Paperview for TV finds ally in FCC

Oracle's standard for digital television has received a round ofapplause

It looked certain last week that an unlikely combination of dealers and vendors would reap the benefits of the introduction of Oracle's Paperview for television.

The system, which allows users to view up to 500 digital channels, and is backed by bigwigs such as Oracle chief executive Larry Ellison and head of News International Rupert Murdoch, has won the backing of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The FCC said last week that it would back a standard for digital television and the UK may well follow, despite differences in digital television standards.

Oracle will attempt, through its colleagues in the media, to make its Paperview standard a worldwide key to television.

The move could be an enormous blow to Microsoft chairman Bill Gates' plans to develop a digital television network.