How’d you like to get YouTube on your TV? Well SureWest Communications is making it possible to get something darn close with it’s new interactive TV network.
The cable company announced Tuesday it is offering the TellyTopia i2TV (Internet-to-TV) service, which enables anyone, including non-SureWest customers, to upload high-resolution video content through the i2TV Web site and watch it on SureWest’s channel 702.
The service is available in Sacramento with plans to launch in Kansas City as well.
The service works similarly to Web-based video content sites like YouTube where videos are uploaded for viewing by a mass audience, but in this case content can be created online and viewed on TV.
Videos are made available on i2TV within 24 hours of uploading the file online. Video file size can be up to 100MB — more than double the maximum allowed size of most popular online sites. Customers that do not submit files that meet the standards of i2TV, such as video resolution and content appropriateness, will be provided details as to why the submission was not approved so they can revise and resubmit.
Content on i2TV is categorized into 30-minute segments with local content available for five days on the channel at rotating times. In addition to channel 702, SureWest will be adding i2TV’s local content along with an upload tool to its customer home page My SureWest at www.surewest.net. The content also will be added to SureWest’s On Demand video library.
“Once again, SureWest has delivered a cutting-edge and entertaining service to enhance the customer experience,” said Peter Drozdoff, SureWest’s vice president of marketing. “This new channel allows people to become a part of their TV by creating their own content. The possibilities are limitless. From popular Internet videos to local sports and community events, our customers can watch the best of what the Sacramento market has to offer, exclusively with SureWest.”
