Firm seeks to restore TV quiz show credibility

THE BRITISH public's confidence in the verity of TV quiz shows could be restored completely, says Michel Ayache, who reckons he has the answer.

"You can't cheat with our system," Ayache told the INQ. "We want to restore that old-fashioned concept of fair play."

Ayache's firm, Inlive Interactive produces technology for four different types of client: regular telephone, web site client, Interactive TV remote control, and mobile handset.

Rather than relying on the luck of the draw and hoping your telephone number is picked - which is the common Brit TV quiz show format - Inlive's games rely on skill and speed, he claims.

"The winner is selected automatically," Ayache explained. "You can even configure the games so that questions are selected randomly." So even the TV production staff won't know the answers.

Asked why the system hasn't been utilised in the UK before - aside for one trial with Channel Four's Quizcall - Ayache suggested that it didn't quite bring in the big bucks which the TV channels made from other formats.

He points out that with stricter regulation for gaming on TV, Inlive's system is the only product that's currently legal in Italy.

A major focus for Inlive, however, is not selling to TV production companies but to the mobile network operators themselves.

The company has the technology to enable mobile handset users to view the game via 3G and play at the same time.

One benefit for operators is that Inlive's technology cuts out the middleman. Once the system is fired up the games can run for 24/7 without the need for human intervention.

Plus - now that Inlive can actively support audiences of between 5K and 20K players - Ayache hints that the dosh which the games can raise isn't that bad any more.

A system using Inlive's technology is due to go live with Vodafone in South Africa this week. µ

L'INQ
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