What Operators Need to Know about RDK Development

When Comcast began introducing the Reference Design Kit (RDK) to MSOs, it was mostly the United States market that actively considered it for next generation set-top box (STB) software, but as things progressed, cable operators from around the world began evaluating the RDK as well, hopeful that it would provide the right set of features. 

Click here to read more of this article, written by Alticast's own Mark Johnson:

http://www.cedmagazine.com/articles/2015/02/what-operators-need-to-know-about-rdk-development

Alticast Shows Service Providers how to Simplify the Delivery of New, Multiscreen Services at CABSAT 2015

Alticast Demonstrates Latest Solutions at MENA’s Leading Service Provider Conference

Dubai – February 23, 2015 – Alticast, a global partner for the delivery of media entertainment, will demonstrate how its latest solutions enable satellite, cable, terrestrial and telecommunications providers to simplify the development and delivery of innovative, personalized, multiscreen video experiences at the upcoming CABSAT 2015 show (March 10-12) at Dubai’s World Trade Centre, in stand A7-30, Hall 6.

“Service providers throughout the Middle East are striving to offer their subscribers new compelling viewing experiences and CABSAT 2015 is the perfect venue for Alticast to introduce itself to the MENA market and to demonstrate how our advanced solutions enable them to meet their goals while containing costs,” said Tiaan Schutte, Alticast’s President for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).  “Our solutions overcome the inherent complexity of multiscreen video delivery to truly simplify the deployment of new features, enabling service providers to focus on innovating the viewing experience for their subscribers.”

Alticast’s key CABSAT 2015 demonstrations will include:

·          AltiView 2™, Alticast’s advanced user experience (UX) dynamically presents the UI based on subscribers past viewing behavior and leverages real-time viewing statistics from the total viewing base to highlight trending content. This approach maximizes content discovery while minimizing user interaction, thereby driving content consumption while embracing the traditional lean-back TV viewing experience.

·          Alticast’s Cloud UI application provides a thin client/server model for delivering the user experience to all devices in the home. This architecture reduces demands on the STB processor and memory by pre-processing the UI in the Cloud, enabling cable operators to use ‘thin client’ STBs.  Operators can take advantage of Alticast’s Cloud UI to deploy new user experiences (UX) much quicker. It also provides the opportunity to present a variety of UX in a household, for example a child-based, a sports or a movie experience.

·          Alticast staff will also brief attendees on an end-to-end solution that is comprised of the AltiView 1 fully featured UX, AltiPlatform™ market proven middleware, AltiProtect™ integrated content security and AltiPlex Cloud Services Platform which performs all the ‘heavy-lifting’ for delivering a robust user UX. This package is easily operator branded and includes a broad set of features to select for extending a variety of services to the subscriber.

Media and other parties interested in meeting with Alticast executives at CABSAT 2015 should contact alticast@mobilitypr.com to schedule a time.

The Latest on Life After CableCARD

With the obligation to use the CableCARD security scheme now a thing of the past, the question is: what will replace it? This is the question examined in an article from Light Reading, “Who will own cable’s Content Security?.”

Alticast CTO and President, John Carlucci, was interviewed for this article, which gives insight into the issues with replacing CableCARD with downloadable security for set-top boxes and where the future lies. The FCC are in the process of creating  an advisory board to look into alternative security options and this article is well worth reading by anyone interested in life after CableCARD.  

Bye-bye Cable Show. Hello Internet & Television Expo.

You may have just heard that The Cable Show is being renamed “The Internet & Television Expo” and are scratching your head why the NCTA would drop a name with as much brand equity?

We think it makes sense, and here’s why.

With the demise of The Western Show over a decade ago, the Cable Show took over as the sole “programmers show” and while it’s done an admirable job, the industry landscape has changed – a lot.  As you know, the only significant distribution channels for programmers in the early 2000s were cable and satellite, but today you can add in telcos and much more importantly, OTT has arrived to change the dynamics dramatically.

Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu – you know who they are and what they’re up to.  Beyond relying on cable and other broadband networks to deliver their OTT programming, these virtual MSOs are also producing their own premium content.  “House of Cards” and “Orange is the New Black” have garnered Netflix numerous Emmys and other industry awards more importantly, tremendous name recognition with consumers.

Throw in multi-screen delivery and operators’ ongoing migration to all-IP – and all that it promises – and it’s clear that “The Cable Show” moniker is just too limiting and doesn’t reflect today’s more dynamic video entertainment environment.  Mind you, cable is clearly first among equals in this new environment, but it’s not alone and for a show that’s traditionally been focused on programming, it’s appropriate for the show’s name to reflect the new reality. 

The most timely example of this new reality is HBO’s announcement that it’s going to start delivering its programming direct-to-consumers via OTT in 2015.  At its launch, HBO’s OTT service will be delivered via its partners with broadband networks (principally cable and telco) to tap the increasing number of subs who pass on programming and only want DSL or cable modem services.

So it’s with great affection we say so long to The Cable Show and hello to The Internet & Television Expo.