19/12/2007 - TWOFOUR JOINS FORCES WITH DIGITAL BRIDGE TO TACKLE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

Twofour has joined forces with Digital Bridge, the IPTV project founded by the Shoreditch Trust (a community run regeneration agency) to deliver IPTV services to digitally deprived citizens.

Digital Bridge has been developing pioneering IPTV content, services and technology to tackle digital exclusion for example by helping people with the digital switchover. It aims to improve the public take up of community services (such as those for reducing the fear of crime, improving skills , health and solving housing problems) whilst delivering cost savings for public service providers.

James Morris, Digital Bridge Managing Director said: "I am absolutely delighted to be able to build on the learning and the innovations of a pilot in Shoreditch to deliver the Digital Bridge service to other areas in the UK and beyond. The delivery of local channels and providing PC functionality on people's TV's who have not previously had access to computers whilst combining this with the latest in digital TV such as Freeview over a broadband connection will revolutionize how public agencies engage with communities to deliver their services."

Mark Hawkins, Twofour Managing Director said: "With Digital Bridge on board we will be able to offer an IPTV proposition to the public sector at a key time as we run up to the digital switchover and I am really pleased that we can announce this agreement with the Shoreditch Trust which will allow us to maximise what has been developed so far and make it available to other public agencies in the UK and internationally."

Micheal Pyner, Chief Executive of Shoreditch Trust said: " The Digital Bridge project has been a success for the Trust on many levels, the focus of the Trust remains increasing opportunity for the residents of Shoreditch. Twofour are well placed to build on the learning from the Shoreditch pilot, to meet the interest of the many organisations and areas outside of Shoreditch, keen to engage with the Digital Bridge. The Trust is excited by the potential for this partnership and we look forward to working with Twofour in the new year."

"The opportunities for engaging citizens who don't have access to digital services and to deliver public services through IPTV are almost limitless," explains James Morris. To date Digital Bridge has deployed IPTV and broadband to around 900 residents in Shoreditch delivering Homechoice TV, four Digital Bridge Channels - Crime, Education, Money and Local - access to the internet and PC on TV. This trial exceeded all expectations and demonstrated that public services can be delivered more efficiently and effectively through IPTV.

Digital Bridge will be based in Twofour's London Offices. For more information visit the dedicated Digtial Bridge website.

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