Healthy Canadian Networks, IDS Canada form joint venture
By Adnews Staff
Ottawa-based Healthy Canadian Networks and IDS Canada of Oakville, ON have reached an agreement to jointly operate a collection of video displays in the waiting rooms of Canadian physicians. The service, which will be called IDS Patient Direct TV, will be installed in approximately 500 waiting rooms nationally. The displays will carry a 20-minute loop of health information, localized news, sports and weather reports, and advertising. Healthy Canadian Networks has been operating a similar service for the past 10 years. IDS Canada previously specialized in brochures, posters and other print materials distributed in waiting rooms. The joint expansion of the service will take place over the next three months. "The combined IDS PatientDirect TV digital network will initially include 500 physician waiting areas, 2500 physicians and over 18 million patient visits annually," said Paul Whitehead, president of IDS Canada. "We believe that, with its extended reach, the combined network will be of great appeal to public and private organizations who wish to promote ideas, services and products to a very targeted audience. IDS PatientDirect TV will be by far the largest health-related narrowcasting opportunity available."