Peter Wilkinson, the architect of internet service provider Freeserve, has emerged as the chairman and largest investor in a new interactive digital television business.

Mr Wilkinson, who made more hard cash out of the internet boom than almost any other UK dotcom entrepreneur, has taken a 40% stake in the Digital Interactive Television Group.

The firm, which is valued at £50m after a £10m fundraising, offers a package of services to companies setting up interactive channels, including software, studio and production facilities and digital expertise.

Mr Wilkinson is best known for drawing up the business model for Freeserve on a napkin while travelling on a train from London to York and then selling Sports Internet group to BSkyB for £301m.

He is now in talks with retail and financial services brands about launching their own interactive "info-mercial" channels using DITG technology.

"Digital interactive television is everything the internet wanted to be," he said. "It is a simplistic and trusted medium that is in 10m homes and has huge potential to generate revenues."

DITG's first customer Avago, a digital gaming channel run by Debbie Mason, is operating at breakeven within three months of launch.

Revenues are expected to be made through a share of telephone call charges levied while viewers are online interacting with games and purchasing goods.

Mr Wilkinson says brands can launch their own television channels for as little as £1m per year. "It's not even a pin-prick in their annual marketing budgets and viewers can buy goods through their remote control," he said.

He has emerged at the helm of the new business less than two months after he was released from a consultancy contract at BSkyB.