FierceIPTV

IMS Research: Operator OTT services on the rise

Dan O'Shea — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:58:26 -0500

IMS Research says in a report that over-the-top video offerings provided by TV service providers are becoming more common, with operator-deployed hybrid set-top boxes accounting for almost 13 percent of global IP STB shipments in 2008. OTT-to-the-TV may not be ubiquitous for another five years or so, the firm says, but Western European carriers in particular are moving quickly. About 87 percent of the 1.6 million of the hybrid STBs deployed in 2008 were used in households in Western European markets.

In related news, Amino Technologies actually claimed--though did not name--a large operator customer for hybrid STBs this week.

For more:
Here's the IMS Research press release

Rentrak extends measurement reach with Dish

Dan O'Shea — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:52:28 -0500

TV audience measurement company Rentrak has extended the reach of its set-top box data analysis service to about 15 million TV subscribers in 210 TV markets via a new partnership with satellite TV provider Dish Network. The deal is a major boost to the upstart ratings service. Rentrak's most significant service provider partnership up to this point had been with AT&T, which gave Rentral visibility into about 2 million TV households in about three dozen markets.

For more:
- MediaWeek has this story

KT takes bite of Apple model

Dan O'Shea — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:42:49 -0500

The Korea Times reports that Korea Telecom chief Lee Suk-chae dropped the A-word in talking about the future of the telco's IPTV services offering, which has evolved over the last year from video-ond-demand to VoD and broadcast. That's right, like other telecom players in both wireless and video sectors, KT wants to be more like Apple, the Times story says.

The evolution begins next month, with the planned launch of an open content development platform for the broadcast part of the network, and also is looking to gather prospective content developers at a conference soon. The goal is to allow the developers to sell their programming over the network through a revenue-sharing model, potentially broadening the appeal of KT's IPTV offering over those of its two largest competitors, SK broadband and LG, as the nation's IPTV growth moderates.

The Korea Times reports that KT is aiming to have about 2 million IPTV customers at the end of this year, after collecting about 1 million in 2009--it's first full year with a IPTV package.

While numerous companies across telecom have looked at Apple, iTunes and the Apple store for hints in how to sell content in the future, they have done so cautiously, and no one has really become the Apple of the IPTV world yet--not even Apple, which after launching the Apple TV platform, took its time following up with upgrades.

For more:
Korea Times has this story

Telus takes Mediaroom route for new IPTV launch

Dan O'Shea — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:00:47 -0500

Add Canada's Telus to the list of service providers that have launched IPTV offerings on Microsoft's Mediaroom platform. Telus is another telco that comes to the platform after using Minerva Networks software for an earlier rollout. The Mediaroom-based launch so far encompasses the Edmonton, Alberta area and a few dozen or so other communities in British Columbia and Alberta.

The Telus TV customers who have been aboard the Minerva Networks' IPTV platform thus far will be allowed to move onto Mediaroom in the coming months. Telus also re-sells satellite TV service from Bell Canada.

Last year, SureWest Communcations in the U.S. made the switch from Minerva to Microsoft. Increasing capabilities and streamline cost scenarios have helped Microsoft's platform find some new appeal, in particular among independent telcos and service providers that had rolled out very early TV offerings over other platforms.

For more:
InteractiveTV Today has this post

Thomson re-surfaces in Technicolor

Dan O'Shea — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:01:57 -0500

Thomson, the French TV/video technology vendor that has been involved in many aspects of the cable TV business over the years is emerging from a bankruptcy-like restructuring program under chairman and CEO Frederic Rose, who was once an Alcatel-Lucent executive. The company, which more recently go into the telcoTV/IPTV sector, has made cost cuts over the last year and numerous other changes, including decisions to sell some units, and the most apparent change: Thomson's new name--Technicolor.

Yes, that's the same Technicolor as the film processing technique that was one of the hallmark's of Hollywood's Golden Age. Thomson has owned Technicolor, Inc., for some time, and in the new age of IPTV, OTT, mobile TV, and soon, 3D TV, Thomson chose to identify itself with a name that is linked most strongly with the early and middle years of the film industry (Some of you may ask, "What's film?") way back in the 20th Century.

Oh, well, despite decisions to sell units such as its Grass Valley Group and a convergent systems unit destined to be acquired by Sony, at least Technicolor is hanging on to its IPTV-related properties and units.

For more:
- The Wall Street Journal has this Dow Jones wire story