Betty TV will soon be history in Switzerland
Swisscom has decided to permanently discontinue the interactive TV remote control, Betty TV. Operations had recently been outsourced to Germany after the remote control had caused Swisscom to incur significant losses.
Swisscom has decided to definitively end the Betty TV interactive TV remote control. Operations were recently outsourced to Germany (see ). Only Switzerland is affected by the discontinuation, but not Betty TV's activities in Germany, said Swisscom spokesperson Carsten Roetz in response to a corresponding report in the online edition of Abendblatt Heute.
"The results of Betty TV (Switzerland) are well below our expectations, which is why a continuation of the Betty service is no longer justified from a business point of view", according to a letter from Swisscom to customers. As of December 1, 2007, Betty events will no longer be available on the Betty remote control.
The interactive TV remote control, which allows TV viewers to take part in competitions, votes or surveys, is proving to be a big flop. Since its launch in June a year ago, the remote control has only gained 10,000 customers in Switzerland and 100,000 customers in Germany, according to earlier figures. Swisscom CEO Carsten Schloter had expected much more. The Group had 300,000 such remote controls produced, which resulted in high costs. On balance, Betty TV tore a hole of CHF 60 million in the operating result of Switzerland's largest telecommunications group in the first half of the year.
Following the huge loss, Swisscom pulled the emergency brake at the end of August and relocated operations in Switzerland to Germany. 35 employees were made redundant. Swiss customers were then looked after from Munich.
But now Swisscom also wants to get rid of Betty TV in Germany. "We are looking for an investor," said Roetz. There are already various interested parties. He could not name any names.
"The results of Betty TV (Switzerland) are well below our expectations, which is why a continuation of the Betty service is no longer justified from a business point of view", according to a letter from Swisscom to customers. As of December 1, 2007, Betty events will no longer be available on the Betty remote control.
The interactive TV remote control, which allows TV viewers to take part in competitions, votes or surveys, is proving to be a big flop. Since its launch in June a year ago, the remote control has only gained 10,000 customers in Switzerland and 100,000 customers in Germany, according to earlier figures. Swisscom CEO Carsten Schloter had expected much more. The Group had 300,000 such remote controls produced, which resulted in high costs. On balance, Betty TV tore a hole of CHF 60 million in the operating result of Switzerland's largest telecommunications group in the first half of the year.
Following the huge loss, Swisscom pulled the emergency brake at the end of August and relocated operations in Switzerland to Germany. 35 employees were made redundant. Swiss customers were then looked after from Munich.
But now Swisscom also wants to get rid of Betty TV in Germany. "We are looking for an investor," said Roetz. There are already various interested parties. He could not name any names.
