Interactive TV Makes Viewing Easier, But Will It Really Catch On?(SERIES: INNOVATIONS)(IBD SPECIAL REPORT)

Byline: David Isaac

Sexy. That's one way to describe interactive TV. You can switch camera angles during a ballgame. Delete endless car commercials. Even order a pizza with your TV remote. You'd be crazy not to have it.

At least, that's what many industry analysts figured over the last few years, forecasting that the technology would take the world by storm.

It's been more like a breeze -- at least in the U.S. So what's the problem? Could it be all those cool applications are too sexy?

An anecdote that Henry Yuen, chairman and CEO of Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc., told at a conference this month in Los Angeles helps illustrate the problem.

A company created a program guide -- the kind on the TV Guide channel. But this one was special. It kept track of the shows you watched, creating a second guide for those it "thought" you'd be …