CONEJO TV TEST GIVES VIEWERS DEEPER LOOK AT CAMPAIGN.

Byline: Enrique Rivero Daily News Staff Writer

Ever wanted to catch a presidential candidate in a lie or get biographical information about your favorite - or least favorite - politician with the click of a TV remote control?

About 1,000 Conejo Valley households were able to do that and more during Tuesday's New Hampshire presidential primary as part of the continuing test of ACTV Entertainment's unique interactive cable service, which allows viewers to tailor television programming to their needs.

"What's important is that these 1,000 people are the first in the country who get this whole new kind of political coverage," said Tina Vennegaard, a spokeswoman for the company.

And as the presidential race rages on, ACTV officials promise that the test households in Calabasas, Agoura Hills and Westlake Village will have access to more of this in-depth candidate information with the use of a remote control and on-screen prompts during CNN's one-hour "Prime News."

Next in line will be CNN's coverage of mini-Super Tuesday (March 5) and Super Tuesday (March 12).

"If I can get more information on a candidate and specific issues I'm interested in, it makes me a more informed voter," said Brent Imai, vice president and project manager for ACTV. "That's what we're trying to do: provide more information so the viewer can become a more informed voter."

ACTV Entertainment, a subsidiary of ACTV Inc., initiated its pilot project with Ventura County Cablevision in June, giving participating households the opportunity to tune in to interactive programs such as music videos, sports events, games like blackjack, and educational programs for children.

In the experimental program, members of the test households can watch the top news stories from CNN's report, sporting events and other programming, then tailor the shows to suit their interests by using an on-screen prompt.

The test homes were chosen according to demographics. The company chose Southern California for the test because of the proximity of major television industry operations.

ACTV recently added CNN's "Prime News" to its lineup, Imai said. On Tuesday, test group members were treated to options during the one-hour news program enabling them to get biographical information about Republican presidential candidates Lamar Alexander, Pat Buchanan, Bob Dole and Steve Forbes, and to hear the candidates' opening and closing debate statements, Imai said.

Also, with the click of a button, viewers were able to compare their views on key issues to those of New Hampshire residents questioned in a recent poll, and call up information about New Hampshire itself.

Another option enabled viewers to compare the candidates' assertions - or denials - about the negative content of their commercials by juxtaposing the candidates' comments with the ads in question, Imai said.

"That way, we can let the viewers make up their own minds," he said.

Though the content of upcoming programs has not yet been determined, ACTV will continue to offer similar enhancements to CNN's coverage through the entire campaign.

"Throughout the campaign we will be doing these extensive informational one-hour shows," he said.