ALEXANDRIA, VA - February 22, 2000 - The Public Broadcasting Service has won one of the interactive world's most prestigious awards -- the Milia d'Or -- for the digital enhancements accompanying the Ken Burns documentary FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT. The announcement of the award in the Interactive TV category was made in ceremonies held Feb. 17 in Cannes, France as part of the annual Milia Exhibition.
Milia is the only international exhibition and professional conference bringing together top representatives from the entire spectrum of interactive content as well as organizations driving new broadband and high-speed delivery platforms.
"The Milia d'Or is the highest honor for interactive media, and we are delighted to have our work recognized in such a prominent international forum," said Cindy Johanson, senior vice president, Internet and broadband services, PBS.
Originally aired in November, 1998, FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT featured companion data which was transmitted simultaneously in the television signal to state-of-the-art Intel¨ Architecture-based personal computers capable of receiving digital signals. Upon completion of the documentary, a trial audience was able to use their PCs to explore and interact with video, audio and a rich array of additional information about Frank Lloyd Wright.
The enhanced content accompanying the documentary includes interviews with Wright by CBS correspondent Mike Wallace, recorded in the 1950s; virtual tours of three historic Wright creations: Fallingwater, the Guggenheim Museum and Unity Temple; and other material not included in the documentary. Users are able to listen to Eric Lloyd Wright, Frank's grandson, tell stories and describe Wright's innovative architecture, and explore commentary by Wright experts.
Nominees and winners of the Milia d'Or awards are chosen by an international jury comprised of the leading authorities in the interactive content world. Entries were judged on their innovation, excellence, originality and creativity as well as quality of interactivity, navigation and user interface. The jury chose winners in the following categories: action games (PC-consoles), adventure & role playing games (PC-consoles), strategy games (PC-consoles), simulation & sports games (PC-consoles), family entertainment (PC-consoles), children's (PC-consoles), reference & general culture (PC-consoles), education & training (PC-consoles), online games, online family entertainment, online services & e-commerce, and online news & information. More information about the Milia conference and Milia d'Or awards can be found at www.milia.com.
PBS.org, PBS' award-winning site on the World Wide Web, produces high-quality Web programming as it pioneers the convergence of television and the Internet. PBS Online features more than 85,000 pages of content, as well as companion Web sites for more than 400 PBS programs and specials. PBS ONLINE has won the prestigious Webby Award for best TV Web site in 1998 and 1999. In January 2000, Yahoo! put PBS.org at the top of its list of the best Web sites of all time.
PBS, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, is a private, nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by its 346 member public television stations. A trusted community resource, PBS uses the power of noncommercial television, the Internet and other media to enrich the lives of all Americans through quality programs and education services that inform, inspire and delight. Available to 99 percent of American homes with televisions and to an increasing number of digital multimedia households, PBS serves nearly 100 million people each week. More information about PBS is available at PBS.org.
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