Friday 3rd September
ANT
and Ocean Blue partner for HbbTV and connected TV solutions
ANT, provider of software and services for the delivery of digital TV has
announced a partnership with Ocean Blue Software, digital TV middleware
specialist to deliver a fully integrated connected TV software stack. The
combined solution provides connected TV services including HbbTV (Hybrid
Broadcast Broadband TV) by integrating the ANT Galio Platform with Ocean
Blue’s Sunrise™ DVB and Voyager™ MHEG technology.
The ANT Galio HbbTV Platform is already the software solution of choice
for many of the industry’s leading device manufacturers targeting the
HbbTV and connected TV markets. The new partnership utilises Ocean Blue’s
advanced Sunrise DVB middleware client and Voyager MHEG system to provide
a fully integrated connected TV software stack. This is ideal for CE device
manufacturers such as TV and set-top box manufacturers looking to quickly
roll out connected devices targeting the HbbTV and other hybrid markets.
The first HbbTV services were launched by German broadcasters in December
2009 and included catch-up programming from ARD and ZDF, VoD (Video on Demand)
from Tageschau, ARD digital text and Bayerische Runfunk radio applications.
The French government regulatory body for TV issues, the Conseil Supérieur
de l’Audiovisuel (CSA), has since added its support of HbbTV with the
launch of French interactive HbbTV services expected in 2011.
The connected TV market continues to grow with a need to deliver increasingly
complex services while maintaining an intuitive user-friendly experience.
The partnership between ANT and Ocean Blue meets the requirement of large
mainstream CE manufacturers looking for an industry weight solution that
reduces the development complexity of delivering connected TV devices. The
widespread industry support for HbbTV is a strong reflection of this growing
hybrid market trend.
Phil Evans, Director of Ocean Blue Software, said: “We’re pleased
to be working with ANT. The respective software already deployed by both
companies is recognised as market leading and by working together we’re
able to deliver a unique market proposition not just for the fast emerging
HbbTV market but all connected TV devices.”
Simon Woodward President and CEO of ANT, said: “As TV device manufacturers
strive to deliver an increasing array of connected TV services presented
in a simple, usable way, they are faced with developing an increasingly
complex software solution. This partnership solves the problem by delivering
a complete connected TV stack.”
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Viaccess
and Orca power Boxer’s TV Service with Pace and SoftAtHome
Viaccess, a France Telecom group company and leader in content security
CAS/DRM, and its subsidiary Orca Interactive, a leading innovative provider
of IPTV middleware and content discovery solutions, announced today that
the integrated solutions by Viaccess and Orca will power Swedish broadcaster
Boxer’s hybrid services with live premium content and video on-demand
(VOD).
The hybrid solution will be presented in the Viaccess stand (1.A51) and
Orca stand (2.B40) at IBC 2010, Sept. 9-14 in Amsterdam, to show how broadcasters
can retain customers with new VOD services.
Viaccess provides Boxer with an ecosystem of partners and end-to-end solution
for a quick time to market of its VOD service. The Boxer deployment includes
Viaccess content protection, Orca Interactive IPTV middleware and content
discovery, SoftAtHome high-end STB middleware, and Pace integrating the
client software into its last generation of hybrid DVB-T2 PVR Set-top box
platform.
Boxer is one of the first broadcasters in the world to utilise Digital Video
Broadcasting – Second General Terrestrial (DVBT-2 ), a standard used
to offer high definition services on digital terrestrial television. Boxer
is also using a Flash-based user interface to enhance the user experience.
The services offered will include live TV channels, VOD, subscription video
on-demand (SVOD), pause live TV and client personal video recording (CPVR).
Viaccess maximises the protection of Boxer’s Hybrid VOD content with
its unique 360° approach that includes technical excellence, legal protection,
continuous monitoring, open communication and pro-active actions on technology
status.
As the protection of premium VOD content is key for success and any TV operator
is vulnerable, Viaccess helps Boxer face piracy risks against content over
the open Internet by non-approved distributors and hackers. Viaccess also
ensures trust and distribution rights from content owners and movie studios.
On top of the advanced PVR user experience based on the Boxer TV Navigator,
the hybrid solution allows Boxer IP connected subscribers to have access
to a full range of additional services such as premium VoD through progressive
download
Boxer’s service is also uniquely equipped to provide recommendations
on movies and TV series to subscribers with COMPASS, Orca’s content
discovery platform. COMPASS includes a variety of recommendation engines
to provide a blend of personal, optimized suggestions of content to users
on TV, PC and mobile, as well as advanced explore and social TV functionality.
"Viaccess has been working closely with Boxer for more than eight years
to protect their live premium content," said François Moreau
de Saint Martin, CEO, Viaccess. "We are proud to continue our relationship
as Boxer makes the decision to launch VOD and interactive TV. With this
technology alliance of Viaccess, Orca, SoftAtHome and Pace, Boxer is now
highly competitive in the market by delivering VOD content over the open
Internet and taking advantage of all the new possibilities digital TV has
to offer."
Haggai Barel, CEO of Orca Interactive added "Over the top TV is an
opportunity for pay TV operators. In order to win the battle, they should
selectively open the "walled garden," increase their eligibility
and enhance their service with more personalization, more interactivity,
and more web related functionality while keeping their traditional assets
of high QoS, superior user experience and outstanding customer service.
We are excited to work with Boxer enabling them to effectively offer an
engaging TV service that will reposition them in today's competitive market."
"Boxer aims at providing access to a large number of paid and free
to air terrestrial TV channels across the Nordic region. Our next generation
TV offering will deliver a unique user experience with combinations of HDTV
DTT broadcast and over-the-top On Demand content," said Håkan
Brander, Director Product Management & Development of Boxer. "We
were looking for a solution that could provide a consistent user experience
across different STBs. It was also key for Boxer to find key partners for
the end-to-end solution. We are delighted to collaborate with Viaccess and
leverage their innovative approach to bring new services for the Digital
Home."
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