven chip varieties. There are recipes, and details of the nutritional values of the products and a chance to enter a competition quiz
By successfully answering multiple-choice questions about the nutritional value of McCains products, viewers win the opportunity to be entered into a draw to win £500 for a slap up meal at a restaurant of their choice.

Pushbutton managing director, Paula Byrne, said, ”This is a great sponsorship. In the current climate, food manufacturers need to work hard to get across positive messages about nutritional values. This puts McCains right there, directly in front of the viewers of a popular food show. The interactive adds a fun element to keep them engaged and informed.”

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