The Starter Kit is the technology that allows a Local Authority to publish content and create interactive services on Sky, Virgin Media, mobile phone platforms as well as kiosks

The DigiTV Starter Kit publishes to digital interactive TV platforms, mobile and kiosk. Primarily it is made up of:

• Hosting
• Web-based secure Content Management System (CMS)
• Forms wizard
• Publishing templates 
• Image capability
• Generic “Plug-in” enabling integration with your local databases  (plug in guide)
• Screen designs
• Templated forms/functions
• Training
• Support & maintenance
• Management Information (MIS)
• Technical improvements

The Headlines of the Starter Kit include:

• Ability for a Local Authority or public sector partner to manage the content they want to publish to Sky, cable, mobile phones and kiosk, to create a locally relevant service
• A Forms Wizard to assist in the creation of forms, questionnaires and consultation elements. This also allows the nomination of an email address for returned forms
• Ability for a Local Authority to brand the front page of their microsite with their logo
• A comprehensive A-Z directory of all content and interactive services on the microsite
• The ability to create your own menu and navigation structure
• Fully tested templates that have been agreed by the platform providers and avoid the need for complex central testing
• Immediate publishing of locally input content allowing Local Authorities to publish  ‘breaking news’ to their DiTV and mobile audiences
• A consistent look and feel, offers citizens using different LA microsites  to benefit from consistent interfaces 
• All templates and palettes have been designed and built with accessibility and usability in mind. Advice on dealing with users who suffer from colour blindness or visual impairments can be provided
• Templates offering picture capability where an image enhances the content or experience
• Apart from a TV, Sky box and cable emulator (emulator supplied by DigiTV) to ensure all the content is rendered properly, there is no need for any local technical infrastructure or investment
• Management information statistics are supplied (more info)
• Across site search is available by inserting a postcode and a keyword, the service will scan all micro-sites and bring up relevant results to the user
• Local Authorities can link to other Local Authorities or services within the Starter Kit, for instance there may be useful links between County and District microsites
• The DigiTV Plug-In allows LAs to deliver end-to-end transactional services on DiTV that integrate with their back-office systems
• Linking in to national databases with locally relevant content (e.g.: jobs, transport, legal advice) (more info)
• Ongoing improvement to user and CMS interface designs
• Localised help within CMS and microsites
• Improved complete site search
• Enhancements to the MIS interfaces and analysis tools