Couch potatoes will soon be able to hire a video, do the shopping, go to the bank and watch a concert - without moving anything more than their wrist on the television remote control.
A trial run of what is believed to be the world's first interactive TV service will be launched in Hong Kong on July 14, sources revealed yesterday.
Interactive TV (iTV) will be available in Kornhill, Kornhill Garden, Heng Fa Chuen, City Garden and Lei King Wan in October.
Viewers will be able to call up a blockbuster, order the weekly groceries from Wellcome, spin the latest pop hit or transfer money between bank accounts.
The service, developed by Internet provider Hong Kong Telecom IMS, went on show yesterday at the first Hong Kong International Film Market.
'All you need is a telephone line, a 'smartbox', which is a decoder, a TV and a remote control,' a spokesman said.