Winner Channel & Teletext link up

It’s happy days for The Winner Channel this week, after the announcement of a deal that sees the channel link up with UK television-based information service Teletext.

Not only that, the channel’s operator, Two Way TV has been named the seventh fastest growing venture capital-backed company in the UK, in a survey published by the Daily Telegraph. A double-whammy for the London based concern.

Teletext and Two Way TV have announced a deal which sees The Winner Channel becoming the exclusive fixed odds gaming partner for Teletext’s new mobile services.

Teletext users will be able to access a variety of The Winner Channel’s fixed odds games, including roulette, keno, hi-lo, dice and slots games.

The Winner Channel, operated by Two Way TV and interactive gaming solutions specialist Zone4Play, will offer Teletext viewers free downloads of its mobile phone games as well as free bets for all Teletext users signing up for the service.

Launched in early 2005 it has seen its audiences grow rapidly and is the only gaming portal which allows users to use one account seamlessly across interactive TV, mobile phone and the internet.

Commenting on this latest deal, Two Way TV’s commercial director, Guy Templer, said: “The Winner Channel is focused on creating compelling entertainment betting which appeals to non-traditional betting audiences. Teletext is an ideal distribution partner for this with its heartland in TV.”

Jonathan Creber, the commercial text manager of Teletext, added: “Two Way TV has a very strong presence in the fixed odds market. We really liked what they were doing with the Winner Channel brand and are impressed with the fantastic product plans they have for the future in this market. We feel they will offer great entertainment for our audience.”

This latest announcement builds on Two Way TV’s activity in the gaming market which to date has been focused on interactive TV and the internet.

Commercial strategies such as this have paid dividends for the company, and propelled it up the high-growth private company charts.

In the fiscal year for 2005 Two Way TV experienced a 129 per cent increase in turnover, as new revenue streams from international expansion, the global licensing of its cutting edge Simcast™ text-to-TV technology and fixed odds gaming kicked in.

Two Way TV UK completed a deal with its Australian business partner Two Way TV Australia, rolling out Two Way’s products in a number of Asian markets. This has led to Simcast’s licensing to Asia’s leading media and entertainment company, Star Group, which reaches 300 million people in 53 Asian countries. Two Way TV Australia also completed a successful float on the Australian Stock Exchange which valued it at AUS$100M.

Jean de Fougerolles, the chief executive of Two Way TV, states: “Our company has seen phenomenal growth through creating great products and services backed by a skilled and loyal workforce. We are really pleased that our dynamic market presence has been recognised by the UK’s top business broadsheet and we will be building on that growth through solidifying our position in the UK and Europe and expanding into the US where Simcast has generated much interest.”