Multi-screen

Alcatel-Lucent, Concurrent combine forces on expanding VOD catalogs

September 4, 2012 2:23 pm | by Mike Robuck | Products | Comments

The expanded VOD offerings can be delivered to traditional set-top boxes, as well as tablets, PCs and smartphones, using Alcatel-Lucent’s Velocix CDN technology and Concurrent’s MediaHawk Unified Origin and TV-VOD edge servers. The new TV Everywhere architecture has been put through its paces via a trial with a large cable MSO.

RGB beefs up TV Everywhere stable with live SDI video encoding

September 4, 2012 2:18 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

The TransAct Encoder/Transcoder, which is integrated with RGB’s existing TransAct Transcoder product line, offers the ability to ingest uncompressed SDI-sourced live content, as well as IP and file input, for live or on-demand IP video delivery to smartphones, tablets, PCs and connected TVs, as well as traditional set-top boxes.

IBM gets into the IPTV delivery business

August 31, 2012 12:25 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

The development of content delivery networks (CDNs) made it almost inevitable that IP content delivery would become a service, which in turn made it a near certainty that a business services company like IBM would enter the market. IBM has introduced a cloud platform for delivering content on behalf of CE firms.

Samsung to rely on Verimatrix security

August 31, 2012 12:22 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

Samsung will use Verimatrix’s security suite, including its VCAS security system and ViewRight client software, to protect content delivered to its Smart TVs. Video service apps that pay-TV operators build for Samsung Smart TVs will now be able to take advantage of ViewRight client security.

After golden run at Olympics, Adobe unveils TV Everywhere enhancements

August 30, 2012 1:59 pm | by Mike Robuck | Products | Comments

Coming on the heels of a successful trial run at the Olympics, Adobe Systems announced it has upgraded its Adobe Pass platform to its second version. Adobe put Adobe Pass 2.0 through its paces during the recent 2012 London Olympic Games, which served as a milestone for TV Everywhere services.

Midcontinent tees up WatchESPN

August 29, 2012 3:04 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

Midcontinent is serving its authenticated customers live streaming sports content from WatchESPN across various devices, and it plans on offering more Disney-related video content. Using the free WatchESPN app, Midcontinent subscribers can view live streaming from ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3 and ESPNU on their Apple iOS and Android devices.

TiVo set to market multi-screen streamer

August 29, 2012 2:57 pm | by Brian Santo | Products | Comments

TiVo is preparing to hit the market with its retail transcoder/router that enables TiVo Premiere DVR users to distribute up to four simultaneous streams to Apple iOS devices. The TiVo Stream, announced earlier this year, will sell for $130 and will be available from TiVo on Sept. 6 and at Best Buy shortly thereafter.

Comcast’s thePlatform opens doors of digital storefronts

August 28, 2012 2:53 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

Video publishing company thePlatform has upgraded its mpx system to support video commerce across various devices on digital storefronts. The digital storefronts can help video providers and content owners monetize their premium video libraries by complementing pay walls, advertising or authenticated subscriptions.

Indian cable company goes with Envivio

August 27, 2012 3:14 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

AJK is the first cable operator in India to use a single headend to serve the full range of display devices – TV set-top boxes, connected TVs, PCs, tablets and mobile phones – according to Envivio. AJK’s service, called Reena TV, is targeting more than 200,000 customers for their digital service.

Report: $2B video delivery platforms market to double by 2017

August 27, 2012 2:55 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

According to a study, revenues for video platforms that distribute video on behalf of media and entertainment companies, including cable and satellite distributors, will reach $2.1 billion this year and double to more than $4 billion by 2017.

Disney delivers live streaming of channels to Comcast Web portal

August 24, 2012 3:00 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

Comcast’s programming deal with Walt Disney earlier this year continues to resonate with its customers. Comcast is now offering its authenticated subscribers live shows from Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD on its Xfinity.com/tv Web portal.

Time Warner Cable stirs in live Fox content to TV Everywhere mix

August 24, 2012 2:56 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

Time Warner Cable announced this morning that it has added live streaming from Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network to its TV Everywhere lineup. The video content is available to Time Warner Cable customers that subscribe to the two channels.

Carlson antenna a big gain for white spaces

August 24, 2012 2:44 pm | by Brian Santo | Products | Comments

Carlson announced a new antenna specifically designed to support the use of white-space spectrum. The company’s new omnidirectional base station antenna provides high gain across the entire UHF spectrum, which will help improve overall performance of white space transmissions.

Concurrent strikes TV Everywhere deal with J:Com

August 23, 2012 3:47 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

Concurrent landed a deal with J:Com, which is Japan’s largest cable operator, to help deliver TV Everywhere services to multiple devices. J:Com (Jupiter Communications) has deployed Concurrent’s MediaHawk VX to serve up multi-screen VOD services to mobile devices and PCs.

Envivio encoder bumps up efficiency

August 23, 2012 3:41 pm | by Brian Santo | Products | Comments

The company claims the latest version of its transcoding software can improve transcoding speed by up to 35 percent. Envivio introduced a new version of its on-demand transcoding software that the company’s own testing indicates an improvement of up to 35 percent in file-to-file transcoding speed, as compared to competing platforms that require hardware acceleration.