Montreal - March 22, 2005 - etc.tv and TVA Group announced today that the two companies have signed an exclusive agreement to launch the etc.tv Advertising on Demand Network on the TVA broadcast network in the Fall of 2005. The launch will follow a trial period with selected charter advertisers beginning this summer.
etc.tv is Canada's Advertising on Demand Network, a revolutionary telescopic advertising on demand application that leverages Television infrastructures to permit advertisers to more fully engage interested consumers who opt-in to view compelling, long form content.
Today's news follows the announcement on November 1 st , 2004, of an agreement between etc.tv and Videotron Ltée to jointly develop the etc.tv Advertising on Demand application on Videotron's two-way digital cable distribution system. The etc.tv advertising on Demand application will be available to all TVA viewers subscribing to Videotron's illico digital cable service.
"We see advertising on demand as a natural evolution of Television in the digital age." confirmed Reneault Poliquin, Vice President, TVA. "By leveraging digital technology to bring consumers relevant advertising, on demand, we are uncovering new and untapped potential for Television. etc.tv's solution brings opt-in targeting to advertising's most powerful mass medium and our partnership with etc.tv allows TVA to bring innovative solutions to our customers."
The etc.tv technology provides a unique solution, which allows consumers to navigate easily from the live television stream to the On Demand stream, permitting etc.tv's broadcast partners to increase their advertising revenue by offering innovative and interactive products to advertisers. etc.tv permits advertisers to extend the brand conversation with consumers and to more deeply engage qualified prospects with complete accountability.
"We are thrilled to have concluded this agreement with TVA, "Quebec's dominant television broadcaster commanding a share of tuning unrivalled by any broadcaster in North America" stated etc.tv President Mark Sherman. "TVA solidifies its leadership amongst North American broadcasters by taking a proactive position in exploring and developing next-generation television advertising models for its customers. We look forward to working closely with TVA in establishing the etc.tv advertising on demand network.
TVA Group
TVA Group is an integrated communications company involved in television, production and distribution of audiovisual products, and in magazine publishing. TVA Group is North America's largest private producer and distributor of French-language entertainment, information and public affairs programming, and its largest publisher of French-language magazines. TVA Group's Class B shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TVA.b.
etc.tv
The etc.tv Advertising on Demand Network is a cross-platform, standardized business model that leverages the broadcast and Video on Demand (VOD) environments to allow Canadian Television viewsers access to Long Form Advertisements (LFAs), on demand.
For more information, please contact:
Nicole Tardif
Director of Media Relations
TVA Group
(514) 598-6335
Ian MacLean,
Vice-President and General Manager
etc.tv
ianm@etc.tv
(514) 844-5050, x- 747
www.etc.tv
