Alticast, Strategy & Technology and UniSoft Demonstrate Interactive TV Applications for ATSC at NAB 2015

Companies Leverage ATSC to Enable Broadcasters to Deliver new Interactive TV

and Advertising Applications

Alticast, Strategy & Technology (S&T) and UniSoft are partnering to demonstrate how the companies combined technologies enable broadcasters to deliver ATSC Interactive applications by overlaying graphics onto their video content.  This combined tool set and complete framework brings together TV and web technologies to give broadcasters the means to deliver a new generation of iTV services and advanced advertising applications. The demonstration will take place at S&T (N1122) and Alticast’s booth (N1223), April 13-16, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

This joint demonstration takes advantage of the triggers provided in ATSC that enable broadcasters to synchronize applications with programming content.  The demonstration includes an Alticast enabled set-top box (STB) running the company’s TV Ready User Agent (TVRUA), which provides a robust browser and application life cycle control for managing applications.  S&T’s tools insert ATSC triggers into recorded and live content, and Alticast has integrated the ability to recognize these triggers and facilitate the launch of web-based HTML5 applications.  These applications can be delivered from web servers to the screen providing a broadcast solution for interactive TV.

S&T’s new OnScreen Publisher and the Alticast TVPlay application store can be used by application developers to create, manage, monitor and release applications for broadcaster use.  These web-based applications can provide interaction to the viewer, and collect input response so results can be aggregated and reported back to the broadcaster.  Tablet and mobile interactions can also be designed as part of the application.

UniSoft has worked together with S&T and Alticast to produce a complete turnkey solution, which is being made available to the broadcast stations for creating and delivering interactive applications. Reality TV voting, campaign polling and advertising call-to-actions are examples of the types of interactive applications broadcasters could deploy. 

“The new iTV capabilities of ATSC are huge for broadcasters who are eager to offer a more interactive TV experience for viewers and advertisers,” said John Carlucci, President and CTO of Alticast U.S.  “Together with our partners S&T and UniSoft, we are showing broadcasters how our joint solution enables them to take advantage of ATSC to deliver a range of interactive TV and advertising applications.”

“We are delighted to be working with Alticast to bring this demonstration to NAB. The use of OnScreen Publisher and our trigger insertion toolsets has enabled us to provide a compelling demonstration of the interactivity that ATSC makes available to broadcasters,” said Adrian Fowkes, Engineering Director at Strategy & Technology.

"Interactive application on broadcast TV is a great way of enhancing viewing and generating additional revenue for the stations.  It is a pleasure to work with Alticast and S&T on this endeavor, " said Guy Hadland, CTO of UniSoft Corporation.

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.

Major International Deployment of Ultra HD Services Relies on Alticast’s AltiProtect Conditional Access Solution for Security

South Korea’s CJ Hellovision is Latest Service Provider to Launch Ultra HD Services

Alticast, a global partner for the delivery of media entertainment, has been selected to provide the security for the ambitious rollout of Ultra High Definition (Ultra HD) video services by CJ Hellovision, South Korea’s largest cable television operator which now offers both live and on-demand Ultra HD programming to all of its more than 4.3 million subscribers. 

The key to the secure delivery of CJ Hellovision’s Ultra HD programming is the deployment of Alticast’s AltiProtect conditional access system (CAS) using the Alticast Download and Exchange framework (XCAS).  The deployment began in November 2014 when CJ Hellovision rolled out new set-top boxes (STBs) and smart TVs using AltiProtect.  The company is also remotely swapping the legacy CAS on its previously deployed HD STBs to AltiProtect and this process is slated to be complete in April.

“Ensuring the security of our Ultra HD services is a major concern and the reason we selected Alticast to supply the critical conditional access component,” said Hong-Ik Kim, Smart Engineering Team Manager at CJ Hellovision.  “Their AltiProtect CAS not only ensures that our Ultra HD programming is delivered securely, its outstanding performance, interoperability and security allow us to easily expand our multiscreen services to new devices.”

“This deployment of Ultra HD is the latest example of CJ Hellovision’s history of constant innovation and validation of the AltiProtect solution and its capabilities,” said Mansoo Han, Chief Marketing Officer of Alticast.  “Securing content continues to be a critical concern for service providers worldwide as they offer Ultra HD and other services to an ever increasing array of devices inside and outside the home.  Our AltiProtect solution specifically addresses service providers’ most demanding security requirements on both STBs and consumer-owned devices.”

Alticast’s proven AltiProtect CAS solution enables service providers to ensure their programming content is securely delivered and viewed only by authorized subscribers.  Proven in major deployments, AltiProtect is currently installed on millions of STBs deployed by multiple cable operators worldwide and is ideal for both legacy STBs and next-generation devices that are based on either hardware-enabled security (e.g. CableCARD) or non-hardware security.  Complementing AltiProtect is the AltiProtect Downloadable and Exchangeable framework (XCAS), which allows operators to seamlessly and remotely swap CAS systems.  This reduces costs by eliminating truck rolls and preserving investments in legacy STBs while also speeding the introduction of new devices.

About CJ Hellovision

CJ Hellovision is South Korea’s largest multiple systems operator (MSO) and provides its more than 4.3 million subscribers with a full suite of broadband data, voice and video services, including hundreds of channels of live and on-demand programming.  More information is available at http://eng.cjhellovision.com/

DSTAC

In  January, Charter Communications announced the selection of two device suppliers for its "World Box" STB that support downloadable conditional access. Progress is also being made on the government policy level with the initiation of Downloadable Security Technology Advisory Committee or DSTAC. A Second FCC meeting is coming up on March 24, 2015 (assuming no winter storm). The objective for the meeting is shown below.

From FCC web site:

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/03/05/2015-05077/federal-advisory-committee-act-downloadable-security-technology-advisory-committee

"In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this notice advises interested persons that the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC or Commission) Downloadable Security Technology Advisory Committee (DSTAC) will hold a meeting on March 24, 2015. At the meeting, the Current Commercial Requirements Working Group and the Technology and Preferred Architectures Working Group will present their findings, the Advisory Committee will consider establishing more working groups, and the committee will discuss any other topics related to the DSTAC's work that may arise."

Alticast Shows Cable Operators how to use the RDK to Deliver New, Multiscreen Services at Cable Congress 2015

Alticast Demonstrates its Comprehensive RDK-based Solutions and Services

Amsterdam – March 4, 2015 – Alticast, a global partner for the delivery of media entertainment, will show European cable operators attending the upcoming Cable Congress trade show how to take advantage of the Reference Design Kit (RDK) to deliver new services.  The demonstrations will take place throughout the show (March 11-13) at The Square conference center in Brussels, Belgium at stand 17.

“Now that the RDK supports the popular European Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) standard it is far more applicable to the European cable market and Cable Congress is the ideal venue for us to demonstrate the potential of the RDK to operators throughout the continent,” said Tiaan Schutte, Alticast’s President for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).   “As one of the first vendors to get behind the RDK effort, Alticast has built a tremendous amount of experience with the RDK and our comprehensive suite of RDK-based tools and services can enable European cable operators and cable equipment vendors to take maximum advantage of the RDK.”

Alticast’s key Cable Congress 2015 demonstrations will include:

·          Alticast’s RDK solutions which include modular and customizable Application Framework building blocks (TVRUA) and User Interface components (AltiView) that support standard industry interfaces (HbbTV, OIPF, HTML5/CSS, Java Script/DLNA). These optional solutions enable operators to supplement or fulfill the operator platform with all of the components necessary for a robust and versatile RDK solution.

·          Alticast’s collaborative development environment for RDK code integration is a Cloud-based solution that enables system-on-a-chip (SoC) vendors, open software providers, multi-system operator (MSOs) and system integrators to utilize a single workflow and release structure for RDK code development.

·          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.

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