Alticast at IBC

Alticast’s HDMI Media Express Recognized as 2014 Leading Lights Finalist

Light Reading Recognizes Alticast’s Innovative “Set-top Box on a Stick” Technology

 Alticast, a global partner for the delivery of media entertainment, was selected as a finalist in Light Reading’s Leading Lights 2014 Awards. The company’s HDMI Media Express “set-top box on a stick,” which Alticast recently unveiled at CES 2014, was recognized in the “Best New Product – Cable” category. At a time when the TV industry is increasingly emphasizing “TV Everywhere” services, Alticast’s HDMI Media Express solution represents a new paradigm for multiscreen IP video delivery, either directly from the Cloud or as a client to a home-based gateway.

Alticast’s HDMI Media Express leverages both the Reference Design Kit (RDK), the popular pre-integrated software bundle endorsed by leading cable operators, and Alticast’s HTML5 application framework.  The size and shape of a USB thumb drive, it works in conjunction with a home gateway or the Cloud to enable operators to securely deliver live and on-demand programing to any TV or other HDMI-capable consumer device in the home or on the go. Additionally, its HTML5 Application Framework operates side-by-side with Android, allowing operators to deliver a multi-functional entertainment solution. Advancing to the final round of the prestigious Leading Lights awards program is a recognition of Alticast’s efforts to untether the TV viewing experience and that the industry is choosing technologies that support the shift to “TV Everywhere” experiences.

“Having our HDMI Media Express reach the finals of such an esteemed awards program respected by the global telecom industry shows that the industry is really investing in technologies of all types to expand the TV experience,” said John Carlucci, CTO, Alticast US. “There isn’t going to be one single product or approach to enable a truly ‘TV Everywhere’ experience, but for HDMI Media Express to be considered as a best new product in the cable industry is an obvious nod to the potential of our RDK-based HDMI software solution.”

Light Reading, a highly respected news website that covers the global telecommunications industries, isn’t the only organization to recognize Alticast’s efforts to reinvent multiscreen IP video delivery. Alticast’s HDMI Media Express has also received tremendous interest from several of the top consumer electronics OEMs as well as major cable operators in the U.S. and abroad.

The winners of Light Reading’s Leading Lights Awards will be announced at the Leading Lights awards dinner, which will be held during the first evening of Light Reading’s Big Telecom Event on Tuesday, June 17, at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago.

Widespread Wi-Fi Combined with HDMI Sticks Create the Perfect Recipe to Untether the TV Experience

Watching TV on the go is about to get easier than ever with MSOs looking to dramatically increase the number of Wi-Fi hotspots deployed across the United States. The CableWiFi Alliance, which is made up of leading MSOs, including Comcast, Cablevision, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and Bright House Networks, recently announced that it now offers access to more than 250,000 Wi-Fi hotspots at no additional charge to qualified customers. Comcast also just unveiled its plan to target 8 million Wi-Fi hotspots by the end of 2014 on top of the 1 million already active Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots.

The increasing ubiquity of Wi-Fi is a smart move by operators as they expand their TV Everywhere services – and is an ideal complement to our HDMI Media Express “set-top box on a stick” solution.

The size and shape of a typical USB thumb drive, our HDMI Media Express sticks enable subscribers to untether the viewing experience from the living room TV and enjoy it on any HDMI-enabled device, either via a home gateway or by accessing cloud-based content.  This means that you can take your cable content with you on a business trip to watch on your hotel screen.

Clearly, subscribers want to watch TV anywhere – in both the home and on the go – and it behooves MSOs to utilize multiple methods to ensure that their TV Everywhere services are as everywhere as possible.   HDMI sticks and ubiquitous Wi-Fi are definitely two major enablers of TV that can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime and on any devices. More details about the CableWiFi Alliance’s recent announcement and Comcast’s Wi-Fi hotspots news are available at CED Magazine.

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

HDMI Media Express at CES 2014

Watch John Carlucci, Alticast America CTO, discuss the HDMI Media Express with Fred Dawson from ScreenPlays Magazine at CES 2014.

Alticast: the Future of TV, Simplified

December 18th, 2013- Broomfield, CO-- Alticast, a worldwide leader in interactive television, announced today they will present a variety of All-IP STB solutions including multiple RDK device integrations and a new HDMI stick set-top box at The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), January 7-10 in Las Vegas, Nevada at Venetian Hotel, suites 30-225 and 30-227.

Alticast, a leading provider of fully integrated open standard software solutions including RDK, OCAP and MHP, will show a variety of advanced software for set top boxes and other devices.

The Alticast TV Ready Application Framework in conjunction with RDK provides a versatile high performing solution. The TV Ready User Agent manages operations, provides core TV functionality and allows operators to implement HTML5, Android, and Native UX applications on one STB platform.

For a complete solution Alticast has AltiProtect™ CAS and DRM content protection offerings and an innovative Downloadable and Exchangeable framework for delivering security solutions.

In the suite, Alticast will premiere a new HDMI stick solution, demonstrating a new direction for IP delivery. The HDMI stick can be used as a client with a gateway, or for direct content delivered via cloud based IP delivery. Other innovations to be displayed include Alticast Cloud Based DVR allowing operators to extend their library offering, and the standards-based Alticast Application Store, extending new entertainment choices to consumers.

Alticast will also present a new paradigm for the user with the US premiere of Windmill 2.0. This new user experience design provides a more personalized approach to each viewer in the house, while giving the operator the ability to easily expand services and create new revenue.

The broad array of new and innovative demonstrations at the Alticast suite presents the cable industry with solutions for the savvy next generation cable audiences.

For more information about Alticast's technologies, please visit our website at www.alticast.com.