The UHD Alliance Sets Industry-Wide Standards for 4K Content

The Ultra High Definition Alliance (UHDA), a group made up of nearly 30 industry heavyweights, has been working diligently to develop specifications for 4K products and services that will make UHD programming even more appealing to consumers.

Hanno Basse, the president of the UHD Alliance, says “The Alliance believes that the most compelling next-generation experience delivers 4K resolution, high dynamic range, wide color gamut, high frame rate, immersive audio and other features that create a dramatic new experience for consumers.”  

Knowing that companies like 20^th Century Fox, Netflix and DirecTV are working together to set standards for 4K content, consumers will feel confident in their decision to upgrade to UHD. Based on the fact that worldwide 4K TV sales beat expectations in 2015, and are expected to make up 61 percent of TV sales by 2020, consumers are already recognizing UHD as the “next-generation video standard.”

While UHDA is setting standards on everything from acronyms and feature descriptions to color gamut and audio, cable operators will need to set a standard for the way they deliver this premium content. Alticast offers many cost-effective solutions to ensure that UHD content is secure from piracy and unauthorized use, putting operators’—and consumers’—minds at ease during the transition.   

For more information on the 4K specifications, check out CED’s article here.

Cable Operators Offer New Services Through the Broadband Pipe

Cable operators have learned to maximize the prodigious capacity of their networks to deliver new and unique services to complement their traditional video offering. Based on the growing adoption of their home security services over the last year, operators have clearly made a good business decision.

With security as the smart home’s foundation, operators can further monetize the fat pipe by up-selling additional IoT services. In addition to their high capacity networks, MSOs have a unique advantage as they can leverage the set top box, which could serve as the IoT hub in the future smart home.

Because the smart home is still in its early stages, cable operators have the opportunity to position themselves as leaders in the IoT market— and they are off to a good start. They are already playing a more prominent role in educating current and potential customers about the importance of energy monitoring and automation applications in the home. Read Silbey’s full article on how security services boost MSOs here. 

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"RDK: The Worldwide Route to TV Everywhere?" (Advanced TV)

Alticast's own Tiaan Schutte, President, EMEA, recently had the opportunity to sit down with Nick Snow of Advanced TV and three other executives to discuss the merits and future of RDK.

To watch the multi-part discussion, click here.

Worldwide 4K TV Sales Beat Expectations in 2015

With 4K UHD TVs becoming far more popular than previously forecasted, cable operators are suddenly finding themselves with a growing installed base of “4K-ready” subscribers who are eager to see what the hype is about. According to this article from Broadband Technology Report, “Worldwide 4K TV shipments are expected to grow by 147 percent in 2015, despite an overall two percent fall in TV sales.”

Because 4K TVs are infiltrating the market at a pace faster than anyone could have predicted, it’s crucial that cable operators find the best way to securely deliver this ultra-premium UHD content. While this adds a layer of complexity, Alticast is all too familiar with the ins and outs of end-to-end security, and offers several solutions to the problem.

Industry experts anticipate 4K TV sales to reach 30 million in 2015, promising a bright future for the cable industry and its potential subscribers.