Envisioning an ‘Awesome’ Future for Pay-TV

With online video viewing and Internet of Things strategies on the rise, which technology giants are best positioned to be at the hub of it all?  We believe that the answer may be the pay-TV operators that already are bringing entertainment and broadband services to the home.

In “Alticast Has a Vision For the Future of TV (And It’s Awesome),” CED Magazine discusses how our AltiView 3 user interface and other capabilities that are on the way can position an oft-overlooked device -- the pay-TV set-top box – at the center of the connected home.

Following up on our compelling demo at CES 2016, the CED piece discusses AltiView 3’s contextual ability to “create a web of interrelated viewing selections” based on previous viewing, preferred genres and even program musical soundtracks.  It also supports the emergence of 4K content for leading operators such as our customer, Videotron.

In addition, the piece explains how we’re working on Wi-Fi capabilities that can make STBs the “single gateway into the connected home,” enabling monitoring of smart appliance, sensor and other devices and creating what our U.S. president and CTO John Carlucci calls a “data storm” that can be monetized by pay-TV operators.

The technology on the horizon is transforming how consumers interact with the myriad of devices in their homes.  We look forward to working with our pay-TV operator partners to ensure that are at the center of that innovation.

Alticast Shows Broadcasters how to Maximize Multiscreen and Cloud Opportunities at NAB 2015

Broadcasters can Simplify the Delivery of New Video Services With Alticast

BROOMFIELD, Colo. – April 6, 2015 – Alticast, a global partner for the delivery of media entertainment, will show attendees of NAB 2015 how its latest solutions can simplify the development and delivery of new, more personalized, multiscreen TV viewing experiences.  The demonstrations will take place at their booth (N1223), April 13 – 16, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“NAB is the perfect venue for us to show broadcasters and content owners how they can take advantage of the Cloud and other new technologies to deliver services to many video consumption devices used by viewers,” said John Carlucci, President and Chief Technical Officer for Alticast North America.  “More and more content is being delivered from the Cloud to a variety of devices via IP and Alticast has the technology to deploy quick, nimble, secure and scalable services adapting to the changing digital media consumer.”

Alticast’s key demonstrations at NAB 2015 will include:

·       The company’s HDMI Media Express ‘set-top box on a stick,’ which represents a new paradigm for IP video delivery with live and on-demand programing being delivered directly from the cloud or in concert with a home gateway. The size and shape of a USB thumb drive, it also provides a TV Everywhere experience with its download-and-go and plug-and-play capability.  Additionally, HDMI Media Express supports HTML5 and Android application delivery due to its leveraging the Reference Design Kit (RDK) and Alticast’s TV Ready User Agent application framework.

·       The new multi-catalog search capability of Alticast’s AltiView 1 user experience (UX), powered by Rovi, allows subscribers to simultaneously search multiple content catalogs from over-the-top (OTT) providers like Netflix, Hulu and YouTube, and select the delivery source.   This allows operators to add services from secondary content catalogs and offer it to their viewers.

·       Alticast’s AltiPlex Cloud Services Platform (CSP) provides a variety of cloud solutions, including back office integration, metadata delivery, big-data support and a number of add-on features. Alticast will be highlighting their Cloud-based Digital Video Recording (DVR) system, which enables cloud-based storage and delivery of content. 

·       A joint demonstration will show broadcasters how to take advantage of ATSC 2.0 to overlay applications onto their video and deliver a new generation of iTV services and advanced advertising applications.  The demonstration includes an Alticast enabled set-top box (STB), providing a robust browser and application life cycle control for managing applications.  Tools from Strategy & Technology (S&T) insert ATSC 2.0 triggers into recorded and live content, and Alticast recognizes these triggers and launches web-based HTML5 applications.  These applications can be delivered from web servers to the screen providing a broadcast solution for interactive TV.

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

AltiView II

Check out this video of AltiView II, Alticast's next generation user experience. AltiView II is a UX design that personalizes entertainment in a unique way by keying in on genres and providing a simpler, yet personalized user experience.

AltiView II lets you spend more time watching and less time surfing.  Combined with smart recommendations, the user can easily discover content and dovetail in applications for an enriching viewer experience.  The architecture behind AltiView II lets operators decide what applications to package and what to charge for, letting them extend services and revenues.

CME Will Use Alticast’s Platform for the New Voyo Player, The Pure IP STB, Connected to its Subscription Video-On-Demand Service

September 23, 2013—Seoul, Korea—Alticast, the leader in interactive TV open standard software solutions, and Central European Media Enterprises (CME) have announced that CME’s subscription video-on-demand service, Voyo, will be available on the new Voyo Player STB that will be powered by Alticast’s OTT STB Platform starting in September 2013 in the Czech Republic. The platform will subsequently be deployed in other CME countries.

CME is deploying AltiPlatform™ and AltiView^TM, which allows the broadcaster to launch pure IP STB throughout CME’s markets. AltiPlatform enables the launch of new services with minimal expense and fast time-to-market, while maintaining full compatibility with existing devices, security and networks. AltiPlatform is based upon open standards and can grow to accommodate new requirements, including HTML5 applications, Microsoft Playready DRM, DASH.

“We are very excited to roll-out this amazing full featured consumer experience,” said Claudiu Paraschiv, Head of Technology, CME. “Consumers first want to watch TV but as the market has evolved the demand for interactive services and content is in demand. Alticast has enabled CME to provide the applications and content desired by our subscribers. They have been a great partner in ensuring that we can satisfy our customers’ needs now and in the future.”

Alticast’s AltiPlatform, is a global leading middleware solution for operators and broadcasters. AltiPlatform is used in over 30 million devices worldwide, including set top boxes, smart TVs, mobile phones and portable embedded devices, Blu-Ray Disc players, and personal computers. AltiPlatform supports HbbTV, HTML5, MHP, OCAP (tru2way), BD-J and ensures support of DTV signaling around the world. It supports terrestrial, satellite and cable and has already been deployed in Europe.

“Alticast is very pleased to work with CME and launch this exciting new experience for CME’s subscribers. Alticast will continue to support and develop the exciting applications that enable it to increase subscriber numbers as well as launch new revenue generating services,” said Thomas Jung, CMO, Alticast.

About CME
CME is a media and entertainment company operating leading businesses in six Central and Eastern European markets with an aggregate population of approximately 50 million people. CME broadcasts television channels in Bulgaria (bTV, bTV Cinema, bTV Comedy, bTV Action, bTV Lady and Ring.bg), Croatia (Nova TV, Doma, Nova World and MiniTV), the Czech Republic (TV Nova, Nova Cinema, Nova Sport, Fanda, Smíchov, Telka and MTV Czech), Romania (PRO TV, PRO TV International, Acasa, Acasa Gold, PRO Cinema, Sport.ro, MTV Romania, PRO TV Chisinau and Acasa Moldova), the Slovak Republic (TV Markíza, Doma,  Dajto and Fooor), Slovenia (POP TV, Kanal A, Brio, Oto and Kino). CME also operates Voyo, the pan-regional video-on-demand service. CME is traded on the NASDAQ and the Prague Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “CETV”.