Press Releases

Magyar Telekom Group's thematic TV channel OzoneNetwork to air regular weather reports

Budapest, March 5, 2010 12:00

The "green" TV channel of Magyar Telekom and Origo expands its range of services from 8 March. OzoneNetwork is the first, and so far the only, weather source that is accessible on 3 screens. The channel's self-produced programs can be viewed on TV and via the internet, while you can watch its continuous stream through mobile television systems, too. In addition, T-Home IPTV subscribers can watch any of its shows free of charge for seven days upon airing time in the shows' original language or in Hungarian.

Out of the two thematic channels of Origo, available through digital and analogue cable networks alike, OzoneNetwork addresses weather, climate change, the relationship of man and nature, while LifeNetwork deals with health and healthy life styles. The multiplatform content provision based on integrated design and operation of thematic channels, websites and mobile content services makes it possible to provide the self-produced programs through all three screens, always adapted to the specific features of the platform in question.

Róbert Pataki, Magyar Telekom's Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer explained, commenting upon the own TV channels: "By the introduction of the multiplatform channels in October, television became the most dynamic element of Magyar Telekom's three-screen strategy. In 2009, we managed to significantly increase our share of Hungary's TV program broadcasting market, where we are now the second largest provider. By that, we made a major step towards being market leaders in each and every activity we pursue, including TV program broadcasting, as set forth by our strategy. We plan to make interactive applications part of both own channels, by means of which we can couple our integrated product portfolio with the opportunities offered by television services. The TV channels also help us to reach customers with as many favorable offers as possible through all three screens."

OzoneNetwork is available in close to one million households for approximately 2.5 million viewers. Based on T-Home IPTV's audience measurement data, the channel competes for the fourth position among thematic channels with Spektrum.

Ozonenetwork.hu website replaced [origo] portal's former weather page as of October 2009. According to the latest data, it registers an average of close to 50 thousand visitors per day, thus being twice as popular as the former weather page, which registered an average of 25 thousand visitors per day last winter. The iPhone OzoneNetwork application has been downloaded so far by 8 thousand people, which makes it the most frequently downloaded iPhone application in Hungary in the week after its appearance.

OzoneNetwork's Weather Minutes program is really unique in Hungary. Comprehensive data of 50 weather stations are collected to compile the reports. Temperature data are supplemented by wind maps, temperature maps, noise pollution data, snow reports and water temperature information. iPhone and web users can watch live pictures of 25 web-cameras located at different points of the country. Ten meteorologists provide forecasts following the constant dynamics of weather throughout the 8760 hours of the year.

The weather reports, updated every minute, reach the audience in a continuously up-to-date format if accessed through iPhone, mobile phone or internet, and are aired on TV every half hour, thus via all the three screens (TV, internet, mobile phone) that accompany us every day. In the special, three-dimensional, virtual space created in the studio, viewers can enjoy the company of well known as well as new weather persons such as Olga Kucsera, Judit Onyutha and Nóra Takács, accompanied by spectacular visual effects.

In addition to weather reports, OzoneNetwork also airs numerous entertaining shows, like documentaries, eco-realities, investigative reports, survival shows and nature programs.

OzoneNetwork. YOUR WEATHER. OzoneNetwork is a thematic channel, which shall fulfill so far unanswered demand by providing weather and traffic reports every half hour. OzoneNetwork is the only channel that is dedicated to focus on global issues like climate change, sustainable development, alternative energy sources, lost worlds or educating people to pursue environment-conscious lifestyles.

LifeNetwork. YOUR LIFE. LifeNetwork is a thematic channel, which fills a gap on the television market by airing lifestyle series, medical documentaries, hospital fiction shows, drama and a daily show called Life Magazine. The channel addresses childcare, family, seemingly everyday still essential issues, as well as therapies and rare diseases. All issues are offered in an informative, easy-to-understand and entertaining style.

About Magyar Telekom
Magyar Telekom is Hungary's largest telecommunication service provider, which offers the full range of telecommunication and info-communication (ICT) services, including fix and mobile phone, data transmission and non-voice, as well s IT and system integration services. The company pursues its business through its two business units: Consumer Services Business Unit (the T-Home brand of services accessed at home and the T-Mobile brand of mobile communication services); Business Services Business Unit (T-Systems brand). Magyar Telekom is majority owner of Makedonski Telekom, the largest fix and mobile service provider of Macedonia, as well as Crnogorski Telekom, Montenegro's largest telecommunication service provider. Magyar Telekom's majority (59.21%) owner is MagyarCom Holding GmbH, which is exclusively owned by Deutsche Telekom AG. Further information is available at www.telekom.hu.