By Saeed Shah
Published: 14 February 2006
BT underlined its ambition to become a significant player in the television market yesterday by signing a deal for programming and interactive content with Endemol, the producer of Big Brother.
The dominant fixed-line telecoms player launches its television service this autumn, as the market moves increasingly quickly towards "convergence". Endemol is famous for producing programmes that get viewers actively involved, especially through voting.
Dan Marks, the chief executive of television services at BT, said: "The significance of the Endemol deal is that it indicates the importance of the interactive element in our programming."
Across the communications industry, fixed-line and mobile phone services are coming together with broadband and television, as companies start to offer consumers a one-stop shop for their communications and entertainment needs. NTL, which provides television, fixed-line and broadband over its cable network, is in talks to acquire Virgin Mobile. And BSkyB, the leading pay-TV company, acquired the broadband provider Easynet late last year.
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