Alticast Powers World’s First Major Deployment of Cloud-Based Personal Video Recorder Service

SkyLife Chooses the Alticast Cloud Media Platform for Pioneering Cloud PVR Service

SEOUL, South Korea – February 26, 2014 – Alticast, a worldwide leader in interactive television, announced today that its Alticast Media Cloud Platform has enabled Korean Telecom (KT) SkyLife (SkyLife),” South Korea’s leading satellite television broadcaster, to launch its “SkyLife on Demand” (SOD) service, the world’s first large-scale deployment of a Cloud-based personal video recorder (PVR) service. 

SkyLife’s olleh TV SkyLife service – which combines direct-to-home (DTH) television programming with KT’s video on demand (VOD) services – was launched in August 2009 and today offers multiscreen TV Everywhere services with more channels, HD programming and VOD titles than any of its cable or IPTV competitors.  Eager to stay ahead of competitors, SkyLife enhanced their TV service with its SOD service, enabling each subscriber to record many channels simultaneously using Cloud storage. 

“Our new Cloud-based SOD service is the most recent example of our commitment to providing subscribers the very latest broadband video and data services delivered with the outstanding quality and reliability they have come to expect from our services,” said Ji-Woong Kim, leader of SkyLife’s new business development team.  “To deploy this new service, we turned to our trusted partner Alticast, which supported our initial launch of interactive TV and is following it up with the software solutions and expertise we need for this important new project.”

“SkyLife continues to make advances in TV Everywhere technology with its state-of-the-art Cloud-based PVR service,” said Thomas Jung, Alticast’s Chief Marketing Officer.  “In addition to SkyLife, major cable operators, telecom carriers, satellite providers and other service providers worldwide are in various stages of exploring Cloud-based PVR services to leverage the inherent advantages of virtual storage.  The success of SkyLife’s SOD service validates both the concept of Cloud-based PVRs and the capabilities of our Alticast Media Cloud Platform.”

At the heart of SkyLife’s SOD service is the Alticast Media Cloud Platform, which is comprised of four major components:  a Cloud content ingest/delivery system, a Cloud service system, a Cloud media storage system and a Cloud streaming system.  Each component is optional and interoperable with any existing pieces of a service provider’s Cloud-based PVR system. SkyLife is also using the Alticast AltiProtect DRM solution to ensure content protection by encrypting content when it is recorded.

Complementing its SOD service, SkyLife already offers an existing catch-up service, which utilizes local USB storage to optimize network bandwidth.  When content rights do not allow for programs to be stored in the Cloud, they are instead recorded at the customer premise using USB storage.  Subscribers locate recorded content via the STB UI and then seamlessly play the programs regardless of location.  Cloud-stored content allows viewing flexibility as these videos can be played back on approved mobile devices.

TV Connect Industry Awards

We just received notice that Alticast has been shortlisted for a TV Connect Industry Award in the Best TV Experience Enhancement category!

Alticast Demonstrates how to Deliver TV Everywhere Services With RDK-Based “Set Top Box on a Stick” at RDK Users Conference

Alticast’s HDMI Software Allows Operators to Leverage Gateways or the Cloud to Deliver

 a Superior TV Everywhere Experience

Alticast, a worldwide leader in interactive television, will demonstrate to operators how they can expand their TV Everywhere service offerings with the company’s new software for HDMI sticks at next week’s RDK User’s Conference, which is being held on February 11 in Denver.  Leveraging the RDK and Alticast’s HTML5 application framework with an HDMI stick, Alticast’s solution represents a new paradigm for multiscreen IP video delivery, either directly from the Cloud or as a client to a home-based gateway.  

“Our HDMI stick software solution ‘untethers’ the set-top box from the home, enabling cable operators to cost-effectively provide subscribers with a superior TV Everywhere service that is highly customizable, personalized and available on any viewing device,” said John Carlucci, CTO, Alticast US.  “The RDK User’s Conference is the ideal location to show many of the world’s largest cable operators and potential manufacturing partners the benefits of our compact, RDK-based HDMI software solution, which can help operators keep their current subscribers and attract new ones.”

The Alticast HDMI stick supports a personalized multiscreen viewing experience in the home or on the go.  The stick works in conjunction with a home gateway to securely deliver programing to any TV or Consumer Device in the home.  It also has the potential to go anywhere in a Cloud-based delivery model for VOD and operator provided live TV.  The Alticast software solution lets operators decide how and what they deliver to the consumer.  The HTML5 Application Framework operates side-by-side with Android, allowing operators to deliver a multi-functional entertainment solution.

In addition, Alticast will demonstrate their new Application Store running on RDK.  This storefront for HTML5 applications provides the operator with tools for branding the service and curating the offerings. Backend administration workflow tools for developers allow application upload, versioning, and sales monitoring. The Application Store design gives complete control to the operator, opens the door to a new revenue opportunity and provides added entertainment choices to their customers.

The Reference Design Kit (RDK) is a pre-integrated software bundle developed and licensed to create a common framework for powering IP or hybrid Set-Top Boxes and gateway devices for CE manufacturers, system-on-a-chip (SoC) vendors, software developers, system integrators and TV service providers. The RDK was developed to accelerate the deployment of next-generation video services and prevent software fragmentation by providing speed-to-market, collaboration and standardization. Supported by more than 120 licensees, RDK Management, LLC was formed as a joint venture between Comcast Cable and Time Warner Cable to administer the RDK. More information is available at http://www.rdkcentral.com