To meet the growing demand for international and foreign-language programming, Verizon has added five more Spanish-language channels to its FiOS TV lineup. The new channels -- CentroAmerica TV, Latele Novela Network, Pasiones, Teleamazones Internacional and Vme Kids -- expand FiOS TV's extensive Spanish-language offerings, which now include 39 of the most popular channels available.
"We've been watching the tremendous growth in our Spanish-language subscriber base and have further broadened our offerings to that diverse market with these new channels," said Terry Denson, vice president of content strategy and acquisition for Verizon. "Our multicultural native-language TV channel lineup is meeting the needs of our customers in households across the country."
The five channels were launched Monday (May 23) in FiOS TV's markets in Florida, California and Texas and will be in all FiOS TV markets by the middle of next month. Highlights of the new channels are:
The five new channels join Television Dominicana, Supercanal and VeneMovies, which were added to FiOS TV's Spanish-language and La Conexion packages earlier this year. The Spanish-language package offers some of the most popular Spanish-language channels available - including Galavision, ESPN Deportes and CNN en Espanol - for $11.99 per month. Verizon's La Conexion package offers the best in Spanish- and English-language programming, with more than 125 channels, including all Spanish-language channels, up to 14 HD channels and more than 54 of the most popular channels in English. La Conexion is available separately for $54.99 per month, or in a bundled package with FiOS Internet and voice service.
FiOS TV offers a broad collection of programming, featuring more than 520 all-digital channels including up to 140 HD channels and 18,000 monthly video-on-demand titles. FiOS also provides next-generation interactive services including an advanced interactive media guide; social networking, news and entertainment widgets; remote DVR management via broadband or cell phone; and more.
For the latest news, updates and information about FiOS TV, visit www.verizon.com/newscenter and http://www.verizon.com/athomeblog.
Verizon Communications Inc. , headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 104 million total connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.
InfoCom says Tablet PCs are changing the mobile TV experience.
The first Tablet TV services are appearing in several markets round the world, offered either free of charge or as paid add-ons by different kind of players: content providers (content producers and Pay TV operators), mobile operators and TV access providers (CaTV, IPTV and satellite operators). The Tablet TV app requires a broadband subscription and either a TV access or a mobile data package and enables wireless streaming of live and VoD contents for tablet PCs. Tablet users download the TV app from iTunes or the Android market, free of charge, while the access to the service is linked to the user’s TV subscription: the users activates the service through log in details provided by the TV provider.
Currently, the service is offered to existing and premium subscribers of broadband, mobile data and TV access. The service appeal is the “entertainment anywhere” promise, enabling users of tablet PC to enrich their mobile experience with TV entertainment. Compared to smartphones, tablet PCs improve the user’s viewing-experience as, with the Tablet TV app, premium exclusive content can be enjoyed with the larger screen.
Until now, Tablet TV applications primarily featured remote control functions. However, most recent upgrades enable wireless streaming of live TV and VoD. Currently, TV access providers primarily provide Tablet TV services via WiFi connection and restricted only to the user’s home, that is, the service is paired with the user’s set-top box. Future developments relate to expand the service accessibility, upgrading current apps to enable the “real” mobile experience via 3G. Some content producers, such as BBC, are developing a Tablet TV app to access tablet TV services also abroad.
The new Tablet TV apps can reveal as an effective tool to mitigate customer’s churn and increase value of RGUs. Cable TV operators have been experiencing severe cord-cutting in the past few years due to viewers’ shift to other TV platforms together with the increasing popularity of OTT players, such as Hulu and Netflix. Therefore, TV access providers offer Tablet TV as an add-on service in order to extend further their multi-screen delivery strategy and to strengthen their customers’ loyalty. Responding to the hype inflamed by the release of Apple’s iPad, also mobile operators have started offering dedicated data packages specifically for Tablet TV viewing. Most players are trying to bank of the popularity of tablet PCs in order to up sell their premium packages, either premium Internet packages and mobile data plans or premium TV packages, which several pay TV operators and content producers impose as a pre-requisite to activate their Tablet TV service.
About Innovations Spotlight: This extract is based on InfoCom Innovations Spotlights topic-focused papers on the impact of new technologies and new market changes in the telecoms, IT and media industries. The analysis displays InfoCom’s unique expertise as of monitoring and evaluating innovations for these industries. With 12 issues a year, users are best informed about compelling themes, which could impact their markets. If you wish to know more about Innovations Spotlights, do not hesitate to contact us. Talk to us. We listen.
Currently, the service is offered to existing and premium subscribers of broadband, mobile data and TV access. The service appeal is the “entertainment anywhere” promise, enabling users of tablet PC to enrich their mobile experience with TV entertainment. Compared to smartphones, tablet PCs improve the user’s viewing-experience as, with the Tablet TV app, premium exclusive content can be enjoyed with the larger screen.
Until now, Tablet TV applications primarily featured remote control functions. However, most recent upgrades enable wireless streaming of live TV and VoD. Currently, TV access providers primarily provide Tablet TV services via WiFi connection and restricted only to the user’s home, that is, the service is paired with the user’s set-top box. Future developments relate to expand the service accessibility, upgrading current apps to enable the “real” mobile experience via 3G. Some content producers, such as BBC, are developing a Tablet TV app to access tablet TV services also abroad.
The new Tablet TV apps can reveal as an effective tool to mitigate customer’s churn and increase value of RGUs. Cable TV operators have been experiencing severe cord-cutting in the past few years due to viewers’ shift to other TV platforms together with the increasing popularity of OTT players, such as Hulu and Netflix. Therefore, TV access providers offer Tablet TV as an add-on service in order to extend further their multi-screen delivery strategy and to strengthen their customers’ loyalty. Responding to the hype inflamed by the release of Apple’s iPad, also mobile operators have started offering dedicated data packages specifically for Tablet TV viewing. Most players are trying to bank of the popularity of tablet PCs in order to up sell their premium packages, either premium Internet packages and mobile data plans or premium TV packages, which several pay TV operators and content producers impose as a pre-requisite to activate their Tablet TV service.
About Innovations Spotlight: This extract is based on InfoCom Innovations Spotlights topic-focused papers on the impact of new technologies and new market changes in the telecoms, IT and media industries. The analysis displays InfoCom’s unique expertise as of monitoring and evaluating innovations for these industries. With 12 issues a year, users are best informed about compelling themes, which could impact their markets. If you wish to know more about Innovations Spotlights, do not hesitate to contact us. Talk to us. We listen.
Wananchi raises Sh14bn for expansion
Internet service provider Wananchi Group has raised about Sh14 billion, part of it through private equity, to expand and improve its services and business in East Africa.
Group chief executive Richard Bell said part of the investment is to initiate the Triple Play.
“The product offers high quality pay TV, super fast broadband internet and voice in one package,” he said.
Part of the money will support the direct-to-home satellite Pay TV in 10 countries where penetration is less than one per cent.
Huge range of variety
The 10 are Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Southern Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea Ethiopia, Burundi and Rwanda.
“We are bringing to East Africa a world class Pay TV channel to offer a variety in movies, sports, documentaries, family and local programmes,” he said in Nairobi Tuesday.
Mr Bell said local artistes and entrepreneurs will get a chance to develop content for local consumers at a subscription fee of Sh1,000 a month.
The CEO said that building infrastructure is still going on in Nairobi and Uganda with Tanzania the next target.
They aim to finish in 18 months.
Through the developed cable, homes will access television channels.
“We have signed up with companies with the latest technologies to assist us to be at the cutting edge of technology,” he said.
Regulate the industry
Mr Bell urged the government to regulate the industry the same way it has done the mobile sector.
“We hope to see that sports rights are available to all the players and not managed under a monopolistic manner,” he said.
Wananchi presently serves the retail and corporate markets in East Africa through its consumer and corporate divisions with the former operating under the Zuku brand.
Group chief executive Richard Bell said part of the investment is to initiate the Triple Play.
“The product offers high quality pay TV, super fast broadband internet and voice in one package,” he said.
Part of the money will support the direct-to-home satellite Pay TV in 10 countries where penetration is less than one per cent.
Huge range of variety
The 10 are Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Southern Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea Ethiopia, Burundi and Rwanda.
“We are bringing to East Africa a world class Pay TV channel to offer a variety in movies, sports, documentaries, family and local programmes,” he said in Nairobi Tuesday.
Mr Bell said local artistes and entrepreneurs will get a chance to develop content for local consumers at a subscription fee of Sh1,000 a month.
The CEO said that building infrastructure is still going on in Nairobi and Uganda with Tanzania the next target.
They aim to finish in 18 months.
Through the developed cable, homes will access television channels.
“We have signed up with companies with the latest technologies to assist us to be at the cutting edge of technology,” he said.
Regulate the industry
Mr Bell urged the government to regulate the industry the same way it has done the mobile sector.
“We hope to see that sports rights are available to all the players and not managed under a monopolistic manner,” he said.
Wananchi presently serves the retail and corporate markets in East Africa through its consumer and corporate divisions with the former operating under the Zuku brand.
AT&T Lets Multiroom DVR Users Pause Live TV On Any Set-Top
AT&T has begun rolling out a feature of its Total Home DVR that lets U-verse TV customers pause and rewind live TV on any U-verse receiver in the home -- a capability not available through other DVRs.
The new feature is currently available in Mobile, Ala., and Grand Rapids, Mich. AT&T plans to roll it out on a market-by-market basis to all U-verse TV customers over the next few months. AT&T uses Microsoft's Mediaroom IPTV platform as the foundation for U-verse TV.
AT&T launched the ability to watch recorded shows from a single DVR on any connected TV in the home in 2008.
The U-verse Total Home DVR lets subscribers record up to four standard-definition and up to two HD shows at once on a single DVR, as well as record, manage and play back shows from any room in the home.
The Total Home DVR is available for up to eight TVs with a receiver for each additional TV costing $7 per month apiece.
AT&T is considering offering whole-home DVR and live TV over Wi-Fi. In March, the Federal Communications Commission approved an IPTV set-top designed by Cisco Systems for U-verse TV that receives video over a home wireless Wi-Fi connection.
The new feature is currently available in Mobile, Ala., and Grand Rapids, Mich. AT&T plans to roll it out on a market-by-market basis to all U-verse TV customers over the next few months. AT&T uses Microsoft's Mediaroom IPTV platform as the foundation for U-verse TV.
AT&T launched the ability to watch recorded shows from a single DVR on any connected TV in the home in 2008.
The U-verse Total Home DVR lets subscribers record up to four standard-definition and up to two HD shows at once on a single DVR, as well as record, manage and play back shows from any room in the home.
The Total Home DVR is available for up to eight TVs with a receiver for each additional TV costing $7 per month apiece.
AT&T is considering offering whole-home DVR and live TV over Wi-Fi. In March, the Federal Communications Commission approved an IPTV set-top designed by Cisco Systems for U-verse TV that receives video over a home wireless Wi-Fi connection.
Fans Prepare for NBA Finals Along With Digital Landing
Fans of the Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder are gearing up for the possibility that their team will move on from the conference championships to play in the NBA Finals. DigitalLanding.com works as a portal to all of the best digital services fans might need to fully enjoy their NBA Playoffs experience.
The website finds discounts and deals on digital services in every area. Fans will find quality high speed Internet, cable and satellite TV and home phone services at low prices in their area by going through the site's innovative comparison shopping platform.
Fans of the Chicago Bulls can watch their team's march toward a possible seventh NBA title on TV by using XFINITYAuthorizedOffers.com. By submitting their address, the 2,695,000 residents of the third-most populated U.S. city will be able to see which offers are available in their location. By signing up for the Triple Play, getting Internet, home phone and cable service, customers will pay just $99 per month, for the first 12 months. As a bonus, customers will also receive a $100 Amazon.com gift card! They can use their gift card to buy Derrick Rose or Michael Jordan jerseys.
While there are less than one-fifth of the people in Miami compared to Chicago, the South Florida media market happens to rank among the top 15 in the country. And all of those Heat fans will want to watch their team in the best high-definition cable possible. By submitting their address, people will find that they can get Xfinitydigital cable service starting at just $29.99 per month for the first six months, while also having access to over 10,000 choices On Demand.
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex ranks among the top five media markets in the country. Fans of the Mavericks hope to not only make it to the NBA Finals, as they did in 2006-07 against the Heat, but win it this time. Over six million residents in the area can use AT&T U-verse to check scores and team news online. Entering their address at ATTUVersePromos.com will bring back an offer for U-verse Internet Pro for just $19.95 per month for 12 months. They can also pair that with home phone services for just $39.95 per month, and as a bonus, they'll get a $200 Amazon gift card.
The Thunder came to Oklahoma City back in 2008, but the nearly 600,000 people that live there have grown to love Kevin Durant's club. Once they enter their address at CoxAuthorizedOffers.com, they'll find that they can sign up for the Cox Advanced TV and Internet Preferred package for just $79.99 per month for the first three months. Or they can go through ATTUversePromos.com and choose to receive a $200 Amazon gift card by going with the AT&T U-verse U-family TV+InternetPro+Voice 250 plan for $114.00 per month.
The website finds discounts and deals on digital services in every area. Fans will find quality high speed Internet, cable and satellite TV and home phone services at low prices in their area by going through the site's innovative comparison shopping platform.
Fans of the Chicago Bulls can watch their team's march toward a possible seventh NBA title on TV by using XFINITYAuthorizedOffers.com. By submitting their address, the 2,695,000 residents of the third-most populated U.S. city will be able to see which offers are available in their location. By signing up for the Triple Play, getting Internet, home phone and cable service, customers will pay just $99 per month, for the first 12 months. As a bonus, customers will also receive a $100 Amazon.com gift card! They can use their gift card to buy Derrick Rose or Michael Jordan jerseys.
While there are less than one-fifth of the people in Miami compared to Chicago, the South Florida media market happens to rank among the top 15 in the country. And all of those Heat fans will want to watch their team in the best high-definition cable possible. By submitting their address, people will find that they can get Xfinitydigital cable service starting at just $29.99 per month for the first six months, while also having access to over 10,000 choices On Demand.
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex ranks among the top five media markets in the country. Fans of the Mavericks hope to not only make it to the NBA Finals, as they did in 2006-07 against the Heat, but win it this time. Over six million residents in the area can use AT&T U-verse to check scores and team news online. Entering their address at ATTUVersePromos.com will bring back an offer for U-verse Internet Pro for just $19.95 per month for 12 months. They can also pair that with home phone services for just $39.95 per month, and as a bonus, they'll get a $200 Amazon gift card.
The Thunder came to Oklahoma City back in 2008, but the nearly 600,000 people that live there have grown to love Kevin Durant's club. Once they enter their address at CoxAuthorizedOffers.com, they'll find that they can sign up for the Cox Advanced TV and Internet Preferred package for just $79.99 per month for the first three months. Or they can go through ATTUversePromos.com and choose to receive a $200 Amazon gift card by going with the AT&T U-verse U-family TV+InternetPro+Voice 250 plan for $114.00 per month.
PayTV: Kenya’s next success story?
Over the past decade mobile phones have helped to transform African countries like Kenya, giving the financially excluded a cheap way to access credit through mobile banking. It has also been Africa’s most successful growth story: the mobile payment market is forecast to be worth $60bn by 2015. Today, information and communication technology (ICT) companies are building the infrastructure for what investors believe will be Africa’s next big growth story – PayTV.
On Monday Wananchi Group, a Kenyan media operator, announced that it raised $57.5m of growth capital to continue building fibre infrastructure for its triple-play service in Kenya.
Through its Zuku brand Wananchi plans to introduce the first triple-play package [which which offers broadband internet, calls and TV services in one bundle] to the Kenyan market in two weeks at a price of approximately $15 per month. This will also be a first on the African continent.
Investors included Liberty Global, one of the world’s largest cable companies, and Oppenheimer Funds, Sarona Asset Management, East Africa Capital Partners and Emerging Capital Partners.
“Pay TV to the African market will be what mobile phone was over the last ten years”, Richard Bell, Wananchi’s chief executive told beyondbrics.
Early movers in Kenya’s ICT market are doing incredibly well, one investor in the latest round of fundraising told beyondbrics , and the next thing to watch out for is PayTV, at a price that Kenyans can afford.
“We see a lot of the same similarities in PayTV and internet markets [to those in mobile phone market a decade ago] – low penetration but significant demand,” said Bryce Fort, managing director at Emerging Capital Partners. ECP, which invested $10m in this latest round of fundraising, was an early investor in Africa’s mobile phone sector, making four and half times its investment in Celtel, a pan-African mobile phone operator and Orascom (OTLD:LSE).
“The combination of TV and internet together over same pipe is a very compelling value proposition” he said.
For private equities, many African countries present the perfect opportunity to provide capital in countries where access to capital is limited. As Roelef Horne, a portfolio manager for Investec Asset Management recently explained, “the advantage to doing business [in Africa] is that competition is very low.”
Whether PayTV takes off in the same way that mobile phones did is not clear – especially since such a large percentage of African countries have very low GDP per capita. The prospects are tempting – mobile phone subscriptions in Africa have rocketed from 1 per cent of the continent’s population in 1998 to 32 per cent in 2008, and some of the first telecommunications companies that went into the market are now the biggest. The greater east Africa region has 14m TV households and Kenya alone has 3m, according to Fort. Only 100,000 households are currently subscribed to PayTV. A large barrier has been high subscription costs.
But mobile phone uptake was so rapid because not as much infrastructure is required to build mobile phone networks. By contrast, broadband internet and TV requires more significant infrastructure development, a major reason why PayTV has been so expensive. Proper connection to electricity in the long run is another concern.
Yet, as the number of households with discretionary income across the continent continues to grow – it is projected to jump by 50 per cent over the next decade to reach $128m, the next success story is likely to be related to retail. If those early investors who believe that next demand from the African consumer will be television and broadband internet turn out to be right then they may be looking at a tidy profit.
On Monday Wananchi Group, a Kenyan media operator, announced that it raised $57.5m of growth capital to continue building fibre infrastructure for its triple-play service in Kenya.
Through its Zuku brand Wananchi plans to introduce the first triple-play package [which which offers broadband internet, calls and TV services in one bundle] to the Kenyan market in two weeks at a price of approximately $15 per month. This will also be a first on the African continent.
Investors included Liberty Global, one of the world’s largest cable companies, and Oppenheimer Funds, Sarona Asset Management, East Africa Capital Partners and Emerging Capital Partners.
“Pay TV to the African market will be what mobile phone was over the last ten years”, Richard Bell, Wananchi’s chief executive told beyondbrics.
Early movers in Kenya’s ICT market are doing incredibly well, one investor in the latest round of fundraising told beyondbrics , and the next thing to watch out for is PayTV, at a price that Kenyans can afford.
“We see a lot of the same similarities in PayTV and internet markets [to those in mobile phone market a decade ago] – low penetration but significant demand,” said Bryce Fort, managing director at Emerging Capital Partners. ECP, which invested $10m in this latest round of fundraising, was an early investor in Africa’s mobile phone sector, making four and half times its investment in Celtel, a pan-African mobile phone operator and Orascom (OTLD:LSE).
“The combination of TV and internet together over same pipe is a very compelling value proposition” he said.
For private equities, many African countries present the perfect opportunity to provide capital in countries where access to capital is limited. As Roelef Horne, a portfolio manager for Investec Asset Management recently explained, “the advantage to doing business [in Africa] is that competition is very low.”
Whether PayTV takes off in the same way that mobile phones did is not clear – especially since such a large percentage of African countries have very low GDP per capita. The prospects are tempting – mobile phone subscriptions in Africa have rocketed from 1 per cent of the continent’s population in 1998 to 32 per cent in 2008, and some of the first telecommunications companies that went into the market are now the biggest. The greater east Africa region has 14m TV households and Kenya alone has 3m, according to Fort. Only 100,000 households are currently subscribed to PayTV. A large barrier has been high subscription costs.
But mobile phone uptake was so rapid because not as much infrastructure is required to build mobile phone networks. By contrast, broadband internet and TV requires more significant infrastructure development, a major reason why PayTV has been so expensive. Proper connection to electricity in the long run is another concern.
Yet, as the number of households with discretionary income across the continent continues to grow – it is projected to jump by 50 per cent over the next decade to reach $128m, the next success story is likely to be related to retail. If those early investors who believe that next demand from the African consumer will be television and broadband internet turn out to be right then they may be looking at a tidy profit.
Digital Video In India: 14 Points To Ponder
On my way to a seminar called Online Video Revolution, organized by Juniper and Exicon, where I was on a panel, I noted down (rather, tweeted) a few points that I think the ecosystem should be concerned about or aware of; wasn’t able to make all the points, so here they are, along-with a few more; feedback, corrections, additions and counter arguments are welcome.
1. Internet connection speeds: I don’t know who watches online streams from home, certainly not without significant buffering – most Internet connections are 256 Kbps, and that is much too slow. The minimum speed for “broadband” needs to increase (ED: The Department of Telecom never followed through on Dayanidhi Maran’s promise of making minimum broadband speed 2mbps). Prime time for online video in india is office hours. Yes, we will watch video online, but it’s like being back in the dialup days when you visited websites, but had to keep waiting for pages to load. Increase speeds, and watch consumption explode.
2. Completed Streams: Enough is said about number of videos uploaded, traffic to video sites etc, but you need to ask – how many streams get completed? As long as speeds are low, consumers will tire quickly, and only the best content, compelling content will survive. Unlike TV, consumers have multiple options. Online is asynchronous, and consumers of content get irritated quickly.
3. Destinations Need To Be Social: If you’re streaming content, then you can’t do online video without Twitter or Facebook integration, or some means of allowing conversation between viewers. Those like me can’t even watch TV these days without Twitter up on a laptop or mobile. This is going to increase, wait and watch.
4. Preferential Bandwidth and Content Bias: I’m concerned about net neutrality and the fair usage policy in India. The latter will limit the amount of content you can watch, while the former will differentiate between content providers. Airtel has already done it, with Airtel Broadband TV, and before that, higher speeds for YouTube streaming of the Indian Premier League. Net neutrality is going to hit the Online Video business the most in India. If you’re an online content company, you might have to become a white labeled “Value Added Service” to get preferential bandwidth from an ISP. Eventually, all content owners that want to deliver quality content will have to get into bed with the ISP. For a consumer, you won’t get equitable speeds/quality for your content because your ISP is controlling your access speeds and limits, based on the business deals he gets from content owners.
5. 3G vs Wireline: Don’t get your hopes up about 3G. Connectivity is erratic, and inconsistent, even though increase in usage might be reported, and more and more consumers will get pulled online. The networks will not be able to handle too many simultaneous streams, and there isn’t enough spectrum per operator in any case. Wireline is still very important when it comes to consumption of content. The government has made its money from 3G auctions. Now there’s a need to push for unbundling of wireline.
6. IPTV in India is dead on arrival. See MTNL Delhi’s numbers. It’s not something Airtel publicly shares numbers for, and Reliance still hasn’t launched it. There just isn’t enough money behind IPTV in India, and most telecom operators have chosen DTH. So it has to be video over IP instead of a dedicated channel on IPTV. IPTV content is still regulated.
7. Advertising: Video preroll ads should not be more than 5 seconds. If the content is not compelling, with Indian speeds, people switch off. Skins are better – online video ads are irritating.
8. Discovery: is social. Just because you have a TV channel doesn’t mean that someone will watch it streaming online regularly. People have global content to choose from, so you need to show content that is worth talking about. And people will share it if it is good enough
9. Channels vs Shows: Online, it’s not about albums, it’s about singles; it’s not about channels, it’s about shows. I won’t watch the live stream of your channel, waiting for a particular show. When I’m online, I surf, and watch what I want to, on demand.
10. Content curation and discovery: What’s that number again – 36 hours of video content uploaded on YouTube every minute? There’s just too much video content, and not enough discovery. More importantly, there just isn’t enough content curation going on – targeting a particular user base, with specific content. So far, it’s more about repurposing all your content and putting it in a YouTube channel, hoping someone will find it and view it. If you want to create a destination, curate content for a niche audience. Maybe create several destinations.
11. Made For Digital Content: There’s just not enough made for digital content – maybe the business environment means that it isn’t sustainable, but I firmly believe that the content has to be created in order to attract an audience, and the advertising, and not just repurposed TV. Why hasn’t anyone done something like Comedy Central online in India? (or for that matter, on TV)
12. Advertising Rates: You can kill the online video market with low rates. The ad networks came in just too early, because there was no one willing to put together a sales team for online video. So ad networks aggregated sales, and brought down rates. Publishers need to take back their inventory and sell ads, and not accept low rates. Ad Networks are best for remnant inventory, not premium.
13. Mobile: is a video content creation tool. The DPS MMS case made mobile video famous. It made people realize that mobile video exists. Many clips that make it to TV are being created with mobile phones – the Varun Gandhi incident during the last elections is one of the many cases in point. There’s need for news media companies to encourage submission of mobile clips.
14. News Reporting: I think there’s an opportunity in reporting events as they happen – streaming them via the mobile Internet then on to TV. With (reliable) 3G connections, online streaming is possible through sites like (Skype owned) Qik. in live streaming key events from mobile, as it happens. Media companies can replace OB vans with mobiles and services like Qik, that they can stream to TV.
That’s about it. If you have insights to share, please do so. Will add to this post. Or if you have your own longlist, we can consider a Guest Post.
1. Internet connection speeds: I don’t know who watches online streams from home, certainly not without significant buffering – most Internet connections are 256 Kbps, and that is much too slow. The minimum speed for “broadband” needs to increase (ED: The Department of Telecom never followed through on Dayanidhi Maran’s promise of making minimum broadband speed 2mbps). Prime time for online video in india is office hours. Yes, we will watch video online, but it’s like being back in the dialup days when you visited websites, but had to keep waiting for pages to load. Increase speeds, and watch consumption explode.
2. Completed Streams: Enough is said about number of videos uploaded, traffic to video sites etc, but you need to ask – how many streams get completed? As long as speeds are low, consumers will tire quickly, and only the best content, compelling content will survive. Unlike TV, consumers have multiple options. Online is asynchronous, and consumers of content get irritated quickly.
3. Destinations Need To Be Social: If you’re streaming content, then you can’t do online video without Twitter or Facebook integration, or some means of allowing conversation between viewers. Those like me can’t even watch TV these days without Twitter up on a laptop or mobile. This is going to increase, wait and watch.
4. Preferential Bandwidth and Content Bias: I’m concerned about net neutrality and the fair usage policy in India. The latter will limit the amount of content you can watch, while the former will differentiate between content providers. Airtel has already done it, with Airtel Broadband TV, and before that, higher speeds for YouTube streaming of the Indian Premier League. Net neutrality is going to hit the Online Video business the most in India. If you’re an online content company, you might have to become a white labeled “Value Added Service” to get preferential bandwidth from an ISP. Eventually, all content owners that want to deliver quality content will have to get into bed with the ISP. For a consumer, you won’t get equitable speeds/quality for your content because your ISP is controlling your access speeds and limits, based on the business deals he gets from content owners.
5. 3G vs Wireline: Don’t get your hopes up about 3G. Connectivity is erratic, and inconsistent, even though increase in usage might be reported, and more and more consumers will get pulled online. The networks will not be able to handle too many simultaneous streams, and there isn’t enough spectrum per operator in any case. Wireline is still very important when it comes to consumption of content. The government has made its money from 3G auctions. Now there’s a need to push for unbundling of wireline.
6. IPTV in India is dead on arrival. See MTNL Delhi’s numbers. It’s not something Airtel publicly shares numbers for, and Reliance still hasn’t launched it. There just isn’t enough money behind IPTV in India, and most telecom operators have chosen DTH. So it has to be video over IP instead of a dedicated channel on IPTV. IPTV content is still regulated.
7. Advertising: Video preroll ads should not be more than 5 seconds. If the content is not compelling, with Indian speeds, people switch off. Skins are better – online video ads are irritating.
8. Discovery: is social. Just because you have a TV channel doesn’t mean that someone will watch it streaming online regularly. People have global content to choose from, so you need to show content that is worth talking about. And people will share it if it is good enough
9. Channels vs Shows: Online, it’s not about albums, it’s about singles; it’s not about channels, it’s about shows. I won’t watch the live stream of your channel, waiting for a particular show. When I’m online, I surf, and watch what I want to, on demand.
10. Content curation and discovery: What’s that number again – 36 hours of video content uploaded on YouTube every minute? There’s just too much video content, and not enough discovery. More importantly, there just isn’t enough content curation going on – targeting a particular user base, with specific content. So far, it’s more about repurposing all your content and putting it in a YouTube channel, hoping someone will find it and view it. If you want to create a destination, curate content for a niche audience. Maybe create several destinations.
11. Made For Digital Content: There’s just not enough made for digital content – maybe the business environment means that it isn’t sustainable, but I firmly believe that the content has to be created in order to attract an audience, and the advertising, and not just repurposed TV. Why hasn’t anyone done something like Comedy Central online in India? (or for that matter, on TV)
12. Advertising Rates: You can kill the online video market with low rates. The ad networks came in just too early, because there was no one willing to put together a sales team for online video. So ad networks aggregated sales, and brought down rates. Publishers need to take back their inventory and sell ads, and not accept low rates. Ad Networks are best for remnant inventory, not premium.
13. Mobile: is a video content creation tool. The DPS MMS case made mobile video famous. It made people realize that mobile video exists. Many clips that make it to TV are being created with mobile phones – the Varun Gandhi incident during the last elections is one of the many cases in point. There’s need for news media companies to encourage submission of mobile clips.
14. News Reporting: I think there’s an opportunity in reporting events as they happen – streaming them via the mobile Internet then on to TV. With (reliable) 3G connections, online streaming is possible through sites like (Skype owned) Qik. in live streaming key events from mobile, as it happens. Media companies can replace OB vans with mobiles and services like Qik, that they can stream to TV.
That’s about it. If you have insights to share, please do so. Will add to this post. Or if you have your own longlist, we can consider a Guest Post.
Virgin Media TiVo 1TB review
Not everyone can get Virgin Media's cable services, but they are more widespread than you may think with around half the homes in the country covered by the service. Of those there's almost five million homes using its TV and broadband services, and around one million using one of Virgin Media's V+ PVR boxes.
Virgin Media started rolling out its next-generation TiVo-powered PVRs at the very end of last year, but only in limited numbers and only to subscribers of it top-end TV package. Last week, they were finally made available to all Virgin TV subscribers and new customers can get one from July.
You may have heard of the TiVo brand before, though it has been far more successful overseas than in our own Sky-dominated land. TiVo boxes did go on sale in the UK back in 2000, the first hard-disk based recorders to do so, but they were ahead of their time, didn't sell very well, and the Sky+ box finished them off. Now the company has entered a deal to provide the interface for Virgin Media's new TiVo box, and the results are good - with a few caveats.
BLACK BOX
The box itself is pretty tasteful, all black with a bunch of not too bright LED indicators along the front. There's a collection of useful buttons too, just in case you can’t find the remote. As usual, we wish that such boxes were as wide as standard Hi-Fi components and had flat tops, but it seems we’re on a losing battle with that one.
The TiVo box's all-black finish is quiet and understated
On the rear of the box are all the ports you should need. The HDMI output is the only way to get HD video out of the box, as with previous V+ HD boxes there’s no component option, not that many people will be bothered by that these days. The SCART output is likely to be ignored by most too, as it doesn’t support HD signals. For those with an AV receiver that doesn’t support HDMI inputs, there’s an optical S/PDIF to hook it up.
An Ethernet port looks likely to go unused, as the TiVo does all its communicating via its cable connection. There are also two USB ports, but again these currently can't be used for anything. Finally there’s the all-important smartcard slot, without which you won’t get very far - there's no Freesat equivalent for cable TV services.
Virgin Media started rolling out its next-generation TiVo-powered PVRs at the very end of last year, but only in limited numbers and only to subscribers of it top-end TV package. Last week, they were finally made available to all Virgin TV subscribers and new customers can get one from July.
You may have heard of the TiVo brand before, though it has been far more successful overseas than in our own Sky-dominated land. TiVo boxes did go on sale in the UK back in 2000, the first hard-disk based recorders to do so, but they were ahead of their time, didn't sell very well, and the Sky+ box finished them off. Now the company has entered a deal to provide the interface for Virgin Media's new TiVo box, and the results are good - with a few caveats.
BLACK BOX
The box itself is pretty tasteful, all black with a bunch of not too bright LED indicators along the front. There's a collection of useful buttons too, just in case you can’t find the remote. As usual, we wish that such boxes were as wide as standard Hi-Fi components and had flat tops, but it seems we’re on a losing battle with that one.
The TiVo box's all-black finish is quiet and understated
On the rear of the box are all the ports you should need. The HDMI output is the only way to get HD video out of the box, as with previous V+ HD boxes there’s no component option, not that many people will be bothered by that these days. The SCART output is likely to be ignored by most too, as it doesn’t support HD signals. For those with an AV receiver that doesn’t support HDMI inputs, there’s an optical S/PDIF to hook it up.
An Ethernet port looks likely to go unused, as the TiVo does all its communicating via its cable connection. There are also two USB ports, but again these currently can't be used for anything. Finally there’s the all-important smartcard slot, without which you won’t get very far - there's no Freesat equivalent for cable TV services.
Interactive Video and TV Everywhere Highlight CableNET® 2011 Exhibit at Upcoming Cable Show
The CableNET® 2011 exhibit will include a large number of interactive technologies enabled by EBIF™ and tru2way® technologies among its array of more than 50 displays of the latest broadband applications and emerging services.
CableNET also will contain a dedicated area for technologies that enable the managed delivery of cable digital video services to a growing variety of consumer electronics devices within the cable subscriber’s home, including PCs, tablets, and connected televisions.
The technology showcase will be part of The Cable Show 2011, the 60th Annual Convention and International Exposition of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), June 14-16 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
“CableNET 2011 continues the trend of hosting services and applications being developed today to enrich the consumer experience,” said Dr. Paul Liao, President and CEO of CableLabs. “The CableNET exhibit features a wide array of exciting, next generation broadband technologies that will provide convention attendees with a hands-on view of how the cable industry is innovating and leading America into a new Information Age,” said Michael Powell, former FCC Chairman and new President & CEO of NCTA.
The CableNET industry exhibit is co-sponsored by CableLabs® and NCTA, and offers a hands-on experience with many of the most innovative content, services, and applications. Tru2way and EBIF are CableLabs specifications applicable to digital video and interactive services, defined for the cable industry on behalf of cable operators who are members of CableLabs.
Over its 18 years as an industry technology exhibit, the CableNET show has provided attendees a first glimpse of many emerging, leading-edge technologies and applications. Those included early views of the cable industry's Data over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS®) platform; high-definition television; enhanced and interactive video services and PacketCable™-based digital voice technologies.
Participating companies include:
Affinegy will unveil a new version of its Home Portal software that provides subscribers with anytime, anywhere access to home, device and cloud-based content on a large variety of connected devices. The Home Portal is part of Affinegy’s suite of software applications that are used in the service provider’s customer care center, their business office and by their subscribers to enable and manage their connected lives.
Aurora Networks Aurora Networks will show the key components of a Fiber Deep network while showcasing the next-generation access tools that will enable cable operators to drive more from their installed plant. Aurora Networks will showcase for the first time, a new technology platform, which will enable increasing the upstream bandwidth in a simple manner, smoothly and efficiently. It also will demonstrate the key Aurora Networks’ RFoG components with its unique Node PONTM module to show the simplicity and seamless transition from an RFoG to a GEPON deployment for commercial subscribers, detailing how this can be evolved to a 10G-EPON system.
CableLabs will show an ETV Twitter application demonstrating how ETV can be used in conjunction with standard web servers in order to accomplish complex tasks. EBIF can be used as a front-end to display web-based content, with the complex logic being performed in the network. This enables a rich user experience, linking content typically accessible to web applications with television programming. CableLabs also will demonstrate a synchronized advertising demo showing how ETV can be used to tie the television video content with second screen ads. This could be used to reduce visual clutter on the television while targeting advertisements to individual household members. CableLabs also will display an exhibit of Carrier-Grade NAT, a transition technology that helps operators maintain Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) service while migrating to IPv6.
Cisco will demonstrate innovative networking communication and collaboration technologies for health care professionals and small businesses, including Cisco TelePresence, which delivers an intimate, person-to-person communication experience unbounded by distance or physical location.
Civolution will demonstrate its video watermarking technology called NexGuard. The demo consists of showing a camcord of a high quality (HD) contend playing on a TV set or an iPad and retrieving the watermark information, identifying the details of the set-top box from which the content was played. Even a copy stored on a social video website can still be identified.
ClearAccess will demonstrate how cable operators may leverage their deployments of integrated DOCSIS® modem/routers, by remotely troubleshooting home network problems and adding revenue generating applications through its ClearVision management system.
Dolby Laboratories will show a broadcasting solution for full-resolution 3D to the home. The solution is focused around needs of cable operators to offer the highest quality 3D content for linear broadcast and VoD, and includes the demonstration of a real-time encoder proof-of-concept as well as the transmission over QAM for distribution to the home.
Elemental Technologies will demonstrate Elemental Live, an all-in-one live encoding solution for traditional television broadcast as well as adaptive online streaming. The system will output simultaneous broadcast and adaptive streams in real time to multiple devices such as set-top boxes, TVs, laptops, tablets and smartphones.
enableTV will show its DV-TIDE PC-based platform that simulates a cable headend. DV-TIDE can deliver MPEG-2 transport streams, interactive applications, and service information (SI) to cable devices via RF. It also supports the real-time injection of carousels for ETV bound applications. DV-TIDE also has the ability to signal an ETV User Agent to a cable device to aid in the testing of ETV applications.
Flashlight Engineering will show a series of applications, running on tru2way set tops and iPad mobile devices, which demonstrate the possibilities of advanced cable services using common and unified Cable Application Frameworks and Web Services. In addition, it demonstrates the Flashlight Application Developer Toolkit for tru2way application developers.
FourthWall Media will demonstrate a range of EBIF products including the broadly deployed FourthWall EBIF Platform running on Motorola and Cisco systems including user agents for both set-top box types and a common EBIF Platform Server providing critical application support services. Also on display: Ad Widgets® interactive advertising system, Addressable Versioning, AdAim® audience measurement suite & AirCommand™ allowing any external mobile device to communicate with any EBIF set-top box.
Harris will exhibit its web-based system that enables the management and real-time execution of addressable advertising delivery across linear and non-linear opportunities. The targeted advertising system is an SCTE 130-compliant advertising campaign management system that allows advertising offers to be directed and executed in real time to an advertiser’s unique customer demographic profile.
Incognito Software will feature its Auto-Configuration Server support for the Broadband Forum CPE WAN Management Protocol thus enabling provisioning and management of advanced IP services on DOCSIS TR-069 gateways and devices such as VoIP phones and IPTV set-top boxes. Incognito will demonstrate how its fully integrated solution manages the service activation and simultaneously provisions DOCSIS and TR-069 converged devices.
IPgallery’s social communications platform is an innovative cloud-based, web-activated converged voice, video, and data communications suite of applications, combining social networking for an enhanced “Click to Anything” social community experience for talking, chatting, watching, sharing and transferring multi-media content. Leveraging both cloud computing and the MSO’s digital network, and core assets for delivering, voice, messaging and content, IPgallery will show how cable operators may create a personalized social communications environment, across any device and over any network (legacy, next generation, or IMS).
Irdeto Solutions will exhibit how cable operators can dynamically protect their premium digital assets with Irdeto ActiveCloak™ for media, distribute them to subscribers via Irdeto Broadband and leverage early release theater content with the only interoperable, backward-compatible watermarking solution available in the U.S. market. Irdeto’s solutions allow operators to implement their TV Everywhere strategies and meet subscriber demand for content anytime, anywhere and on any device.
Ligos Corporation will be demoing its newly released ETV Suite software solution for EBIF. ETV Suite is a set of tools that integrates application authoring, HD video stream input/output, external data and playout. The Suite reduces the complexity of ETV development by providing a visual design environment to create enhanced channel layouts and highly optimized applications compatible with the leading user agents and STBs.
Maxxian will demonstrate its CounterStryx suite of products which collects and analyzes data from billing, security, network and VOD components to identify network problems, service call issues and unauthorized usage in set-tops and cable modems. A common interface is provided for different conditional access systems, with enterprise-level access to multiple systems from different vendors.
Nagra-Kudelski / OpenTV will showcase multiscreen advertising opportunities through Next Generation VOD and linear interfaces within the SCTE-130 standard. The company will show its Participate product integrated with This Technology’s SpotBuilder Placement Opportunity Information Service (POIS). The demonstration will show how a non-linear video stream containing one 30-second spot can provide a synchronized advertising experience on a secondary device (tablet) if the inventory permits.
NDS will demonstrate the next iteration of its advanced Snowflake user interface (UI), specifically designed to provide today’s current generation of cable set-top boxes (STBs) with a rich, uniquely branded look and feel with enhanced functionality. The UI is based on the award-winning Snowflake framework that accommodates all the features, functions, content and services already available, but refreshed with greater graphical capability and with significant feature and functional enhancements.
Neustar will show its Text Everywhere SMS solution that allows cable operators to participate in the explosive SMS revenue growth by enabling a subscriber’s phone number to send texts to and from TV’s, iPads, cell phones, emails, Facebook, and more. The Text Everywhere service provides a new revenue stream by adding a competitive position for operators to take a significant share of the SMS opportunity.
PacketVideo will exhibit Twonky, its line of standards-based software and mobile applications for discovering, accessing, streaming and viewing protected digital media across PCs, TVs, tablets, mobile phones and other devices connected to a subscriber’s home network.
Related Content Database, Inc. (RCDb) will demonstrate an application that uses EBIF to synch programming on the set-top box with a companion tablet. The use of EBIF for synchronization of the companion TV experience keeps the MSO in direct engagement with the consumer, as opposed to other companion TV technologies that operate independent of the MSO.
S3 Group will demonstrate how its StormTest automated STB test platform can be used to automate the testing of STBs, and other receiver devices, software and applications. Through tight integration with the signaling systems used to announce the availability of interactive content, S3 also will show how this automated testing can run 24x7 with appropriate tests being executed at scheduled times to ensure that the right content is being delivered at the right time and presented on the subscriber’s screen in the expected way.
S&T will show its TSProcessor which provides real-time management and monitoring of incoming ETV content as it passes through the headend. TSMonitor provides a streamlined view of ETV services, verifying the appearance and operation of applications and their communications with application servers. TSBroadcaster is an advanced delivery system for interactive applications, providing continuous control of application insertion and play-out, data updates and stream event generation.
Samsung will demonstrate a set-top box that blends the best of TV and the best the web. While watching TV users can browse the web and search via a “qwerty” keyboard, voice and motion detection.
Sandvine will demonstrate its Network Analytics dashboards, which enable cable operators to make informed decisions to optimize network utilization and enhance the subscriber Internet experience. With Network Analytics, operators may better serve their customers by proactively examining peak resource usage and monitoring the effectiveness of fair share policies while deferring CapEx. Operators also may investigate how subscribers’ usage aligns with service plans, and decide on optimal future strategies for cost-effective network management.
Sony Electronics will feature live and on-demand content from Time Warner Cable delivered over Internet Protocol using a custom electronic program guide jointly developed by Sony and Time Warner Cable.
Support.com will demonstrate its EasySupport client that allows one-click access to premium support via chat or phone. EasySupport is a fully brandable desktop client that underscores commitment to customer service/customer satisfaction and adds value to their subscription, while differentiating and building-out partner brand awareness.
Synacor will demonstrate its “next” generation of TV Everywhere products/services, including showcasing the expansion of its fully functional PC-based TV Everywhere products to other devices such as mobile devices and tablets.
Tektronix will highlight Sentry and its recently released capabilities of measuring and detecting video artifacts. This helps service providers tackle content errors where the QoE score is good but the program suffers artifacts due to over-compression, which is common in motion intensive programs like sports.
thePlatform will demonstrate a modular and open network solution to carrier-class IPTV for service providers and programmers, leveraging a centrally managed video publishing system to support a multi-vendor architecture for delivery across IP-connected devices and set-top boxes.
ThinkAnalytics will exhibit its comprehensive Content Recommendations and Search platform providing true personalization through predictive intelligence and integrated business rules. The platform broadens subscribers’ tastes with a personalized experience on any device (STB, web, mobile/tablet, etc.) across VOD, electronic program guide, and other media types.
TradeHarbor will feature its Voice Signature ServiceSM (VSS) which enables trusted interactions over the telephone, the Web and on mobile devices. The VSS is a highly-scalable web service (SaaS) providing biometric voice authentication as a real-time decision support tool.
Trident Microsystems Inc. will demonstrate two types of SoC reference designs for STB devices: 1) A complete hardware and software system implementation of a very low cost, low power, small form factor HD-DTA device running an EBIF user agent and guide application 2) A low cost IPTB adapter device based on the Android OS for streaming of on-line video services.
UniSoft will show a variety of EBIF-centric demonstrations including:
EBIF edge insertion using S&T's TSProcessor.
S&T's TSMonitor, an EBIF virtual set-top-box environment.
XAV, EBIF application validator.
S&T's TSBroadcaster, EBIF carousel with automation interface allowing synchronisation of EBIF applications with primary video events.
enableTV's DV-TIDE
Verimatrix will demonstrate watermarking technology that is required to mark content that is compressed and potentially encrypted and to do so with a performance that is scalable when executed on the server while delivering hundreds of simultaneous video streams.
Visible World will showcase its household addressability solution, Connect, which enables marketers to segment their television audiences and target relevant ads to specific households. It also will demonstrate Conductor, a web-based campaign management tool for zone-based targeting.
ZiXi™ is a leading enabler of broadcast-quality HDTV globally over the cloud. Broadcasters, enterprises and video-on-demand services use ZiXi to enrich user experience, create new services and significantly reduce costs by enabling the delivery of live and on-demand HD video content over the Internet in real-time, with unprecedented quality.
Zodiac Interactive will showcase the latest developments in its PowerUp AMS technology server platform, which features two-way communication for both legacy and tru2way set tops. Also on also display will be Zodiac’s unique HTML5 and social media applications, products and solutions.
Cable Television Laboratories was founded in 1988 by members of the cable television industry. The Emmy Award winning laboratory is a non-profit research and development consortium that is dedicated to pursuing new cable telecommunications technologies and to helping its cable operator members integrate those advancements into their business objectives. Cable operators from around the world are members. CableLabs maintains additional web sites at www.cablenet.org, www.ebif.tv and www.tru2way.com.
Advanced Digital Cable™, CableCARD™, CableHome®, CableLabs®, CableNET®, CablePC™, DCAS™, DOCSIS®, DPoE™, EBIF™, Go2BroadbandSM, M-Card™, OpenCable™, PacketCable™, and tru2way® are marks of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
CableNET also will contain a dedicated area for technologies that enable the managed delivery of cable digital video services to a growing variety of consumer electronics devices within the cable subscriber’s home, including PCs, tablets, and connected televisions.
The technology showcase will be part of The Cable Show 2011, the 60th Annual Convention and International Exposition of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), June 14-16 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
“CableNET 2011 continues the trend of hosting services and applications being developed today to enrich the consumer experience,” said Dr. Paul Liao, President and CEO of CableLabs. “The CableNET exhibit features a wide array of exciting, next generation broadband technologies that will provide convention attendees with a hands-on view of how the cable industry is innovating and leading America into a new Information Age,” said Michael Powell, former FCC Chairman and new President & CEO of NCTA.
The CableNET industry exhibit is co-sponsored by CableLabs® and NCTA, and offers a hands-on experience with many of the most innovative content, services, and applications. Tru2way and EBIF are CableLabs specifications applicable to digital video and interactive services, defined for the cable industry on behalf of cable operators who are members of CableLabs.
Over its 18 years as an industry technology exhibit, the CableNET show has provided attendees a first glimpse of many emerging, leading-edge technologies and applications. Those included early views of the cable industry's Data over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS®) platform; high-definition television; enhanced and interactive video services and PacketCable™-based digital voice technologies.
Participating companies include:
Affinegy will unveil a new version of its Home Portal software that provides subscribers with anytime, anywhere access to home, device and cloud-based content on a large variety of connected devices. The Home Portal is part of Affinegy’s suite of software applications that are used in the service provider’s customer care center, their business office and by their subscribers to enable and manage their connected lives.
Aurora Networks Aurora Networks will show the key components of a Fiber Deep network while showcasing the next-generation access tools that will enable cable operators to drive more from their installed plant. Aurora Networks will showcase for the first time, a new technology platform, which will enable increasing the upstream bandwidth in a simple manner, smoothly and efficiently. It also will demonstrate the key Aurora Networks’ RFoG components with its unique Node PONTM module to show the simplicity and seamless transition from an RFoG to a GEPON deployment for commercial subscribers, detailing how this can be evolved to a 10G-EPON system.
CableLabs will show an ETV Twitter application demonstrating how ETV can be used in conjunction with standard web servers in order to accomplish complex tasks. EBIF can be used as a front-end to display web-based content, with the complex logic being performed in the network. This enables a rich user experience, linking content typically accessible to web applications with television programming. CableLabs also will demonstrate a synchronized advertising demo showing how ETV can be used to tie the television video content with second screen ads. This could be used to reduce visual clutter on the television while targeting advertisements to individual household members. CableLabs also will display an exhibit of Carrier-Grade NAT, a transition technology that helps operators maintain Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) service while migrating to IPv6.
Cisco will demonstrate innovative networking communication and collaboration technologies for health care professionals and small businesses, including Cisco TelePresence, which delivers an intimate, person-to-person communication experience unbounded by distance or physical location.
Civolution will demonstrate its video watermarking technology called NexGuard. The demo consists of showing a camcord of a high quality (HD) contend playing on a TV set or an iPad and retrieving the watermark information, identifying the details of the set-top box from which the content was played. Even a copy stored on a social video website can still be identified.
ClearAccess will demonstrate how cable operators may leverage their deployments of integrated DOCSIS® modem/routers, by remotely troubleshooting home network problems and adding revenue generating applications through its ClearVision management system.
Dolby Laboratories will show a broadcasting solution for full-resolution 3D to the home. The solution is focused around needs of cable operators to offer the highest quality 3D content for linear broadcast and VoD, and includes the demonstration of a real-time encoder proof-of-concept as well as the transmission over QAM for distribution to the home.
Elemental Technologies will demonstrate Elemental Live, an all-in-one live encoding solution for traditional television broadcast as well as adaptive online streaming. The system will output simultaneous broadcast and adaptive streams in real time to multiple devices such as set-top boxes, TVs, laptops, tablets and smartphones.
enableTV will show its DV-TIDE PC-based platform that simulates a cable headend. DV-TIDE can deliver MPEG-2 transport streams, interactive applications, and service information (SI) to cable devices via RF. It also supports the real-time injection of carousels for ETV bound applications. DV-TIDE also has the ability to signal an ETV User Agent to a cable device to aid in the testing of ETV applications.
Flashlight Engineering will show a series of applications, running on tru2way set tops and iPad mobile devices, which demonstrate the possibilities of advanced cable services using common and unified Cable Application Frameworks and Web Services. In addition, it demonstrates the Flashlight Application Developer Toolkit for tru2way application developers.
FourthWall Media will demonstrate a range of EBIF products including the broadly deployed FourthWall EBIF Platform running on Motorola and Cisco systems including user agents for both set-top box types and a common EBIF Platform Server providing critical application support services. Also on display: Ad Widgets® interactive advertising system, Addressable Versioning, AdAim® audience measurement suite & AirCommand™ allowing any external mobile device to communicate with any EBIF set-top box.
Harris will exhibit its web-based system that enables the management and real-time execution of addressable advertising delivery across linear and non-linear opportunities. The targeted advertising system is an SCTE 130-compliant advertising campaign management system that allows advertising offers to be directed and executed in real time to an advertiser’s unique customer demographic profile.
Incognito Software will feature its Auto-Configuration Server support for the Broadband Forum CPE WAN Management Protocol thus enabling provisioning and management of advanced IP services on DOCSIS TR-069 gateways and devices such as VoIP phones and IPTV set-top boxes. Incognito will demonstrate how its fully integrated solution manages the service activation and simultaneously provisions DOCSIS and TR-069 converged devices.
IPgallery’s social communications platform is an innovative cloud-based, web-activated converged voice, video, and data communications suite of applications, combining social networking for an enhanced “Click to Anything” social community experience for talking, chatting, watching, sharing and transferring multi-media content. Leveraging both cloud computing and the MSO’s digital network, and core assets for delivering, voice, messaging and content, IPgallery will show how cable operators may create a personalized social communications environment, across any device and over any network (legacy, next generation, or IMS).
Irdeto Solutions will exhibit how cable operators can dynamically protect their premium digital assets with Irdeto ActiveCloak™ for media, distribute them to subscribers via Irdeto Broadband and leverage early release theater content with the only interoperable, backward-compatible watermarking solution available in the U.S. market. Irdeto’s solutions allow operators to implement their TV Everywhere strategies and meet subscriber demand for content anytime, anywhere and on any device.
Ligos Corporation will be demoing its newly released ETV Suite software solution for EBIF. ETV Suite is a set of tools that integrates application authoring, HD video stream input/output, external data and playout. The Suite reduces the complexity of ETV development by providing a visual design environment to create enhanced channel layouts and highly optimized applications compatible with the leading user agents and STBs.
Maxxian will demonstrate its CounterStryx suite of products which collects and analyzes data from billing, security, network and VOD components to identify network problems, service call issues and unauthorized usage in set-tops and cable modems. A common interface is provided for different conditional access systems, with enterprise-level access to multiple systems from different vendors.
Nagra-Kudelski / OpenTV will showcase multiscreen advertising opportunities through Next Generation VOD and linear interfaces within the SCTE-130 standard. The company will show its Participate product integrated with This Technology’s SpotBuilder Placement Opportunity Information Service (POIS). The demonstration will show how a non-linear video stream containing one 30-second spot can provide a synchronized advertising experience on a secondary device (tablet) if the inventory permits.
NDS will demonstrate the next iteration of its advanced Snowflake user interface (UI), specifically designed to provide today’s current generation of cable set-top boxes (STBs) with a rich, uniquely branded look and feel with enhanced functionality. The UI is based on the award-winning Snowflake framework that accommodates all the features, functions, content and services already available, but refreshed with greater graphical capability and with significant feature and functional enhancements.
Neustar will show its Text Everywhere SMS solution that allows cable operators to participate in the explosive SMS revenue growth by enabling a subscriber’s phone number to send texts to and from TV’s, iPads, cell phones, emails, Facebook, and more. The Text Everywhere service provides a new revenue stream by adding a competitive position for operators to take a significant share of the SMS opportunity.
PacketVideo will exhibit Twonky, its line of standards-based software and mobile applications for discovering, accessing, streaming and viewing protected digital media across PCs, TVs, tablets, mobile phones and other devices connected to a subscriber’s home network.
Related Content Database, Inc. (RCDb) will demonstrate an application that uses EBIF to synch programming on the set-top box with a companion tablet. The use of EBIF for synchronization of the companion TV experience keeps the MSO in direct engagement with the consumer, as opposed to other companion TV technologies that operate independent of the MSO.
S3 Group will demonstrate how its StormTest automated STB test platform can be used to automate the testing of STBs, and other receiver devices, software and applications. Through tight integration with the signaling systems used to announce the availability of interactive content, S3 also will show how this automated testing can run 24x7 with appropriate tests being executed at scheduled times to ensure that the right content is being delivered at the right time and presented on the subscriber’s screen in the expected way.
S&T will show its TSProcessor which provides real-time management and monitoring of incoming ETV content as it passes through the headend. TSMonitor provides a streamlined view of ETV services, verifying the appearance and operation of applications and their communications with application servers. TSBroadcaster is an advanced delivery system for interactive applications, providing continuous control of application insertion and play-out, data updates and stream event generation.
Samsung will demonstrate a set-top box that blends the best of TV and the best the web. While watching TV users can browse the web and search via a “qwerty” keyboard, voice and motion detection.
Sandvine will demonstrate its Network Analytics dashboards, which enable cable operators to make informed decisions to optimize network utilization and enhance the subscriber Internet experience. With Network Analytics, operators may better serve their customers by proactively examining peak resource usage and monitoring the effectiveness of fair share policies while deferring CapEx. Operators also may investigate how subscribers’ usage aligns with service plans, and decide on optimal future strategies for cost-effective network management.
Sony Electronics will feature live and on-demand content from Time Warner Cable delivered over Internet Protocol using a custom electronic program guide jointly developed by Sony and Time Warner Cable.
Support.com will demonstrate its EasySupport client that allows one-click access to premium support via chat or phone. EasySupport is a fully brandable desktop client that underscores commitment to customer service/customer satisfaction and adds value to their subscription, while differentiating and building-out partner brand awareness.
Synacor will demonstrate its “next” generation of TV Everywhere products/services, including showcasing the expansion of its fully functional PC-based TV Everywhere products to other devices such as mobile devices and tablets.
Tektronix will highlight Sentry and its recently released capabilities of measuring and detecting video artifacts. This helps service providers tackle content errors where the QoE score is good but the program suffers artifacts due to over-compression, which is common in motion intensive programs like sports.
thePlatform will demonstrate a modular and open network solution to carrier-class IPTV for service providers and programmers, leveraging a centrally managed video publishing system to support a multi-vendor architecture for delivery across IP-connected devices and set-top boxes.
ThinkAnalytics will exhibit its comprehensive Content Recommendations and Search platform providing true personalization through predictive intelligence and integrated business rules. The platform broadens subscribers’ tastes with a personalized experience on any device (STB, web, mobile/tablet, etc.) across VOD, electronic program guide, and other media types.
TradeHarbor will feature its Voice Signature ServiceSM (VSS) which enables trusted interactions over the telephone, the Web and on mobile devices. The VSS is a highly-scalable web service (SaaS) providing biometric voice authentication as a real-time decision support tool.
Trident Microsystems Inc. will demonstrate two types of SoC reference designs for STB devices: 1) A complete hardware and software system implementation of a very low cost, low power, small form factor HD-DTA device running an EBIF user agent and guide application 2) A low cost IPTB adapter device based on the Android OS for streaming of on-line video services.
UniSoft will show a variety of EBIF-centric demonstrations including:
EBIF edge insertion using S&T's TSProcessor.
S&T's TSMonitor, an EBIF virtual set-top-box environment.
XAV, EBIF application validator.
S&T's TSBroadcaster, EBIF carousel with automation interface allowing synchronisation of EBIF applications with primary video events.
enableTV's DV-TIDE
Verimatrix will demonstrate watermarking technology that is required to mark content that is compressed and potentially encrypted and to do so with a performance that is scalable when executed on the server while delivering hundreds of simultaneous video streams.
Visible World will showcase its household addressability solution, Connect, which enables marketers to segment their television audiences and target relevant ads to specific households. It also will demonstrate Conductor, a web-based campaign management tool for zone-based targeting.
ZiXi™ is a leading enabler of broadcast-quality HDTV globally over the cloud. Broadcasters, enterprises and video-on-demand services use ZiXi to enrich user experience, create new services and significantly reduce costs by enabling the delivery of live and on-demand HD video content over the Internet in real-time, with unprecedented quality.
Zodiac Interactive will showcase the latest developments in its PowerUp AMS technology server platform, which features two-way communication for both legacy and tru2way set tops. Also on also display will be Zodiac’s unique HTML5 and social media applications, products and solutions.
Cable Television Laboratories was founded in 1988 by members of the cable television industry. The Emmy Award winning laboratory is a non-profit research and development consortium that is dedicated to pursuing new cable telecommunications technologies and to helping its cable operator members integrate those advancements into their business objectives. Cable operators from around the world are members. CableLabs maintains additional web sites at www.cablenet.org, www.ebif.tv and www.tru2way.com.
Advanced Digital Cable™, CableCARD™, CableHome®, CableLabs®, CableNET®, CablePC™, DCAS™, DOCSIS®, DPoE™, EBIF™, Go2BroadbandSM, M-Card™, OpenCable™, PacketCable™, and tru2way® are marks of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
CenturyLink dials up competition in Tallahassee with IPTV launch
CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) has rolled out an IPTV service for northern Florida residents in the Tallahassee region, CenturyLink Prism TV, offering more than 240 local, premium and high-definition channels.
The company plans an entry-level offering featuring 120 channels for $35.99 and is offering a triple-play package that includes Prism, high-speed Internet and voice services for under $90 per month.
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CenturyLink said that, in additional to the standard IPTV offerings, it also soon would offer subscribers mosaic screens and a "media room" that allows them to access and manage online applications including Facebook, YouTube, Picasa Photo Sharing, fantasy sports and more.
CenturyLink is using the DVR Motorola VIP 1232 set-top box in the rollout.
CenturyLink, including its acquisition of Qwest, is the third largest telecommunications company in the United States. The company provides broadband, voice and wireless services to consumers and businesses across the country. Although it recently completed its acquisition of Qwest, it hasn't announced plans for any IPTV rollouts in those new markets, instead saying that it would focus on reducing churn among former Qwest subscribers first.
The company plans an entry-level offering featuring 120 channels for $35.99 and is offering a triple-play package that includes Prism, high-speed Internet and voice services for under $90 per month.
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CenturyLink said that, in additional to the standard IPTV offerings, it also soon would offer subscribers mosaic screens and a "media room" that allows them to access and manage online applications including Facebook, YouTube, Picasa Photo Sharing, fantasy sports and more.
CenturyLink is using the DVR Motorola VIP 1232 set-top box in the rollout.
CenturyLink, including its acquisition of Qwest, is the third largest telecommunications company in the United States. The company provides broadband, voice and wireless services to consumers and businesses across the country. Although it recently completed its acquisition of Qwest, it hasn't announced plans for any IPTV rollouts in those new markets, instead saying that it would focus on reducing churn among former Qwest subscribers first.
Save more than £400 on your TV, broadband and home phone bills
Simplifydigital is the UK’s leading impartial advisory service for TV, broadband and home phone deals. Their experts help thousands of customers every month find the best value deal for them - and then remain on hand to help with the switching process, right up until the installation of the new services.
Typically, the more you bundle, the more you save. As a result, 83 per cent of Simplifydigital customers save money by bundling their services with a single provider (like Sky, Virgin Media or BT), with the top 20 per cent saving more than £400 a year and the top 10 per cent saving a massive £550 a year*.
Charlie Ponsonby, CEO of Simplifydigital.com, explains: “If you put your TV, broadband and home phone services with a single provider you are very likely to make substantial monthly savings without losing any quality of service – the trick is finding the right bundle deal for you.”
Indeed many people find the thought of switching broadband or TV providers too much hassle to contemplate - and this is where Simplifydigital’s free switching support service really comes into its own.
Charlie Ponsonby continues: “People understandably are reluctant to switch their broadband provider for fear of losing their connection. That’s why our free switching support service is so popular. Our experts are available seven days a week, to help busy customers through the process – from finding the best deal, and being on hand to help until the new services are up and running in your home”.
Simplifydigital offers more than 6,000 deals from all the top UK providers, including: BT, O2, Orange, Plusnet, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media). They also offer a Lowest Price Guarantee so that if you find a cheaper deal elsewhere, they will refund the difference (terms and conditions apply).
“Triple play” TV, broadband and phone bundles start from as little as £30.75 per month, including line rental for the best selling Sky package. The deal includes the basic Sky TV mix (which actually includes an impressive range of channels including Sky 1); Sky Broadband Everyday Lite, which delivers up to 20 Mbps super-fast broadband; and Sky Talk Freetime for free evening and weekend calls to UK landlines. The package comes with the highly popular Sky+ box for free, so that you can pause and record live TV.
For the more adventurous, the newly launched Sky Anytime+ offers a large library of on-demand content (delivered via a broadband connection) in addition to the normal array of TV channels delivered via the Sky satellite. The service comes well recommended and “triple play” packages which include Sky Anytime + start from £38.25 per month, as you really need to subscribe to the Sky Broadband Unlimited package to get the full benefit of the on-demand library. Until June 30, 2011, sign up via Simplifydigital and they will give you a free Sky Wireless Connector worth £60. This means that you can connect with your high definition box wireless to the internet with no wires.
The Simplifydigital Switching Support service is available free on 0800 840 5362 from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday; 9am to 5.30pm on Saturday and 10am to 5.30pm on Sunday, or visit www.simplifydigital.com.
*Simplifydigital data based on 1,538 records between Jan 1 to Nov 8, 2010
Typically, the more you bundle, the more you save. As a result, 83 per cent of Simplifydigital customers save money by bundling their services with a single provider (like Sky, Virgin Media or BT), with the top 20 per cent saving more than £400 a year and the top 10 per cent saving a massive £550 a year*.
Charlie Ponsonby, CEO of Simplifydigital.com, explains: “If you put your TV, broadband and home phone services with a single provider you are very likely to make substantial monthly savings without losing any quality of service – the trick is finding the right bundle deal for you.”
Indeed many people find the thought of switching broadband or TV providers too much hassle to contemplate - and this is where Simplifydigital’s free switching support service really comes into its own.
Charlie Ponsonby continues: “People understandably are reluctant to switch their broadband provider for fear of losing their connection. That’s why our free switching support service is so popular. Our experts are available seven days a week, to help busy customers through the process – from finding the best deal, and being on hand to help until the new services are up and running in your home”.
Simplifydigital offers more than 6,000 deals from all the top UK providers, including: BT, O2, Orange, Plusnet, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media). They also offer a Lowest Price Guarantee so that if you find a cheaper deal elsewhere, they will refund the difference (terms and conditions apply).
“Triple play” TV, broadband and phone bundles start from as little as £30.75 per month, including line rental for the best selling Sky package. The deal includes the basic Sky TV mix (which actually includes an impressive range of channels including Sky 1); Sky Broadband Everyday Lite, which delivers up to 20 Mbps super-fast broadband; and Sky Talk Freetime for free evening and weekend calls to UK landlines. The package comes with the highly popular Sky+ box for free, so that you can pause and record live TV.
For the more adventurous, the newly launched Sky Anytime+ offers a large library of on-demand content (delivered via a broadband connection) in addition to the normal array of TV channels delivered via the Sky satellite. The service comes well recommended and “triple play” packages which include Sky Anytime + start from £38.25 per month, as you really need to subscribe to the Sky Broadband Unlimited package to get the full benefit of the on-demand library. Until June 30, 2011, sign up via Simplifydigital and they will give you a free Sky Wireless Connector worth £60. This means that you can connect with your high definition box wireless to the internet with no wires.
The Simplifydigital Switching Support service is available free on 0800 840 5362 from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday; 9am to 5.30pm on Saturday and 10am to 5.30pm on Sunday, or visit www.simplifydigital.com.
*Simplifydigital data based on 1,538 records between Jan 1 to Nov 8, 2010
Orange campaign exposes broadband industry’s “tricks”
Orange is readying a multimillion pound online marketing campaign aimed at exposing the “tricks” other broadband providers play on consumers.
Orange says its “no tricks, just treats” campaign intends to raise consumer awareness about things to consider before they sign up to a new broadband package. It forms part of the company’s renewed focus on making its home broadband service “best in class”.
The move follows watchdog Ofcom’s crackdown on internet service providers (ISPs) misleading consumers by advertising maximum download speeds rather than the average speed they will receive.
A report from the Committee for Advertising Practice’s (CAP) consultation on broadband advertising is also expected in the coming weeks.
The “no tricks, just treats” campaign will be promoted across a range of consumer lifestyle and price comparison sites; social media; direct mail; in Orange retail shops and on a dedicated microsite.
Sylvain Thevenot, Orange Home Broadband marketing director, says: “With so many different price plans and packages available in the market, it’s important that consumers get to see exactly what they are paying for upfront without falling prey to hidden charges further down the line.”
Rival companies have also placed a strong focus on their broadband products in recent months.
Virgin Media, a staunch campaigner for fairer broadband speed advertising, launched a pop up members club to promote its 100MB broadband and TiVo TV service.
BT said last month it was to face the bulk of its marketing activity for 2011 on its broadband services.
Orange says its “no tricks, just treats” campaign intends to raise consumer awareness about things to consider before they sign up to a new broadband package. It forms part of the company’s renewed focus on making its home broadband service “best in class”.
The move follows watchdog Ofcom’s crackdown on internet service providers (ISPs) misleading consumers by advertising maximum download speeds rather than the average speed they will receive.
A report from the Committee for Advertising Practice’s (CAP) consultation on broadband advertising is also expected in the coming weeks.
The “no tricks, just treats” campaign will be promoted across a range of consumer lifestyle and price comparison sites; social media; direct mail; in Orange retail shops and on a dedicated microsite.
Sylvain Thevenot, Orange Home Broadband marketing director, says: “With so many different price plans and packages available in the market, it’s important that consumers get to see exactly what they are paying for upfront without falling prey to hidden charges further down the line.”
Rival companies have also placed a strong focus on their broadband products in recent months.
Virgin Media, a staunch campaigner for fairer broadband speed advertising, launched a pop up members club to promote its 100MB broadband and TiVo TV service.
BT said last month it was to face the bulk of its marketing activity for 2011 on its broadband services.
Optus set to bring TV into the home via internet
AS many as 500,000 homes could sign up to have the internet deliver TV content to their lounge room sets by the end of next year, internet television sources say.
The claims follow the decision by Optus last week to appoint FetchTV as its internet protocol television provider and extend the service to Optus mobile phone and tablet devices.
Sources close to FetchTV say the company thinks the half-a-million mark is reachable.
The Optus deal puts back on track FetchTV's ambition to be the IPTV provider to every major internet service provider bar Telstra.
The company expects to be able this year to market its service to two million potential customers capable of receiving the service.
Telstra has about 150,000 T-boxes in the market, which include IPTV channels dedicated to its exclusive digital sports programming, such as AFL, rugby league, motor racing and horseracing.
Foxtel offers low-priced internet TV versions of its pay-TV product via Telstra's T-box and Microsoft's XBox 360, targeting customers who do not subscribe to its pay-TV services.
It is this market, comprising 60 to 65 per cent of Australian homes, that is now firmly in play.
Other contenders include Apple TV, Hybrid Television's TiVo and Sony's PlayStation Network, damaged by its recent worldwide privacy breach. But Foxtel, Telstra and FetchTV are expected to be the three main competitors.
FetchTV has also signed deals with Internode, iiNet and Adam Internet and is in talks with two others, believed to be TPG and Primus.
FetchTV chief executive Scott Lorson said the company was about to enter its launch phase proper with a marketing campaign to promote the brand, while each of its ISP partners would promote the product in direct marketing communications to their database of customers.
"(The Optus deal) was a seminal moment in terms of building our distribution capability," Mr Lorson said.
"We have been in a foundation and soft launch phase. The second half of this year will mark our true launch phase.
"Once the telcos choose to aggressively package an IPTV proposition (with other products such as mobile and broadband) then take-up is generally quite quick."
Media understands Optus is developing a suite of unique video content and services to be carried through its Digital Media division, led by Austin Bryan, which was set up for the purpose eight months ago.
They are thought to include social network connectivity, multi-screen applications that enable people to continue viewing as they move from one screen to another, and unique content related to key Optus media properties such as soccer and tennis.
The company has previously streamed to its customers' mobile phones -- including 400,000 live mobile streams during last year's FIFA World Cup -- and shows Nine's Today show live on Optus mobiles.
"You can imagine that we will have bespoke Optus services," Mr Bryan said.
The claims follow the decision by Optus last week to appoint FetchTV as its internet protocol television provider and extend the service to Optus mobile phone and tablet devices.
Sources close to FetchTV say the company thinks the half-a-million mark is reachable.
The Optus deal puts back on track FetchTV's ambition to be the IPTV provider to every major internet service provider bar Telstra.
The company expects to be able this year to market its service to two million potential customers capable of receiving the service.
Telstra has about 150,000 T-boxes in the market, which include IPTV channels dedicated to its exclusive digital sports programming, such as AFL, rugby league, motor racing and horseracing.
Foxtel offers low-priced internet TV versions of its pay-TV product via Telstra's T-box and Microsoft's XBox 360, targeting customers who do not subscribe to its pay-TV services.
It is this market, comprising 60 to 65 per cent of Australian homes, that is now firmly in play.
Other contenders include Apple TV, Hybrid Television's TiVo and Sony's PlayStation Network, damaged by its recent worldwide privacy breach. But Foxtel, Telstra and FetchTV are expected to be the three main competitors.
FetchTV has also signed deals with Internode, iiNet and Adam Internet and is in talks with two others, believed to be TPG and Primus.
FetchTV chief executive Scott Lorson said the company was about to enter its launch phase proper with a marketing campaign to promote the brand, while each of its ISP partners would promote the product in direct marketing communications to their database of customers.
"(The Optus deal) was a seminal moment in terms of building our distribution capability," Mr Lorson said.
"We have been in a foundation and soft launch phase. The second half of this year will mark our true launch phase.
"Once the telcos choose to aggressively package an IPTV proposition (with other products such as mobile and broadband) then take-up is generally quite quick."
Media understands Optus is developing a suite of unique video content and services to be carried through its Digital Media division, led by Austin Bryan, which was set up for the purpose eight months ago.
They are thought to include social network connectivity, multi-screen applications that enable people to continue viewing as they move from one screen to another, and unique content related to key Optus media properties such as soccer and tennis.
The company has previously streamed to its customers' mobile phones -- including 400,000 live mobile streams during last year's FIFA World Cup -- and shows Nine's Today show live on Optus mobiles.
"You can imagine that we will have bespoke Optus services," Mr Bryan said.
China Mobile, SARFT first to provide triple-play services
China Mobile's Wuhan subsidiary (Wuhan Mobile), and the local branch of the State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT) have started to provide triple-play service, a long-awaited project which is now exclusive to Wuhan, Wuhan Mobile employees told the Global Times Thursday.
Triple play service refers to the feeding of broadband, TV and voice call services through a unified interface instead of three different networks. Wuhan Mobile launched a 1,399 yuan ($215.300) family triple-play package Monday for Wuhan residents to enjoy one-year of 2M bandwidth broadband, high-definition interactive TV programs, and mobile phone credit worth 600 yuan ($92.00).
Li Jian, general manager of Wuhan Mobile explained that users can now save 70 percent with the package, as to paying for the three networks separately.
The State Council announced pilot projects for triple-play in 12 cities, which are Wuhan, Beijing, Shanghai, Dalian, Harbin, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Mianyang, and Changzhutan region in Hunan Province.
Triple play service refers to the feeding of broadband, TV and voice call services through a unified interface instead of three different networks. Wuhan Mobile launched a 1,399 yuan ($215.300) family triple-play package Monday for Wuhan residents to enjoy one-year of 2M bandwidth broadband, high-definition interactive TV programs, and mobile phone credit worth 600 yuan ($92.00).
Li Jian, general manager of Wuhan Mobile explained that users can now save 70 percent with the package, as to paying for the three networks separately.
The State Council announced pilot projects for triple-play in 12 cities, which are Wuhan, Beijing, Shanghai, Dalian, Harbin, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Mianyang, and Changzhutan region in Hunan Province.
BT Vision adds 30k subs
UK telco BT added 30,000 subscribers for its hybrid DTT+IP television service 'BT Vision' in the first quarter of this year, bringing the total to 575,000 customers.
The telco adds that it continued to enhance its service in the period, with BBC iPlayer being currently rolled out to subscriber set-top boxes, and faster HD downloads now available.
The full BBC iPlayer package is being made available on BT Vision, offering almost all of the TV and radio programmes available online through a simple and intuitive BBC iPlayer-branded application, and replacing the BBC content on BT Vision's existing 50-hour 'TV Replay' package, which offers a small selection of BBC TV programmes.
BT also reached 144,000 subscribers for its new high-speed fibre-based broadband service 'BT Infinity', with additions currently running at an average of around 5,000 per week. The company reports that in areas where it is available, almost half of new broadband customers are now opting for BT Infinity.
BT reports that it has invested a total of GBP 600mn (USD 980mn) in its fibre rollout programme, with an average of around 80,000 new premises being passed every week. The telco expects to have passed 5mn homes within the next few weeks, and aims to increase this figure to 10mn by 2012.
During 2012, the company will continue to expand its 100 Mbps Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) service and to test a 1 Gbps service, and expects to roughly double its Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC) speeds to up to 80 Mbps. Future changes are expected to take the potential speed of its FTTC services to over 100 Mbps.
Total revenues across all operations and markets for the first quarter of this year reached GBP 5.055bn, down 6% from one year previously, while adjusted pre-tax profits rose 21% to reach GBP 610mn.
The telco adds that it continued to enhance its service in the period, with BBC iPlayer being currently rolled out to subscriber set-top boxes, and faster HD downloads now available.
The full BBC iPlayer package is being made available on BT Vision, offering almost all of the TV and radio programmes available online through a simple and intuitive BBC iPlayer-branded application, and replacing the BBC content on BT Vision's existing 50-hour 'TV Replay' package, which offers a small selection of BBC TV programmes.
BT also reached 144,000 subscribers for its new high-speed fibre-based broadband service 'BT Infinity', with additions currently running at an average of around 5,000 per week. The company reports that in areas where it is available, almost half of new broadband customers are now opting for BT Infinity.
BT reports that it has invested a total of GBP 600mn (USD 980mn) in its fibre rollout programme, with an average of around 80,000 new premises being passed every week. The telco expects to have passed 5mn homes within the next few weeks, and aims to increase this figure to 10mn by 2012.
During 2012, the company will continue to expand its 100 Mbps Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) service and to test a 1 Gbps service, and expects to roughly double its Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC) speeds to up to 80 Mbps. Future changes are expected to take the potential speed of its FTTC services to over 100 Mbps.
Total revenues across all operations and markets for the first quarter of this year reached GBP 5.055bn, down 6% from one year previously, while adjusted pre-tax profits rose 21% to reach GBP 610mn.
Telefónica closes in on 3mn pay-TV subs globally
Spanish telecoms giant Telefónica had reached 2.9mn subscribers for its pay-TV services globally by the end of the first quarter of this year, up 10% year-on-year, with some markets reporting gains of as much as 47%.
The company reports that bundles of voice, broadband and television services remain key to its strategy of gaining new broadband subscribers, as well as to churn control. Both in Spain and in Latin America, 89% of retail fixed broadband accesses are bundled as part of either a dual or triple service package.
In Spain, Telefónica reached 786,000 IPTV subscribers at the end of March, up 7% from one year previously. Its Czech subsidiary Telefónica O2 Czech Republic had reached 129,000 subscribers for its IPTV service 'O2 TV', down slightly from 138,000 one year previously.
Telefónica reached a total of 1.9mn pay-TV customers in Latin America, up 10% year-on-year, with its Colombian subsidiary performing particularly well, making gains of 47% to reach 217,000 subscribers at the end of March. In Brazil, the telco managed 509,000 pay-TV accesses by the end of the first three months of this year, up 8% from one year previously.
In Chile, Telefónica had reached 359,000 pay-TV customers, up 21% year-on-year, while its Peruvian TV subscriber base stayed nearly flat at 711,000.
Total revenues across all operations and markets for the first quarter of this year reached €15.435bn, up 10.8% year-on-year, while consolidated net profits fell 1.9% by the same comparison to reach €1.624bn.
The company reports that bundles of voice, broadband and television services remain key to its strategy of gaining new broadband subscribers, as well as to churn control. Both in Spain and in Latin America, 89% of retail fixed broadband accesses are bundled as part of either a dual or triple service package.
In Spain, Telefónica reached 786,000 IPTV subscribers at the end of March, up 7% from one year previously. Its Czech subsidiary Telefónica O2 Czech Republic had reached 129,000 subscribers for its IPTV service 'O2 TV', down slightly from 138,000 one year previously.
Telefónica reached a total of 1.9mn pay-TV customers in Latin America, up 10% year-on-year, with its Colombian subsidiary performing particularly well, making gains of 47% to reach 217,000 subscribers at the end of March. In Brazil, the telco managed 509,000 pay-TV accesses by the end of the first three months of this year, up 8% from one year previously.
In Chile, Telefónica had reached 359,000 pay-TV customers, up 21% year-on-year, while its Peruvian TV subscriber base stayed nearly flat at 711,000.
Total revenues across all operations and markets for the first quarter of this year reached €15.435bn, up 10.8% year-on-year, while consolidated net profits fell 1.9% by the same comparison to reach €1.624bn.
Virgin Media extends £50 off broadband offer
Internet service provider (ISP) Virgin Media has taken the bold step of extending its current cashback offer to a wider range of broadband deals.
The ISP is now offering both standalone internet and broadband bundle subscribers the opportunity to receive £50 off their first bill.
Running alongside the firm's existing introductory broadband deal discounts, the offer enables consumers to make significant savings.
Virgin Media's 10Mb broadband package currently offers unlimited downloads, a free wireless broadband router and unlimited weekend calls for just £5 per month.
From month four, the price rises to £13.50 per month plus landline fee, however with £50 cashback included straight away, major savings are possible.
Consumers taking out a 30Mb broadband package enjoy the same range of features, paying just £8.50 per month for three months, down from £18.50, for super-fast downloads.
The 30Mb package offers the additional incentive of a free installation worth £40, as does the ISP's ultra-fast 50Mb and 100Mb broadband deals.
Virgin Media 50Mb broadband is priced at £15 per month (rising to £25), while the 100Mb package costs £35 per month with no introductory discount. A free super-fast Wi-Fi router is included with these higher tier deals.
Meanwhile, consumers seeking digital TV services with their Virgin Media broadband bundle can also benefit from the ISP's new promotion.
The Broadband, TV and Phone package costs £20 per month and offers 10Mb downloads, 65 channels and weekend calls, while a £5 per month upgrade available for 30Mb broadband speeds.
Households signing up for the 30Mb broadband bundle pay just £20 per month for the first six months, in addition to their £12.99 landline fee.
For consumers seeking the full range of 100 channels with 10Mb broadband, the cost goes up to £26 per month with no discount.
And at the top end, consumers can pay £31.50 per month for 100 channels with 50Mb broadband, enjoying a £5 per month discount for the first half-year.
As well as £50 per cent off their first bill, all Virgin Media Broadband, TV and Phone subscribers receive a free connection worth £40.
But UK households do not need to take a Virgin Media landline with weekend calls to capitalise on the £50 cashback offer – standalone broadband deals are also available.
10Mb broadband is priced at £16 per month (rising to £21 after three months), 30Mb costs £23.50 per month (28.50), 50Mb is priced at £30 per month (£35) and standalone 100Mb broadband is £45 per month for the duration of the contract.
The ISP is now offering both standalone internet and broadband bundle subscribers the opportunity to receive £50 off their first bill.
Running alongside the firm's existing introductory broadband deal discounts, the offer enables consumers to make significant savings.
Virgin Media's 10Mb broadband package currently offers unlimited downloads, a free wireless broadband router and unlimited weekend calls for just £5 per month.
From month four, the price rises to £13.50 per month plus landline fee, however with £50 cashback included straight away, major savings are possible.
Consumers taking out a 30Mb broadband package enjoy the same range of features, paying just £8.50 per month for three months, down from £18.50, for super-fast downloads.
The 30Mb package offers the additional incentive of a free installation worth £40, as does the ISP's ultra-fast 50Mb and 100Mb broadband deals.
Virgin Media 50Mb broadband is priced at £15 per month (rising to £25), while the 100Mb package costs £35 per month with no introductory discount. A free super-fast Wi-Fi router is included with these higher tier deals.
Meanwhile, consumers seeking digital TV services with their Virgin Media broadband bundle can also benefit from the ISP's new promotion.
The Broadband, TV and Phone package costs £20 per month and offers 10Mb downloads, 65 channels and weekend calls, while a £5 per month upgrade available for 30Mb broadband speeds.
Households signing up for the 30Mb broadband bundle pay just £20 per month for the first six months, in addition to their £12.99 landline fee.
For consumers seeking the full range of 100 channels with 10Mb broadband, the cost goes up to £26 per month with no discount.
And at the top end, consumers can pay £31.50 per month for 100 channels with 50Mb broadband, enjoying a £5 per month discount for the first half-year.
As well as £50 per cent off their first bill, all Virgin Media Broadband, TV and Phone subscribers receive a free connection worth £40.
But UK households do not need to take a Virgin Media landline with weekend calls to capitalise on the £50 cashback offer – standalone broadband deals are also available.
10Mb broadband is priced at £16 per month (rising to £21 after three months), 30Mb costs £23.50 per month (28.50), 50Mb is priced at £30 per month (£35) and standalone 100Mb broadband is £45 per month for the duration of the contract.
Time Warner Cable Results Show Broadband Growth, Drop in Video Subscribers
Time Warner Cable (NYSE:TWC) recently reported its Q1 2011 earnings and based on positive trends in broadband, we have updated our estimates. In looking at the last couple of earnings, we see the a similar story emerging: broadband subscriber gains accompanied by video subscriber losses. The company competes with satellite pay-TV providers like Dish Network (NASDAQ:DISH) and DirecTV (NASDAQ:DTV), cable companies like Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA), and telecom operators like AT&T (NYSE:T) and Verizon (NYSE:VZ).
Our price estimate for Time Warner Cable stands at $70.23, roughly 8% below the stock’s market price.
Broadband Base Increasing, Video Base Falling But Losses Reducing
The table below shows the subscriber trends for last few quarters and summarizes trends we have seen. [1] Time Warner Cable has done well with its broadband offering; however, it still continues to lose video subscribers to satellite and telecom competitors. While digital video subscriber base is increasing, losses are primarily concentrated in basic cable subscriber base.
Subscriber Trends for Time Warner Cable (2010 digital video data point is estimated)
A couple of things are quite evident from the chart. One, Time Warner Cable has continued its momentum in the broadband market, thanks to the adoption of its Turbo and Docsis 3.0 offerings that are also helping the company improve average revenue per broadband subscriber.
The second observation is that although total video subscribers are still declining, the losses are slowing. We can attribute this to a number of product improvement strategies that Time Warner Cable has employed in recent quarters. For instance, the company has deployed video switches to improve HD channel availability, introduced its ‘TV Essentials’ package for low-end customers and introduced the iPad app.
In short, the future looks bright for the company as it looks to be taking right steps to improve its subscriber trends. On a cautionary note, telecom companies like AT&T and Verizon are still a threat.
AT&T in particular is advertising in almost a quarter of the areas that Time Warner Cable serves, and this will continue to add competitive pressures going forward. [2] We currently estimate slight pay-TV market share declines for Time Warner Cable followed by stabilization. However, if telecom operators can gain subscribers in Time Warner Cable’s geographies, the company’s stock could see some downside. You can gauge this by modifying the chart above.
Our price estimate for Time Warner Cable stands at $70.23, roughly 8% below the stock’s market price.
Broadband Base Increasing, Video Base Falling But Losses Reducing
The table below shows the subscriber trends for last few quarters and summarizes trends we have seen. [1] Time Warner Cable has done well with its broadband offering; however, it still continues to lose video subscribers to satellite and telecom competitors. While digital video subscriber base is increasing, losses are primarily concentrated in basic cable subscriber base.
Subscriber Trends for Time Warner Cable (2010 digital video data point is estimated)
A couple of things are quite evident from the chart. One, Time Warner Cable has continued its momentum in the broadband market, thanks to the adoption of its Turbo and Docsis 3.0 offerings that are also helping the company improve average revenue per broadband subscriber.
The second observation is that although total video subscribers are still declining, the losses are slowing. We can attribute this to a number of product improvement strategies that Time Warner Cable has employed in recent quarters. For instance, the company has deployed video switches to improve HD channel availability, introduced its ‘TV Essentials’ package for low-end customers and introduced the iPad app.
In short, the future looks bright for the company as it looks to be taking right steps to improve its subscriber trends. On a cautionary note, telecom companies like AT&T and Verizon are still a threat.
AT&T in particular is advertising in almost a quarter of the areas that Time Warner Cable serves, and this will continue to add competitive pressures going forward. [2] We currently estimate slight pay-TV market share declines for Time Warner Cable followed by stabilization. However, if telecom operators can gain subscribers in Time Warner Cable’s geographies, the company’s stock could see some downside. You can gauge this by modifying the chart above.
Conroy adamant digital TV plan won't fade to grey
COMMUNICATIONS Minister Stephen Conroy's pre-budget announcement of a $308 million package of high-definition set-top boxes for pensioners is clearly aimed at avoiding a grey army backlash at the next election.
While this handout may ease concerns among pensioners about being left without television after the country goes all digital in 2013 it may open up a Pandora's box of demands for similar assistance across the community.
In the 2009 switchover to digital TV in the US, the government offered a discount coupon worth $40 to assist viewers to upgrade from analog. But it soon found it did not have enough coupons to meet the demand from more than 20 million consumers who did not have digital converter boxes.
This week's announcement by Conroy is an extension of the scheme the government launched more than two years ago to assist pensioners in trial switchover areas beginning with Mildura.
Under this arrangement the government has agreed to pay for the installation of a HD set-top box in eligible homes with a limit of one per couple. At the moment the scheme is restricted to those receiving the maximum rate aged pension or similar government support payment and to upgrading one TV set per household.
As with the multibillion-dollar National Broadband Network rollout, Conroy has put his reputation on the line over the digital switchover strategy, which he claims will, like the NBN, revolutionise communications in Australia.
Urging an early take-up of digital, the government says the benefits of this service are indisputable. "Picture and sound quality are better and television programs can be seen on wide-screen mode," it says. "You'll have the same free-to-air channels, plus some new ones, so you will have more choice."
This of course ignores the fact that some people may not want more channels or more and faster services as promised with the NBN, but as with the NBN, Conroy cannot afford to have an opt-out system for those who don't want to go digital. In both cases the service is mandatory.
And the government makes no bones about this. "If you choose not to do anything you will lose free-to-air TV when the switchover is completed in your area," advertisements on TV and on its Digital Ready TV website warn.
Conroy has already handed over more than $250m to the free-to-air networks in compensation for giving up spectrum they use for anolog services, spectrum the government already owns.
He anticipates getting billions of dollars for the sale of this spectrum mainly to telcos for next generation mobile services in what the government calls the digital dividend.
Based on overseas practice, if the government adheres to its December 2013 switch-off deadline it will need to sell this spectrum by the end of next year to give the new operators enough time to get their services in place. But so far no date or details of an auction process have been announced.
When Conroy announced the establishment of a Digital Switchover Taskforce in 2008, he provided for an operational budget of about $40m for the life of the project.
But in the meantime the industry's regulator - the Australian Communications and Media Authority - which sits on top of all this, has grown dramatically. Created in 2005 with a staff of about 520, it now employs more than 670 people with a budget of more than $130m a year. Along with this has been a rise in regulatory communications red tape, which seems certain to continue unabated.
And we can expect another boost in funding in tonight's budget as it pursues its ever expanding ambition to become "the world's best converged communications regulator" by the end of this year.
Pensioners, quite rightly, will not give a toss about this. On the other hand many may well resent being forced to adapt to a new technology when they are quite happy with things the way they are, even if this transition is free.
Conroy may be the spear carrier for a brave new digital world. But he would be well advised to remember that it was he who argued strenuously while in opposition that his elderly father did not want to be forced to change from watching English soccer on free-to-air TV to pay TV.
While this handout may ease concerns among pensioners about being left without television after the country goes all digital in 2013 it may open up a Pandora's box of demands for similar assistance across the community.
In the 2009 switchover to digital TV in the US, the government offered a discount coupon worth $40 to assist viewers to upgrade from analog. But it soon found it did not have enough coupons to meet the demand from more than 20 million consumers who did not have digital converter boxes.
This week's announcement by Conroy is an extension of the scheme the government launched more than two years ago to assist pensioners in trial switchover areas beginning with Mildura.
Under this arrangement the government has agreed to pay for the installation of a HD set-top box in eligible homes with a limit of one per couple. At the moment the scheme is restricted to those receiving the maximum rate aged pension or similar government support payment and to upgrading one TV set per household.
As with the multibillion-dollar National Broadband Network rollout, Conroy has put his reputation on the line over the digital switchover strategy, which he claims will, like the NBN, revolutionise communications in Australia.
Urging an early take-up of digital, the government says the benefits of this service are indisputable. "Picture and sound quality are better and television programs can be seen on wide-screen mode," it says. "You'll have the same free-to-air channels, plus some new ones, so you will have more choice."
This of course ignores the fact that some people may not want more channels or more and faster services as promised with the NBN, but as with the NBN, Conroy cannot afford to have an opt-out system for those who don't want to go digital. In both cases the service is mandatory.
And the government makes no bones about this. "If you choose not to do anything you will lose free-to-air TV when the switchover is completed in your area," advertisements on TV and on its Digital Ready TV website warn.
Conroy has already handed over more than $250m to the free-to-air networks in compensation for giving up spectrum they use for anolog services, spectrum the government already owns.
He anticipates getting billions of dollars for the sale of this spectrum mainly to telcos for next generation mobile services in what the government calls the digital dividend.
Based on overseas practice, if the government adheres to its December 2013 switch-off deadline it will need to sell this spectrum by the end of next year to give the new operators enough time to get their services in place. But so far no date or details of an auction process have been announced.
When Conroy announced the establishment of a Digital Switchover Taskforce in 2008, he provided for an operational budget of about $40m for the life of the project.
But in the meantime the industry's regulator - the Australian Communications and Media Authority - which sits on top of all this, has grown dramatically. Created in 2005 with a staff of about 520, it now employs more than 670 people with a budget of more than $130m a year. Along with this has been a rise in regulatory communications red tape, which seems certain to continue unabated.
And we can expect another boost in funding in tonight's budget as it pursues its ever expanding ambition to become "the world's best converged communications regulator" by the end of this year.
Pensioners, quite rightly, will not give a toss about this. On the other hand many may well resent being forced to adapt to a new technology when they are quite happy with things the way they are, even if this transition is free.
Conroy may be the spear carrier for a brave new digital world. But he would be well advised to remember that it was he who argued strenuously while in opposition that his elderly father did not want to be forced to change from watching English soccer on free-to-air TV to pay TV.
Belarus telco launches triple play
The Belarusian incumbent telco Beltelecom has launched a new basic triple play package. Known as Universal, it includes interactive TV and costs BRY90,000 (€20.3) a month to receive.
Earlier this year Beltelecom announced that its digital interactive TV service TV ZALA had already secured 220,000 subscribers since its launch in 2008, adding 160,000 in 2010 alone.
Its broadband internet service byfly had meanwhile gained 750,000 subscribers since 2006, with almost half (350,000) being added in 2010.
Its aim over the next five years is to provide high-speed internet access to 1.5 million Belarusians and for TV ZALA to reach 850,000 subscribers.
Universal is the latest stage of a bundling strategy started last year with the introduction of Economy (phone and internet) and Optimum (internet and TV) packages.
Earlier this year Beltelecom announced that its digital interactive TV service TV ZALA had already secured 220,000 subscribers since its launch in 2008, adding 160,000 in 2010 alone.
Its broadband internet service byfly had meanwhile gained 750,000 subscribers since 2006, with almost half (350,000) being added in 2010.
Its aim over the next five years is to provide high-speed internet access to 1.5 million Belarusians and for TV ZALA to reach 850,000 subscribers.
Universal is the latest stage of a bundling strategy started last year with the introduction of Economy (phone and internet) and Optimum (internet and TV) packages.
Wuhan Digital TV, China Mobile Offer Convergence Package
Provincial cable TV operator Wuhan Digital TV Network and Wuhan Mobile recently signed a strategic partnership agreement to jointly release a RMB 1,399 network convergence package. The package, includes a 2 Mbps cable broadband connection, one year of HD bi-directional cable DTV service, and RMB 600 in mobile calling credit, and is priced at a 70% discount.
Wuhan Mobile currently has over 7 mln mobile subscribers, while Wuhan's cable DTV subscribers total 1.7 mln. Li Jian, general manager of Wuhan Mobile, said users who purchase the package can simultaneously use both DTV and broadband services, and will have access to VIP content, including 12 recent films and 2 recent TV dramas each month for free.
Editor's Note: A customer representative for Wuhan Digital TV told Marbridge Consulting that the package includes a free DTV set-top box, 10 HD channels, and 69 SD channels, and is only available in areas supporting bi-directional cable DTV services.
Wuhan Mobile currently has over 7 mln mobile subscribers, while Wuhan's cable DTV subscribers total 1.7 mln. Li Jian, general manager of Wuhan Mobile, said users who purchase the package can simultaneously use both DTV and broadband services, and will have access to VIP content, including 12 recent films and 2 recent TV dramas each month for free.
Editor's Note: A customer representative for Wuhan Digital TV told Marbridge Consulting that the package includes a free DTV set-top box, 10 HD channels, and 69 SD channels, and is only available in areas supporting bi-directional cable DTV services.
AT&T U-verse TV Customers Nationwide Can "Choose Their Own Camera Angle" with Chicago Cubs Multiview
AT&T*, WGN America, and WGN-TV are giving Chicago Cubs fans across the country a chance to sit in the director's seat and control how they watch the team compete at Wrigley Field.
AT&T U-verse® TV today announced the nationwide launch of Chicago Cubs Multiview, an interactive TV app that lets U-verse customers view up to four different camera angles of the Chicago Cubs home games at one time, choosing from the main WGN America game broadcast and six alternate camera angles. The app was popular with Chicago viewers last season, and this is the first time AT&T has made multi-camera angle functionality available to U-verse TV customers nationwide.
"Last season, our Chicago U-verse TV customers loved having the power to choose how they watch every pitch and home run with the Chicago Cubs Multiview," said Dan York, president of content, AT&T. "We're proud to work with WGN and WGN America to deliver this functionality to U-verse TV customers nationwide this year. The app shows the tremendous possibilities that our advanced U-verse TV service and network can deliver, putting viewers in control of which camera angle they watch."
With Chicago Cubs Multiview, you can choose which of the seven channels is the main picture, and easily select and record any Chicago Cubs channel from within the app. The alternate camera angles are set up for each home game above home plate, third base, first base and center field.
"Having Multiview extend nationally in U-verse homes is one more way to enjoy our Cubs telecast," said Julio Marenghi WGN America's Executive Vice President/General Manager. "We are proud to partner with AT&T to provide fans this enhanced viewing experience."
For no extra charge, Chicago Cubs Multiview will be available to all U-verse TV customers subscribing to U100 and above on channel 780 and also on 1780 (HD) for customers with HD access**. The app is available for the majority of Chicago Cubs home games that air on WGN-TV and WGN America for the rest of this season, starting with the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs game on Tuesday, May 10, at 7 p.m. Central.
"We're very excited to offer Cubs fans across the country the opportunity to select their camera angles during all of our home games on WGN America and WGN TV," said Wally Hayward, executive vice president, chief sales and marketing officer, Chicago Cubs. "The AT&T U-verse technology puts our fans in the director's seat to control their viewership experience throughout the game."
AT&T introduced the award-winning Multiview app in fall 2009, and launched the My Multiview app in June, which lets customers choose and watch up to four of their favorite channels at once on their TV screen. Customers also enjoy Sports Multiview, Kids Multiview and News Multiview at no extra cost as part of every package.
AT&T U-verse TV uses 100-percent Internet Protocol (IP) technology, which allows AT&T to deliver advanced interactive apps such as Multiview and multiple camera angles.
AT&T U-verse TV includes many features that improve the game-watching experience for any sports fan, including Total Home DVR, which lets you watch and manage recordings from a single DVR on any connected TV in the house; access to an extensive High Definition (HD) channel lineup with more than 160 HD channels and growing; fast channel change, which lets you channel surf without the delay experienced on other digital TV services; picture-in-picture browse capability that lets you preview games on other channels; and the ability to follow your favorite sports teams through the AT&T U-bar.
AT&T U-verse TV is the only 100 percent Internet Protocol-based television (IPTV) service offered by a national service provider, making AT&T U-verse one of the most dynamic and feature-rich services available today. Now AT&T U-verse TV ranks "Highest in Customer Satisfaction in the North Central, South and West Regions," according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction Studies(SM). For additional information on AT&T U-verse — or to find out if it's available in your area — visit AT&T U-verse.
AT&T U-verse® TV today announced the nationwide launch of Chicago Cubs Multiview, an interactive TV app that lets U-verse customers view up to four different camera angles of the Chicago Cubs home games at one time, choosing from the main WGN America game broadcast and six alternate camera angles. The app was popular with Chicago viewers last season, and this is the first time AT&T has made multi-camera angle functionality available to U-verse TV customers nationwide.
"Last season, our Chicago U-verse TV customers loved having the power to choose how they watch every pitch and home run with the Chicago Cubs Multiview," said Dan York, president of content, AT&T. "We're proud to work with WGN and WGN America to deliver this functionality to U-verse TV customers nationwide this year. The app shows the tremendous possibilities that our advanced U-verse TV service and network can deliver, putting viewers in control of which camera angle they watch."
With Chicago Cubs Multiview, you can choose which of the seven channels is the main picture, and easily select and record any Chicago Cubs channel from within the app. The alternate camera angles are set up for each home game above home plate, third base, first base and center field.
"Having Multiview extend nationally in U-verse homes is one more way to enjoy our Cubs telecast," said Julio Marenghi WGN America's Executive Vice President/General Manager. "We are proud to partner with AT&T to provide fans this enhanced viewing experience."
For no extra charge, Chicago Cubs Multiview will be available to all U-verse TV customers subscribing to U100 and above on channel 780 and also on 1780 (HD) for customers with HD access**. The app is available for the majority of Chicago Cubs home games that air on WGN-TV and WGN America for the rest of this season, starting with the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs game on Tuesday, May 10, at 7 p.m. Central.
"We're very excited to offer Cubs fans across the country the opportunity to select their camera angles during all of our home games on WGN America and WGN TV," said Wally Hayward, executive vice president, chief sales and marketing officer, Chicago Cubs. "The AT&T U-verse technology puts our fans in the director's seat to control their viewership experience throughout the game."
AT&T introduced the award-winning Multiview app in fall 2009, and launched the My Multiview app in June, which lets customers choose and watch up to four of their favorite channels at once on their TV screen. Customers also enjoy Sports Multiview, Kids Multiview and News Multiview at no extra cost as part of every package.
AT&T U-verse TV uses 100-percent Internet Protocol (IP) technology, which allows AT&T to deliver advanced interactive apps such as Multiview and multiple camera angles.
AT&T U-verse TV includes many features that improve the game-watching experience for any sports fan, including Total Home DVR, which lets you watch and manage recordings from a single DVR on any connected TV in the house; access to an extensive High Definition (HD) channel lineup with more than 160 HD channels and growing; fast channel change, which lets you channel surf without the delay experienced on other digital TV services; picture-in-picture browse capability that lets you preview games on other channels; and the ability to follow your favorite sports teams through the AT&T U-bar.
AT&T U-verse TV is the only 100 percent Internet Protocol-based television (IPTV) service offered by a national service provider, making AT&T U-verse one of the most dynamic and feature-rich services available today. Now AT&T U-verse TV ranks "Highest in Customer Satisfaction in the North Central, South and West Regions," according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction Studies(SM). For additional information on AT&T U-verse — or to find out if it's available in your area — visit AT&T U-verse.
Cut the cost of your broadband
There are hundreds of broadband and home phone deals to choose from, with a myriad of providers announcing cheap headline deals almost daily.
Despite the huge potential savings, many people are put off moving to a better deal, because of the difficulty in choosing the right option for your household.
Broadband considerations
In order to help you choose a deal, the experts at Simplifydigital suggest that you need to consider:
Broadband download limits: downloading lots of rich content like TV content via BBC iPlayer, for example, uses a lot of bandwidth which may use up your download usage limit. Broadband download limits vary hugely from package
to package.
Broadband speed: the most basic broadband feature, this has the biggest effect on your overall experience of surfing the web. Broadband speeds vary enormously depending on the broadband package you choose and your address. Indeed, location is the biggest determinant (as frustrated rural broadband users will know only too well), and many super-fast broadband packages simply are not available in certain postcodes.
Home broadband versus mobile broadband packages: mobile broadband packages use the 3G mobile phone network and are accessed by a “dongle” plugged into your laptop. Mobile broadband is great if you want to access the web outside your home, but has drawbacks within the home (like limited download limits and patchy signals).
Line rental cost: it is common practice in the UK to quote a headline broadband price without the cost of line rental included, but most broadband services require a home phone line in order to function. The only exceptions are fibre-optic broadband from Virgin Media, for example; or a mobile broadband package that uses the mobile phone network to provide your broadband service. Line rental typically starts from £12.50 per month, although O2’s line rental is only £7.50 per month.
Other broadband features: customer service; technical support; and parental control features vary widely by broadband provider and package and are a vital consideration for many broadband buyers.
Broadband deals this May:
So what are the best deals on offer this month? If it’s a simple, standalone broadband product that you’re looking for, then O2 has some great deals.
For example, with their ‘All Rounder’ package, you will get up to 20Mbps broadband plus an unlimited download limit (subject to fair usage policy). This is a great option for those that want to watch TV online or download music. The package costs only £12.50 per month for O2 customers (or £17.50 per month for non-O2 customers).
Plus, O2 is currently offering three months’ free on the ‘All Rounder’ package. You can also add a calls package for only £2.50 per month. O2’s call charges are some of the most reasonable in the UK, plus line rental is only £7.50 per month, which is around £5 per month cheaper than most other suppliers.
TalkTalk is the UK’s second largest broadband provider and is currently very aggressive in the market. They are currently offering their best-selling TalkTalk Essentials Broadband and Home Phone package for only £3.49 a month for 12 months, although there is an additional charge for line rental of £12.60 per month.
The package offers super-fast, up to 24 Mb broadband with a hefty 40-Gig usage cap. It also includes a good value home phone plan, offering free evening and weekend calls to UK landlines (including 0870 and 0845 numbers).
Plusnet Value Broadband is also a great value option at only £3.24 a month (with line rental a further £11.99 a month). The package offers super-fast, up to 20 Mb broadband but with a lower download limit than TalkTalk and O2, capped at 10-Gig.
Plusnet Value Broadband also includes a home phone call package as part of the deal, with free evening and weekend calls to UK landlines.
Find the right deal in minutes: If you would like help finding the right broadband, home phone or digital TV package, Telegraph’s Digital Saving Service can help Simplifydigital’s Switching Support service is available seven days a week.
Their UK-based experts will search more than 6,000 deals from the top UK providers to find the best one for you. They then order the new deal for you, and remain on hand right up until the installation of your new services. The service is free and impartial.
In addition, Simplifydigital offers a Lowest Price Guarantee, so that if you find a cheaper deal elsewhere, they will refund the difference (terms and conditions apply).
Despite the huge potential savings, many people are put off moving to a better deal, because of the difficulty in choosing the right option for your household.
Broadband considerations
In order to help you choose a deal, the experts at Simplifydigital suggest that you need to consider:
Broadband download limits: downloading lots of rich content like TV content via BBC iPlayer, for example, uses a lot of bandwidth which may use up your download usage limit. Broadband download limits vary hugely from package
to package.
Broadband speed: the most basic broadband feature, this has the biggest effect on your overall experience of surfing the web. Broadband speeds vary enormously depending on the broadband package you choose and your address. Indeed, location is the biggest determinant (as frustrated rural broadband users will know only too well), and many super-fast broadband packages simply are not available in certain postcodes.
Home broadband versus mobile broadband packages: mobile broadband packages use the 3G mobile phone network and are accessed by a “dongle” plugged into your laptop. Mobile broadband is great if you want to access the web outside your home, but has drawbacks within the home (like limited download limits and patchy signals).
Line rental cost: it is common practice in the UK to quote a headline broadband price without the cost of line rental included, but most broadband services require a home phone line in order to function. The only exceptions are fibre-optic broadband from Virgin Media, for example; or a mobile broadband package that uses the mobile phone network to provide your broadband service. Line rental typically starts from £12.50 per month, although O2’s line rental is only £7.50 per month.
Other broadband features: customer service; technical support; and parental control features vary widely by broadband provider and package and are a vital consideration for many broadband buyers.
Broadband deals this May:
So what are the best deals on offer this month? If it’s a simple, standalone broadband product that you’re looking for, then O2 has some great deals.
For example, with their ‘All Rounder’ package, you will get up to 20Mbps broadband plus an unlimited download limit (subject to fair usage policy). This is a great option for those that want to watch TV online or download music. The package costs only £12.50 per month for O2 customers (or £17.50 per month for non-O2 customers).
Plus, O2 is currently offering three months’ free on the ‘All Rounder’ package. You can also add a calls package for only £2.50 per month. O2’s call charges are some of the most reasonable in the UK, plus line rental is only £7.50 per month, which is around £5 per month cheaper than most other suppliers.
TalkTalk is the UK’s second largest broadband provider and is currently very aggressive in the market. They are currently offering their best-selling TalkTalk Essentials Broadband and Home Phone package for only £3.49 a month for 12 months, although there is an additional charge for line rental of £12.60 per month.
The package offers super-fast, up to 24 Mb broadband with a hefty 40-Gig usage cap. It also includes a good value home phone plan, offering free evening and weekend calls to UK landlines (including 0870 and 0845 numbers).
Plusnet Value Broadband is also a great value option at only £3.24 a month (with line rental a further £11.99 a month). The package offers super-fast, up to 20 Mb broadband but with a lower download limit than TalkTalk and O2, capped at 10-Gig.
Plusnet Value Broadband also includes a home phone call package as part of the deal, with free evening and weekend calls to UK landlines.
Find the right deal in minutes: If you would like help finding the right broadband, home phone or digital TV package, Telegraph’s Digital Saving Service can help Simplifydigital’s Switching Support service is available seven days a week.
Their UK-based experts will search more than 6,000 deals from the top UK providers to find the best one for you. They then order the new deal for you, and remain on hand right up until the installation of your new services. The service is free and impartial.
In addition, Simplifydigital offers a Lowest Price Guarantee, so that if you find a cheaper deal elsewhere, they will refund the difference (terms and conditions apply).
Broadband Battle
The Sri Lanka unit of UAE-based Etisalat has commissioned a high-speed 3.75G wireless network enabling mobile broadband customers very fast Internet access, video calls and games, and mobile television.
Etisalat chief executive Dumindra Ratnayaka said potential to grow was wide with the island's Internet penetration being only about 8.0 percent although telephone density of 100.8 lines per 100 persons shows fixed and mobile connections had overtaken the population.
The network allows theoretical maximum download speeds of up to 42 Mbps (megabits per second) with 'dual carrier technology' using two carrier waves, both on the transmitter and receiver, although mobile devices in the market can handle only half that speed.
"When we did this big investment we also said we needed to see why the Internet penetration in this country is not growing, why the Internet penetration is only 8.0 percent," Ratnayaka told a news conference.
"We did a lot of research and that research showed us a lot interesting points and facts and we decided to come up with a solution that will assist the needs of the consumer."
Ratnayaka said mobile devices available in the local market can only handle speeds of up to 21 mbps.
"Today there are no devices, dongles or phones that are commercially available that can actually cater to these (42 mbps) speeds. This is really, really new technology and we will wait for the market to have commercial devices."
Etisalat, which says it has a mobile base of 3.5 million subscribers, is offering customers value-added services like video calls, video games, music videos, video messaging, video sharing and mobile TV at "reasonable prices."
"Etisalat broadband users can also look forward to special data packages and voice and data bundles without any speed throttling which restricts the user," a company statement said.
It has also introduced the Huawei S7 Android tablet for less than 31,000 rupees bundled with a year's data package.
Post-paid broadband packages are priced from 750 rupees for a 2GB data package to 1,500 rupees for a 12GB package with the connection fee at 150 rupees.
Ratnayaka said Etisalat is aiming at "breaking all barriers (to mobile broadband usage) by reaching out at a grassroots level."
Broadband coverage will expand covering all the districts and key cities in the island, he said.
Government data shows that mobile phone users grew 20.9 percent in 2010 to 17.2 million. Industry analysts say owners of more than one mobile subscriber identity module (SIM) are growing.
Data showed that internet connections including mobile broadband had grown 79.2 percent to 430,000 in 2010.
Etisalat also said the new product offers child protection and parental control in Internet access.
"Etisalat now partners Content Watch Inc. to provide NetNanny, one of the best Parental Control Softwares that will address security concerns of parents regarding Internet access for their children, offered at a very attractive price," it said.
"Meanwhile, broadband related content service will be offered by Etisalat in Sinhala and Tamil, a move towards breaking language barriers and enhancing accessibility and availability for all."
Etisalat chief executive Dumindra Ratnayaka said potential to grow was wide with the island's Internet penetration being only about 8.0 percent although telephone density of 100.8 lines per 100 persons shows fixed and mobile connections had overtaken the population.
The network allows theoretical maximum download speeds of up to 42 Mbps (megabits per second) with 'dual carrier technology' using two carrier waves, both on the transmitter and receiver, although mobile devices in the market can handle only half that speed.
"When we did this big investment we also said we needed to see why the Internet penetration in this country is not growing, why the Internet penetration is only 8.0 percent," Ratnayaka told a news conference.
"We did a lot of research and that research showed us a lot interesting points and facts and we decided to come up with a solution that will assist the needs of the consumer."
Ratnayaka said mobile devices available in the local market can only handle speeds of up to 21 mbps.
"Today there are no devices, dongles or phones that are commercially available that can actually cater to these (42 mbps) speeds. This is really, really new technology and we will wait for the market to have commercial devices."
Etisalat, which says it has a mobile base of 3.5 million subscribers, is offering customers value-added services like video calls, video games, music videos, video messaging, video sharing and mobile TV at "reasonable prices."
"Etisalat broadband users can also look forward to special data packages and voice and data bundles without any speed throttling which restricts the user," a company statement said.
It has also introduced the Huawei S7 Android tablet for less than 31,000 rupees bundled with a year's data package.
Post-paid broadband packages are priced from 750 rupees for a 2GB data package to 1,500 rupees for a 12GB package with the connection fee at 150 rupees.
Ratnayaka said Etisalat is aiming at "breaking all barriers (to mobile broadband usage) by reaching out at a grassroots level."
Broadband coverage will expand covering all the districts and key cities in the island, he said.
Government data shows that mobile phone users grew 20.9 percent in 2010 to 17.2 million. Industry analysts say owners of more than one mobile subscriber identity module (SIM) are growing.
Data showed that internet connections including mobile broadband had grown 79.2 percent to 430,000 in 2010.
Etisalat also said the new product offers child protection and parental control in Internet access.
"Etisalat now partners Content Watch Inc. to provide NetNanny, one of the best Parental Control Softwares that will address security concerns of parents regarding Internet access for their children, offered at a very attractive price," it said.
"Meanwhile, broadband related content service will be offered by Etisalat in Sinhala and Tamil, a move towards breaking language barriers and enhancing accessibility and availability for all."
UPC broadband products driven by enhanced speed
UPC IRELAND has turned up the heat on its rivals in the broadband market by significantly increasing the speeds for its entry-level product and by becoming the first telco here to offer a 100 megabyte speed.
From May 9th, UPC will offer 25MB as the standard speed for customers. This is three times faster than Eircom’s offering and the fastest entry-level speed offered in the Irish market by some distance. The new speeds will be promoted through a €5 million marketing campaign fronted by broadcaster Craig Doyle.
UPC said it will charge €60 a month for a bundle comprising its 25MB broadband, value digital-plus TV and Freetime World telephone voice package.
Customers will be able to double their broadband speed for an extra €5 a month and move to 100MB for an additional €10 a month.
UPC is upgrading its network as part of a €400 million investment that will be completed by the end of 2013. Its broadband product is available in about 41 per cent of Irish homes.
The product launch was made on the day that UPC announced its first-quarter results. This showed that its broadband customer base has increased to 214,900, up 34 per cent year-on-year. Home phone subscriptions grew by 58 per cent to 108,900.
“This has been a fantastic quarter for UPC,” said Dana Strong, who recently took over as chief executive of the Irish business. “We expect that 2011 will be a very exciting year for us. We are growing, we are hiring and we’re really in a position of strength.”
Ms Strong said the competitive bundle prices now available to consumers should benefit its TV business, which has stagnated in the past few years and slipped behind satellite broadcaster Sky.
She said sister companies in other parts of Europe would be relaunching their TV offerings in the next year or so and UPC Ireland would probably piggyback on these developments.
These might include 3D, video-on-demand and internet TV.
She said offering a mobile phone service was also being considered. “We have started conversations here with the [mobile] carriers. But it’s early days.”
Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte attended the media launch in Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel yesterday. He welcomed UPC’s upgraded broadband speeds and said it would benefit businesses here. “We need to ensure that our businesses can compete on the global stage. Bigger bandwidth is essential to our SMEs.”
Mr Rabbitte confirmed the Government would announce the details of its rural broadband scheme next week. This is aimed at plugging the gaps in broadband coverage in rural areas. He also plans to convene a meeting of the next-generation broadband task force in the coming weeks.
This will include representatives of the various telcos in the marketplace.
From May 9th, UPC will offer 25MB as the standard speed for customers. This is three times faster than Eircom’s offering and the fastest entry-level speed offered in the Irish market by some distance. The new speeds will be promoted through a €5 million marketing campaign fronted by broadcaster Craig Doyle.
UPC said it will charge €60 a month for a bundle comprising its 25MB broadband, value digital-plus TV and Freetime World telephone voice package.
Customers will be able to double their broadband speed for an extra €5 a month and move to 100MB for an additional €10 a month.
UPC is upgrading its network as part of a €400 million investment that will be completed by the end of 2013. Its broadband product is available in about 41 per cent of Irish homes.
The product launch was made on the day that UPC announced its first-quarter results. This showed that its broadband customer base has increased to 214,900, up 34 per cent year-on-year. Home phone subscriptions grew by 58 per cent to 108,900.
“This has been a fantastic quarter for UPC,” said Dana Strong, who recently took over as chief executive of the Irish business. “We expect that 2011 will be a very exciting year for us. We are growing, we are hiring and we’re really in a position of strength.”
Ms Strong said the competitive bundle prices now available to consumers should benefit its TV business, which has stagnated in the past few years and slipped behind satellite broadcaster Sky.
She said sister companies in other parts of Europe would be relaunching their TV offerings in the next year or so and UPC Ireland would probably piggyback on these developments.
These might include 3D, video-on-demand and internet TV.
She said offering a mobile phone service was also being considered. “We have started conversations here with the [mobile] carriers. But it’s early days.”
Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte attended the media launch in Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel yesterday. He welcomed UPC’s upgraded broadband speeds and said it would benefit businesses here. “We need to ensure that our businesses can compete on the global stage. Bigger bandwidth is essential to our SMEs.”
Mr Rabbitte confirmed the Government would announce the details of its rural broadband scheme next week. This is aimed at plugging the gaps in broadband coverage in rural areas. He also plans to convene a meeting of the next-generation broadband task force in the coming weeks.
This will include representatives of the various telcos in the marketplace.
EUTELSAT KABELKIOSK'S CABLE PLATFORM GEARS UP FOR HYBRID TV - NEW COLLABORATION WITH ROVI SIGNED TO
The German affiliate of Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) and Rovi Corporation (NASDAQ: ROVI) are combining their skills for the launch in third quarter 2011 of a Video On Demand service on KabelKiosk, the leading platform of TV channels and value added services provided by Eutelsat Germany for digital cable operators in continental Europe. An agreement between Rovi and Eutelsat Germany to integrate Rovi's Nowtilus entertainment delivery platform into KabelKiosk was announced during the ANGA Cable fair in Cologne.
The collaboration covers the deployment of Rovi's Nowtilus entertainment delivery platform to power a comprehensive Video on Demand offer via KabelKiosk interaktiv, the interactive option to be available in the KabelKiosk service. In addition, Rovi will supply technical and editorial services, digitisation of content and comprehensive support to operate the hybrid application. KabelKiosk interaktiv will be available on HbbTV receivers and TV screens. The commercial launch of the service is planned for third quarter 2011 for the networks of KabelKiosk partners.
KabelKiosk interaktiv has been developed by Eutelsat Germany to allow a smart connection of TV and Internet for a smooth transition from the linear KabelKiosk TV-offering to non-linear content. Red button applications support on-demand information and video clips to complement the linear TV channels. The distribution of individual content by network operators is an additional feature for recent news and network-specific offerings. Network operators will be able to deploy their own design and marketing to brand the hybrid service. The completely revised layout of KabelKiosk interaktiv offers a range of new features and optimised navigation. An intuitive user navigation facilitates quick selection of content with only a few keys of the remote control.
"Based on our comprehensive digital entertainment experience in retail, telco and publishing, we are working with Eutelsat to provide instant access to premium content to as many end users as possible", commented Leander Carell, Managing Director of Sales & Marketing Nowtilus at Rovi. "This will open up new and tangible business opportunities for all KabelKiosk clients," added Patrick Knippel, Managing Director of Business Development for Nowtilus at Rovi.
"As a first, KabelKiosk interaktiv will offer innovative hybrid TV services to digital cable networks in Europe. Working with Rovi and using their Nowtilus platform is a very important step to powering the Video on Demand component of KabelKiosk", Martina Rutenbeck, Managing Director of Eutelsat Germany, said in Cologne. "It strengthens our objective to build a hybrid portfolio, especially in terms of VoD, and to offer network operators a competitive portal that underscores the advantages of digital cable networks."
Nowtilus is a turnkey entertainment platform that offers content rights and licensing, as well as the technologies and infrastructure needed to launch user-friendly digital entertainment services. Nowtilus offers a full range of capabilities including platform development, administration and support, as well as billing and reporting. Nowtilus-powered services enable consumers to securely access premium entertainment on Windows and Mac systems and consumer electronics devices including connected TVs, set-top boxes, game consoles, and mobile devices. Nowtilus GmbH was acquired by Rovi Corporation earlier this year.
About Rovi Corporation
Rovi Corporation is focused on revolutionizing the digital entertainment landscape by delivering solutions that enable consumers to intuitively connect to new entertainment from many sources and locations. The company also provides extensive entertainment discovery solutions for television, movies, music and photos to its customers in the consumer electronics, cable and satellite, entertainment and online distribution markets. These solutions, complemented by industry leading entertainment data, create the connections between people and technology, and enable them to discover and manage entertainment in an enjoyable form.
Rovi holds nearly 5,000 issued or pending patents worldwide and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with numerous offices across the United States and around the world including Berlin, Japan, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom. More information about Rovi can be found at http://www.rovicorp.com
Eutelsat visAvision GmbH
KabelKiosk is an independent and integrated digital channel- and service-platform for European cable networks, operated by Eutelsat visAvision GmbH Cologne, a Eutelsat company. KabelKiosk offers a simple and cost-efficient distribution of German and multi-national TV-channels as well as Hybrid-services to cable networks. Thus, network operators and housing companies are able to compile own Digital TV packages to clients and tenants giving full customer control. A comprehensive supply of services is given by KabelKiosk as well, including technical and legal support, encryption and satellite-based signal contribution to network headends. To advance digitalization of cable networks KabelKiosk offers BasisHD, a Free TV package comprising 35 digital SD-channels as well as RTL HD, VOX HD, Pro7, Sat1 and kabel1 in high-resolution quality. For Pay TV KabelKiosk provides a comprehensive choice of German and foreign-language channels. Premium German entertainment channels are supplied by the packages FamilyXL, the promotion packs Lifestyle, Doku & News, Music & Emotion, Fun & Sports and MTV Tune-inn. HD Extra addresses clients asking for high resolution entertainment. Foreign languages bouquets cover nine different languages with 32 channels: Turkish, Russian, Polish, Italian, French, Serbian, English, Portuguese and Spanish. http://www.kabelkiosk.de
About Eutelsat Communications
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 27 satellites that provide coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues. At 31 December 2010, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting more than 3,700 television channels to over 200 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Group's satellites also serve a wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution markets, corporate networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and for transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat's broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates access to high speed Internet services through teleports in France and Italy that serve enterprises, local communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ 683 commercial, technical and operational employees from 28 countries.
The collaboration covers the deployment of Rovi's Nowtilus entertainment delivery platform to power a comprehensive Video on Demand offer via KabelKiosk interaktiv, the interactive option to be available in the KabelKiosk service. In addition, Rovi will supply technical and editorial services, digitisation of content and comprehensive support to operate the hybrid application. KabelKiosk interaktiv will be available on HbbTV receivers and TV screens. The commercial launch of the service is planned for third quarter 2011 for the networks of KabelKiosk partners.
KabelKiosk interaktiv has been developed by Eutelsat Germany to allow a smart connection of TV and Internet for a smooth transition from the linear KabelKiosk TV-offering to non-linear content. Red button applications support on-demand information and video clips to complement the linear TV channels. The distribution of individual content by network operators is an additional feature for recent news and network-specific offerings. Network operators will be able to deploy their own design and marketing to brand the hybrid service. The completely revised layout of KabelKiosk interaktiv offers a range of new features and optimised navigation. An intuitive user navigation facilitates quick selection of content with only a few keys of the remote control.
"Based on our comprehensive digital entertainment experience in retail, telco and publishing, we are working with Eutelsat to provide instant access to premium content to as many end users as possible", commented Leander Carell, Managing Director of Sales & Marketing Nowtilus at Rovi. "This will open up new and tangible business opportunities for all KabelKiosk clients," added Patrick Knippel, Managing Director of Business Development for Nowtilus at Rovi.
"As a first, KabelKiosk interaktiv will offer innovative hybrid TV services to digital cable networks in Europe. Working with Rovi and using their Nowtilus platform is a very important step to powering the Video on Demand component of KabelKiosk", Martina Rutenbeck, Managing Director of Eutelsat Germany, said in Cologne. "It strengthens our objective to build a hybrid portfolio, especially in terms of VoD, and to offer network operators a competitive portal that underscores the advantages of digital cable networks."
Nowtilus is a turnkey entertainment platform that offers content rights and licensing, as well as the technologies and infrastructure needed to launch user-friendly digital entertainment services. Nowtilus offers a full range of capabilities including platform development, administration and support, as well as billing and reporting. Nowtilus-powered services enable consumers to securely access premium entertainment on Windows and Mac systems and consumer electronics devices including connected TVs, set-top boxes, game consoles, and mobile devices. Nowtilus GmbH was acquired by Rovi Corporation earlier this year.
About Rovi Corporation
Rovi Corporation is focused on revolutionizing the digital entertainment landscape by delivering solutions that enable consumers to intuitively connect to new entertainment from many sources and locations. The company also provides extensive entertainment discovery solutions for television, movies, music and photos to its customers in the consumer electronics, cable and satellite, entertainment and online distribution markets. These solutions, complemented by industry leading entertainment data, create the connections between people and technology, and enable them to discover and manage entertainment in an enjoyable form.
Rovi holds nearly 5,000 issued or pending patents worldwide and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with numerous offices across the United States and around the world including Berlin, Japan, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom. More information about Rovi can be found at http://www.rovicorp.com
Eutelsat visAvision GmbH
KabelKiosk is an independent and integrated digital channel- and service-platform for European cable networks, operated by Eutelsat visAvision GmbH Cologne, a Eutelsat company. KabelKiosk offers a simple and cost-efficient distribution of German and multi-national TV-channels as well as Hybrid-services to cable networks. Thus, network operators and housing companies are able to compile own Digital TV packages to clients and tenants giving full customer control. A comprehensive supply of services is given by KabelKiosk as well, including technical and legal support, encryption and satellite-based signal contribution to network headends. To advance digitalization of cable networks KabelKiosk offers BasisHD, a Free TV package comprising 35 digital SD-channels as well as RTL HD, VOX HD, Pro7, Sat1 and kabel1 in high-resolution quality. For Pay TV KabelKiosk provides a comprehensive choice of German and foreign-language channels. Premium German entertainment channels are supplied by the packages FamilyXL, the promotion packs Lifestyle, Doku & News, Music & Emotion, Fun & Sports and MTV Tune-inn. HD Extra addresses clients asking for high resolution entertainment. Foreign languages bouquets cover nine different languages with 32 channels: Turkish, Russian, Polish, Italian, French, Serbian, English, Portuguese and Spanish. http://www.kabelkiosk.de
About Eutelsat Communications
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 27 satellites that provide coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues. At 31 December 2010, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting more than 3,700 television channels to over 200 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Group's satellites also serve a wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution markets, corporate networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and for transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat's broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates access to high speed Internet services through teleports in France and Italy that serve enterprises, local communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ 683 commercial, technical and operational employees from 28 countries.
AFL rights deal the first battle in latest TV turf war
FOXTEL'S chief executive, Kim Williams, loves to tell his staff ''let the trend be your friend'' and part of the strategy behind pay TV's punt on AFL rights is to befriend the web trend which threatens the way television operates.
Foxtel paid about half the $1.25 billion the AFL won for five years of rights. Included in Foxtel's package is the right to show AFL games live over internet television, or IPTV. Telstra bought the right to show one game a week over its service, the T-Box.
It may be a minority practice now but as televisions are increasingly connected to the internet, whether directly or through other devices such as Foxtel's iQ recorder, Seven's TiVo service, Telstra's T-Box or Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's Playstation, the IPTV rights will grow in importance and value.
Advertisement: Story continues below
Once programs broadcast on TV and those shown via the internet are combined on the same screen, it will not make a difference to a viewer whether the program comes through the air or over the internet. When it is easy to flick between popular programs and sport on broadcast channels or on internet ones, the entire basis of the television industry is challenged.
American networks already put their programs on the video-on-demand service Hulu, which is not yet available in Australia. The BBC will soon make a version of its iPlayer application open to international viewers.
A pilot BBC application for the iPad will initially test demand, charging about $10 a month to watch new and old programs made by the BBC and other British broadcasters as soon as they are available, rather than waiting for them to be screened on traditional home of the Beeb's programs here, the ABC.
The ABC managing director, Mark Scott, said this week: ''There will be any opportunity for old-style networks to be bypassed as the content and audience are linked through fast broadband. The models that remained for 50 years are now quite challenged.''
In the case of the AFL deal, Seven has bought the rights to show live AFL on free TV. Fox Sports will show all games on pay TV simultaneously, except for the grand final. Telstra has the right to show live games and replays on mobile phones - which includes the tablet market.
Foxtel has the bulk of live IPTV rights - it will show games via the Xbox or T-Box and charge for them from the time the new agreement starts next year - and given the combination of the forthcoming national broadband network with falling costs of unlimited home internet packages, the potential of IPTV is massive.
Peter Campbell, the Foxtel director of sport, said IPTV was becoming more important to customers. ''They want live sport across multiple devices and that is what we will offer.''
The federal government is overhauling regulations governing all media in its ''convergence review'', which has only begun to look at how it can bring the rules into an internet age, where what can be shown by broadcasters or telecommunication companies is not limited by technology, but only by commercial contracts.
Foxtel paid about half the $1.25 billion the AFL won for five years of rights. Included in Foxtel's package is the right to show AFL games live over internet television, or IPTV. Telstra bought the right to show one game a week over its service, the T-Box.
It may be a minority practice now but as televisions are increasingly connected to the internet, whether directly or through other devices such as Foxtel's iQ recorder, Seven's TiVo service, Telstra's T-Box or Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's Playstation, the IPTV rights will grow in importance and value.
Advertisement: Story continues below
Once programs broadcast on TV and those shown via the internet are combined on the same screen, it will not make a difference to a viewer whether the program comes through the air or over the internet. When it is easy to flick between popular programs and sport on broadcast channels or on internet ones, the entire basis of the television industry is challenged.
American networks already put their programs on the video-on-demand service Hulu, which is not yet available in Australia. The BBC will soon make a version of its iPlayer application open to international viewers.
A pilot BBC application for the iPad will initially test demand, charging about $10 a month to watch new and old programs made by the BBC and other British broadcasters as soon as they are available, rather than waiting for them to be screened on traditional home of the Beeb's programs here, the ABC.
The ABC managing director, Mark Scott, said this week: ''There will be any opportunity for old-style networks to be bypassed as the content and audience are linked through fast broadband. The models that remained for 50 years are now quite challenged.''
In the case of the AFL deal, Seven has bought the rights to show live AFL on free TV. Fox Sports will show all games on pay TV simultaneously, except for the grand final. Telstra has the right to show live games and replays on mobile phones - which includes the tablet market.
Foxtel has the bulk of live IPTV rights - it will show games via the Xbox or T-Box and charge for them from the time the new agreement starts next year - and given the combination of the forthcoming national broadband network with falling costs of unlimited home internet packages, the potential of IPTV is massive.
Peter Campbell, the Foxtel director of sport, said IPTV was becoming more important to customers. ''They want live sport across multiple devices and that is what we will offer.''
The federal government is overhauling regulations governing all media in its ''convergence review'', which has only begun to look at how it can bring the rules into an internet age, where what can be shown by broadcasters or telecommunication companies is not limited by technology, but only by commercial contracts.
Buckley bullish over TV deal
Football Federation Australia CEO Ben Buckley remains bullish over the prospect of negotiating a lucrative new TV deal, bundling the Socceroos with the A-League, amid warnings from TV industry sources that any change to existing Government anti-siphoning rules could be catastrophic to the game.
Can Lowy add value to the power of ten?Is Buckley dreamin'?Socceroos to take on SerbiaBuckley confident in squad depthFFA seeks to move Yemen match
By combining the high-value Socceroos in a package deal with its bread-and-butter product, the A-League, the ruling body has a hot property. The existing seven-year $125 million deal, which expires in June 2013, is evidence of that.
Recent leaks from within Fox Sports confirm though that should the Government decide to place Socceroos World Cup qualifiers in the hands of a free-to-air provider, the strong likelihood is that the A-League and the remaining Socceroos component - friendlies and the Asian Cup - would be worth far less.
With negotiations imminent on a new broadcast deal unlikely to include a free-to-air element thanks to recent restructuring at Channel 10’s OneHD network, Fox Sports appears to hold all the aces, whether the Government loosens its hold on Socceroos rights or not.
But Buckley believes the negotiating cupboard is far from bare, telling The World Game: “The next deal will come on the back on proven record of delivering ratings and value to Fox Sports.
"In 2005, we had no track record. Now we have regular high-quality Socceroos matches, the halo effect of World Cup qualification and compelling weekly content in the A-League.
“We’ll go into the next round of negotiations against a backdrop of new digital platforms and delivery channels. There are so many opportunities to deliver football content. That will only add to the competitive tension in the marketplace.
"Sports content is valued highly by broadcasters and advertisers. We’re entering an era where the proposed National Broadband Network will change the way we consume media, whether it’s IP TV or hand-held devises.
"There’s a hunger there for compelling live sports content and we say the A-League is exactly that. So we feel we’re in strong position to get good value for the post-2013 rights.”
There is some indication that the Federal Government could place Socceroos qualifiers on the anti-siphoning list with a decision due to be handed down during its current term.
“The Socceroos are the most powerful national football brand in the country. They have the ability to unite all Australians, which makes football rights very attractive to broadcasters,” Buckley said.
Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) boss Brendan Schwab is equally optimistic over striking a mutually-beneficial bargain with Fox Sports to safeguard the future of the game domestically and nationally.
“Football has a unique advantage over a lot of sports and in order to position ourselves strongly in the pursuit of a good TV deal beyond 2013, it’s vital we reinforce our position as the national football code,” Schwab said.
“If we can achieve that by strategically packaging key Socceroos games with the A-League, then I’m confident we’ll get a successful broadcast rights outcome.
"We would encourage the Government to review its current position on anti-siphoning (it is reportedly leaning towards widening the Socceroos free-to-air presence). If that is achieved then we can have a very good outcome.
“The Socceroos are quickly becoming the most important national team for sports fans, and they will soon surpass even the national cricket team.
"The level of interest in football is equivalent to that of AFL at a grassroots level, but the challenge is reflecting that interest in support for the A-League.”
Schwab claims that a second Sydney team will be crucial in adding lustre to the A-League, adding: “We need to be well positioned in western Sydney, which is the heartland of football and a crucial broadcast market.
"It was our preference at the PFA to have a team in western Sydney when the A-League was launched six years ago and that need has never gone away. Getting a team in that region must be a priority for 2012-2013.”
Can Lowy add value to the power of ten?Is Buckley dreamin'?Socceroos to take on SerbiaBuckley confident in squad depthFFA seeks to move Yemen match
By combining the high-value Socceroos in a package deal with its bread-and-butter product, the A-League, the ruling body has a hot property. The existing seven-year $125 million deal, which expires in June 2013, is evidence of that.
Recent leaks from within Fox Sports confirm though that should the Government decide to place Socceroos World Cup qualifiers in the hands of a free-to-air provider, the strong likelihood is that the A-League and the remaining Socceroos component - friendlies and the Asian Cup - would be worth far less.
With negotiations imminent on a new broadcast deal unlikely to include a free-to-air element thanks to recent restructuring at Channel 10’s OneHD network, Fox Sports appears to hold all the aces, whether the Government loosens its hold on Socceroos rights or not.
But Buckley believes the negotiating cupboard is far from bare, telling The World Game: “The next deal will come on the back on proven record of delivering ratings and value to Fox Sports.
"In 2005, we had no track record. Now we have regular high-quality Socceroos matches, the halo effect of World Cup qualification and compelling weekly content in the A-League.
“We’ll go into the next round of negotiations against a backdrop of new digital platforms and delivery channels. There are so many opportunities to deliver football content. That will only add to the competitive tension in the marketplace.
"Sports content is valued highly by broadcasters and advertisers. We’re entering an era where the proposed National Broadband Network will change the way we consume media, whether it’s IP TV or hand-held devises.
"There’s a hunger there for compelling live sports content and we say the A-League is exactly that. So we feel we’re in strong position to get good value for the post-2013 rights.”
There is some indication that the Federal Government could place Socceroos qualifiers on the anti-siphoning list with a decision due to be handed down during its current term.
“The Socceroos are the most powerful national football brand in the country. They have the ability to unite all Australians, which makes football rights very attractive to broadcasters,” Buckley said.
Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) boss Brendan Schwab is equally optimistic over striking a mutually-beneficial bargain with Fox Sports to safeguard the future of the game domestically and nationally.
“Football has a unique advantage over a lot of sports and in order to position ourselves strongly in the pursuit of a good TV deal beyond 2013, it’s vital we reinforce our position as the national football code,” Schwab said.
“If we can achieve that by strategically packaging key Socceroos games with the A-League, then I’m confident we’ll get a successful broadcast rights outcome.
"We would encourage the Government to review its current position on anti-siphoning (it is reportedly leaning towards widening the Socceroos free-to-air presence). If that is achieved then we can have a very good outcome.
“The Socceroos are quickly becoming the most important national team for sports fans, and they will soon surpass even the national cricket team.
"The level of interest in football is equivalent to that of AFL at a grassroots level, but the challenge is reflecting that interest in support for the A-League.”
Schwab claims that a second Sydney team will be crucial in adding lustre to the A-League, adding: “We need to be well positioned in western Sydney, which is the heartland of football and a crucial broadcast market.
"It was our preference at the PFA to have a team in western Sydney when the A-League was launched six years ago and that need has never gone away. Getting a team in that region must be a priority for 2012-2013.”
Time Warner Cable Bleeding Down To $70
Time Warner Cable recently reported its Q1 2011 earnings and based on positive trends in broadband, we have updated our estimates. In looking at the last couple of quarters, we see the a similar story emerging: broadband subscriber gains accompanied by video subscriber losses.
The company competes with satellite pay-TV providers like Dish Network and DirecTV, cable companies like Comcast, and telecom operators like AT&T and Verizon.
Our price estimate for Time Warner Cable stands at $70.53, roughly 8% below the stock’s market price.
Broadband Base Increasing, Video Base Falling
The table below shows the subscriber trends for last few quarters and summarizes trends we have seen. [1] Time Warner Cable has done well with its broadband offering; however, it still continues to lose video subscribers to satellite and telecom competitors. While digital video subscriber base is increasing, losses are primarily concentrated in basic cable subscriber base.
Subscriber Trends for Time Warner Cable (2010 digital video data point is estimated)
A couple of things are quite evident from the chart. One, Time Warner Cable has continued its momentum in the broadband market, thanks to the adoption of its Turbo and Docsis 3.0 offerings that are also helping the company improve average revenue per broadband subscriber.
The second observation is that although total video subscribers are still declining, the losses are slowing. We can attribute this to a number of product improvement strategies that Time Warner Cable has employed in recent quarters. For instance, the company has deployed video switches to improve HD channel availability, introduced its ‘TV Essentials’ package for low-end customers and introduced the iPad app.
In short, the future looks bright for the company as it looks to be taking right steps to improve its subscriber trends. On a cautionary note, telecom companies like AT&T and Verizon are still a threat.
AT&T in particular is advertising in almost a quarter of the areas that Time Warner Cable serves, and this will continue to add competitive pressures going forward. [2] We currently estimate slight pay-TV market share declines for Time Warner Cable followed by stabilization. However, if telcos can gain subscribers in Time Warner Cable’s geographies, the company’s stock could see some downside.
The company competes with satellite pay-TV providers like Dish Network and DirecTV, cable companies like Comcast, and telecom operators like AT&T and Verizon.
Our price estimate for Time Warner Cable stands at $70.53, roughly 8% below the stock’s market price.
Broadband Base Increasing, Video Base Falling
The table below shows the subscriber trends for last few quarters and summarizes trends we have seen. [1] Time Warner Cable has done well with its broadband offering; however, it still continues to lose video subscribers to satellite and telecom competitors. While digital video subscriber base is increasing, losses are primarily concentrated in basic cable subscriber base.
Subscriber Trends for Time Warner Cable (2010 digital video data point is estimated)
A couple of things are quite evident from the chart. One, Time Warner Cable has continued its momentum in the broadband market, thanks to the adoption of its Turbo and Docsis 3.0 offerings that are also helping the company improve average revenue per broadband subscriber.
The second observation is that although total video subscribers are still declining, the losses are slowing. We can attribute this to a number of product improvement strategies that Time Warner Cable has employed in recent quarters. For instance, the company has deployed video switches to improve HD channel availability, introduced its ‘TV Essentials’ package for low-end customers and introduced the iPad app.
In short, the future looks bright for the company as it looks to be taking right steps to improve its subscriber trends. On a cautionary note, telecom companies like AT&T and Verizon are still a threat.
AT&T in particular is advertising in almost a quarter of the areas that Time Warner Cable serves, and this will continue to add competitive pressures going forward. [2] We currently estimate slight pay-TV market share declines for Time Warner Cable followed by stabilization. However, if telcos can gain subscribers in Time Warner Cable’s geographies, the company’s stock could see some downside.
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