Homechoice customers to enjoy safer surfing
Video Networks Ltd (VNL), provider of Homechoice, the digital home network, announced today it was to become a member of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), which tackles the distribution of child abuse images online. Homechoice delivers broadband internet, digital TV, video on-demand and voice services to customers across London and Stevenage. The move builds on the platform’s existing child safety features and will ensure Homechoice customers enjoy the benefits of safe surfing.
Christine Mitchell, Executive Director TV & Internet Product, Homechoice said:
“I am pleased to announce our membership of the Internet Watch Foundation. Homechoice takes its social responsibilities extremely seriously and child safety is always top of our agenda. Becoming a member of the IWF is a logical step for Homechoice as it takes our existing safety features that one step further. We look forward to working with the IWF to tackle this serious issue.”
Peter Robbins, CEO, IWF added:
“We are very pleased that Homechoice have chosen to join the IWF in its battle to combat illegal online content. Their support will strengthen the service we provide to all UK internet and mobile consumers to report their inadvertent exposure to potentially illegal online content. We look forward to working with them to accomplish our mission of minimising the availability of online illegal content.”
Homechoice has already launched a variety of child safety initiatives across its product portfolio. In 2004, the company launched the Minimote, Europe’s first ever remote control designed specifically for kids. The remote only enables access to the kids’ channels ensuring parents can control the programming they are watching.
Homechoice also offers its customers individual PINs for each member of the household. The PINs can be set according to the age of the household member so children can be prevented from watching unsuitable on-demand content.
At the beginning of September, the company launched the Homechoice Wisewatch Guide, which aims to provide handy hints and tips to parents on safe TV viewing for kids.
About Homechoice
Video Networks delivers video on-demand, digital TV for your television, a choice of broadband speeds for your PC and great value talk plans for your home phone under the brand name Homechoice, the digital home network. The company’s service is currently available to 2.4 million homes across London & Stevenage.
The service offers over 80 of the best broadcast and on-demand entertainment channels, including an award winning interactive music service. With more than 5,000 on-demand movies, music videos and TV programmes, all available through a simple pricing and packaging structure, Homechoice is the ultimate digital home network. Also available on the Homechoice platform under a retail distribution agreement with BSkyB are the Sky Sports and Sky Movies channels.
Homechoice offers customers always-on, broadband Internet connections with speeds ranging from 1Mb up to 8Mb. In addition, included in the monthly charge for TV & broadband services is a home phone service, offering free evening and weekend calls to local and national numbers, and low rates to UK mobiles and abroad.
With Homechoice, I’d rather be at home…
For further information please contact Becky Mottershead, Corporate Communications Manager, Homechoice, 020 7348 4118, 07779 339 558 or becky.mottershead@homechoice.net
Created: Fri, September 30th, 2005 | Last Modified: Fri, February 3rd, 2006
