Video wars in a changing landscape
September 29, 2008 by Robert Briel
The Belgian cable operator Telenet is faced with a very strong opponent, the IPTV service from Belgacom, but still manages to make advanced services such as VOD and the PVR into a profit centre, we learned from Benny Salaets, director media projects at the operator, during the CTAM EUROSUMMIT session “How to win the Video War in a changing landscape”. Read the Story »
Digital TV in Russia: an analysis
September 29, 2008 by Chris Dziadul
Russia is unlikely to escape the debilitating effects of the current global economic crisis. However, it will probably not be as hard hit as the US and Western Europe, and this, in turn, will benefit its digital TV sector.
A report just published by the European Audiovisual Observatory in conjunction with Groteck Co. Ltd, entitled Digital Television in Russia, provides fascinating insights into the sector and Russian TV market in general. One of the first things it points out is that the transition to digital broadcasting, employing the European DVB-T standard, has been given high priority by the government following the approval of a framework for the transition in November 2007. The process will take place from 2008-2015 and cost €10 billion. Read the Story »
Pyne: New Media is not the enemy
September 29, 2008 by Julian Clover
Disney Media Networks president of Global Distribution Benjamin Pyne has said operators should embrace new media and use it as part of their overall strategy. In a presentation at the CTAM EuroSummit in Berlin, Pyne highlighted the role of the web and VOD as part of an overall strategy. A CTAM regular, Pyne first attended meetings in the US back in 1992. Read the Story »
Livestation goes live, again
September 22, 2008 by Julian Clover
The latest in a series of over the top video applications, Livestation is currently gaining traction, due in part to the ability to add your own channels over and above pre-selected partner broadcasters. Read the Story »
Satellite driving HD and digital
September 22, 2008 by Robert Briel
Both Astra and Eutelsat agree that HD is finally taking off in Europe. “After a slow start, satellite HDTV streams have multiplied by a factor of four over the last two years,” said Matteo Altobelli, marketing manager Eutelsat, during an IBC press conference. “A relatively slow start is typical of markets that require several elements to be aligned to take off (e.g. content, TV sets, STBs, SD, production equipment, consumer awareness). In June 2006, there were 34 HD streams on satellite, a year later 51, now there are 135 channels in Europe in HD.” Read the Story »
Boxer reveals unified middleware
September 18, 2008 by Julian Clover
Boxer has confirmed plans to use a single API across all of its territories. As a result, the Swedish terrestrial pay-TV operator will use MHEG-5 in its home market of Sweden and new ventures in Denmark and Ireland. It will also continue to follow the specifications set down by the local standards association Nordig, while Ireland and Denmark will become markets for the Viaccess conditional access system already used in Sweden. Read the Story »
Kangaroo faces further criticism
September 18, 2008 by Julian Clover
Kangaroo is coming under increasing pressure from potential rivals concerned over the potential hold the VOD platform might have on the market. BBC Worldwide, ITV plc and Channel 4 are proposing Kangaroo would offer UK-centred content after the expiry of catch-up TV window. Read the Story »
Peled says opportunities for digital now greater
September 18, 2008 by Julian Clover
NDS President Dr Abe Peled has told an invited audience at IBC 2008 that today’s digital world is more exciting than at any time over the last ten years. Dr Peled said we were living in a much more interesting time than in the early days when the product was expensive and affordable to a few. Read the Story »
Super Hi-Vision attracts IBC crowds
September 17, 2008 by Julian Clover
Super Hi-Vision received its first live transmission at IBC 2008 as delegates packed into the NHK Theatre.
The 7680 x 4320 pixel system is the brainchild of The Broadcast Technology Futures Group, a collaboration between NHK, the BBC, RAI and the EBU. The demonstration involved an IP transmission over optical fibre from City Hall in London and a satellite transmission from Turin, Italy, thanks to the use of two transponders on Eutelsat’s Atlantic Bird satellite (5 degrees East). Read the Story »
Canal+ using Powerline as TV meets internet
September 17, 2008 by Julian Clover
Canal+ CTO Joseph Guegan has given details of the French pay-TV platform’s new hybrid receiver that brings together satellite and IP connections. Speaking at IBC 2008 in Amsterdam, he said what was previously broadband had now become a characteristic of broadcast. Read the Story »
