Is Interactive Digital Television the Future of E-Government Services? A Critical Assessment of UK Initiatives

Abstract

This article presents a critical assessment of the use of interactive Digital Television (iDTV) to deliver electronic government and public services in the UK. It considers the organisational and institutional context for innovation in service delivery, explores iDTV policy and practice in the UK, and draws on recent empirical research around three of the UK's most significant iDTV initiatives. This emerging evidence base suggests that although the provision of public services via iDTV is still in its infancy, with current initiatives not yet sufficiently advanced to support widespread provision and use, it has the potential to become an increasingly important complementary service platform.