August/September 2015

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pIFC7408-DigTV-Europe_Prism.indd Intelsat AugSep15.indd 1 1 8/27/201502/09/2015 8:37:02 09:59 AM Digital TV Europe August/September 2015 Contents August/September 2015

14. The big picture CLOSE UHDUP ON

With the first 4K channels starting to go live in Europe, Ultra High Definition has become a reality. But, with standards still evolving, what challenges to its adoption still remain? Andy McDonald reports.

pOFC DTVE AugSep15.indd 1 03/09/2015 13:43

24. Open all apps

Pay TV providers are increasingly embracing hybrid delivery and the inclusion of OTT services such as Netflix. But how far down this route do they want to go and what implications do their technology choices carry? Stuart Thomson reports.

32. Mobile broadcast: the sequel

LTE Broadcast is an impressive technology but it opens up more questions than answers, a 24 major one being what is the commercial application for it? Adrian Pennington reports. 32 38. Arriving on air

Multiplatform deployment, fast time to market and flexibility are becoming ever more important for channel providers. Is playout technology keeping up with the demands being made on it? Anna Tobin investigates.

42. IBC 2015: the preview

IBC 2015 will take place at the Rai in Amsterdam from September 10-15. Digital TV Europe previews some of the key technologies on display.

48. Content Innovation Awards: the shortlist

Ahead of the very first Content Innovation Awards event at the Carlton Beach, Cannes on October 4, Digital TV Europe unveils the shortlist across the event’s categories. 38

Regulars

2 This month 4 News digest 50 Technology 54 People 56 Final analysis

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p01 Contents DTVE AugSep15v3st.indd 1 03/09/2015 14:40 This month > Editor’s note Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

Issue no 320 The defining issues Published By: Informa Telecoms & Media Mortimer House 37-41 Mortimer Street IBC approaches, Digital TV Europe this month looks at four key top- London W1T 3JH As ics that will likely be at the top of visitors’ minds. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7017 5000 First, we look at Ultra High-Definition TV, in particular at developments Fax: +44 (0) 20 7017 4953 beyond 4K and the prospects of the industry agreeing a set of standards that Website: www.digitaltveurope.net will define the overall UHD experience for viewers. Is 4K on its own some- thing that will engage viewers or must higher resolution be accompanied by Editor Stuart Thomson the inclusion of HDR and wider colour gamut if UHD is to capture the pub- Tel: +44 (0) 20 7017 5314 lic’s imagination? Email: [email protected] We look at recent case studies of 4K/UHD deployments and assess whether early adopter services are likely to help or harm ultimate adoption of the technology. OTT TV and the ongoing expansion of Netflix internationally has given pay TV operators – Deputy Editor Andy McDonald and in particular cable and IPTV providers – pause for thought. Do they fight the OTT threat or Tel: +44 (0) 20 7017 5293 embrace OTT apps as part of the overall experience they can provide for their subscribers? In this Email: [email protected] issue of Digital TV Europe we look at the emergence of hybrid delivery strategies to provide IP- based OTT content alongside pay TV services. Should operators invest in high-end hybrid CPE Contributing Editor devices – the Horizon or TiVo boxes, RDK or Android-powered devices – and what do they need Stewart Clarke to consider in order to ensure a return on investment? Mobile broadcasting is back on the agenda, with multiple trials of LTE Broadcast technology Contributors over the past year. Vodafone recently tested the technology with Valencia FC in Spain, and other Kate Bulkley, Andy Fry, Adrian Pennington, trials have taken place in Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia and elsewhere. Adam Thomas, Anna Tobin, Jesse Whittock The technology has been talked about as a way of delivering services around live events or even as a replacement for DVB-T. It is certainly seen as a key application for much sought-after, and Correspondents fought-over, 700MHz spectrum. But is this a technology in search of a market? We consider the views of key players. France: Julien Alliot; Germany: Dieter With new distribution requirements continuing to appear, the challenges on broadcasters to Brockmeyer; Italy: Branislav Pekic deliver their content in multiple formats to multiple end points are only becoming greater. Also in this issue, we look at the current requirements being placed on broadcasters’ workflows as Sales Director Patricia Arescy they adapt to the changing nature of content distribution. The growing interest in creating new Tel: +44 (0) 20 7017 5320 channels quickly, including ‘pop-up’ event-based channel and time-shifted channels, and creat- Email: [email protected] ing on-demand assets more quickly and comprehensively from live feeds will also be assessed. To what extent can channel creation, branding and playout now be managed more efficiently Art Director Matthew Humberstone and cost-effectively than was previously the case? Elsewhere, we look ahead to some of the key highlights for IBC and fill you in on the latest Publisher Tim Banham industry and technology news. Finally, in this issue, we unveil the shortlist for the first ever Content Innovation Awards, Printing Wyndeham Grange, West Sussex an event organised by Digital TV Europe in partnership with its sister title TBI, to be held in Cannes on October 4. The awards will honour innovation across all aspects of content creation and distribution. SUBSCRIPTION HOTLINE INFORMA GROUP TEL: +44 (0) 207 017 5533

© 2015 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved Stuart Thomson, Editor Reproduction without permission is prohibited [email protected]

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p02 Ed Note DTVE AugSep15v3am.indd 2 03/09/2015 14:31 THE FUTURE OF TV SIMPLIFIED VISIT Your Partner in Delivering Media Entertainment RAI Hall 1. F36 11-15 SEPT, 2015

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pXX Alticast DTVE AugSep15.indd 1 26/08/2015 16:00 News > digest Digital TV Europe August/September 2015 News digest > 4 Netflix teams up with Vodafone and Softbank > 6 Vivendi reorganises Canal+ management > 8 Fashion One 4K launches > 4 Discovery forms alliance for Russia

Netflix teams up with Vodafone in Spain and Softbank in Japan

By Stuart Thomson on Vodafone’s ultra high-speed standard service from e8.99 & Jesse Whittock > fixed and mobile broadband net- to e9.99. The standard offer works. Vodafone TV customers allows subscriber to access HD Vodafone Spain has signed up will be able to enjoy the Netflix content and view it on two devic- to provide Netflix on its plat- service without having to up- es. Netflix’s other two offers, the form, the first such deal struck date their set-top boxes. Netflix basic ‘Essential’ tier, offering ac- by the streaming video provider will also be available on smart- cess via one device without HD, in the country. phones and tablets. The Netflix and its ‘Premium’, providing Using the Netflix app, Voda- app for those devices will be specific details were revealed. content including 4K video on fone TV homes will be able to available in the app stores. Netflix Japan has also un- up to four devices, remain un- watch Netflix content through Netflix had already an- veiled its pricing. A basic stand- changed, at e7.99 and e11.99 their set-top box. Netflix will be nounced that it would be sold ard definition plan will cost a respectively. In Switzerland, Net- available through Vodafone TV through telecoms operator Soft- monthly ¥650 (e4.80), with a flix raised the price of its stand- when it launches in Spain in Oc- Bank for this month’s Japanese HD version costing ¥950 and ard service from CHF12.90 tober. The Spanish service will launch. The deal with the mo- an ultra-high definition 4K (e11.87) to CHF14.90. be localised, offering a choice of bile phone provider will allow stream costing ¥1,450. The increase currently only subtitles and dubbing. customers to purchase Netflix The company will be up affects new customers, and the Netflix will be available on subscriptions through SoftBank against the likes of Nippon company guaranteed that its Vodafone TV through an app shops, electronics outlets, the TV’s SVoD platform, which it offer to existing subscribers will on the decoder. Viewers will also SoftBank website and call cen- launched after acquiring Hulu remain unchanged for a year. be able to find titles using the tres. Additionally, SoftBank will Japan and SoftBank’s own Uula, In an email to subscribers, search engine or recommenda- pre-install Netflix on its smart- which has a content deal with Netflix said that the hike was tions section of the Vodafone phone handsets. CBS Studios International. necessary to ensure that it can service. According to Netflix, The pair announced at a joint Separately, Netflix in August continue to add new series and Vodafone customers will be press conference in August that raised the price of its service in films to its offering. Netflix has able to enjoy its content in good they would seek to create origi- Europe for new subscribers, up- faced growing competition for quality thanks to distribution nal programming, though no ping the Eurozone price of the rights in key markets.

screen. Proximus customers according to the pubcaster’s Belgium can use the SwipeBox with any new director-general, Delphine Germany brand of television set, any mobile Ernotte-Cunci. In an interview IPTV > Proximus SwipeBox device and any type of Proximus with Le Monde, Ernotte-Cunci said CAB > Mobile launch Proximus (formerly Belgacom) decoder. The device is available that the new channel would do German cable operator Tele has launched SwipeBox, a device for purchase for €59.95. more than “provide information”, Columbus has launched a mobile for ‘swiping’ photos, videos and providing a space to “give voice to phone service, offering mobile music to the TV screen via a different points of view, to clarify voice and data for €19.99 and smartphone or tablet. The device France and decode” the issues of the day. providing flat-rate calls to German allows users to access personal The channel is expected to launch networks. Tele Columbus is pro- videos on a smartphone, photos OTT > News service plan in September next year, and will viding LTE broadband at speeds from Facebook, music from a web France Télévisions plans to launch be distributed via a number of of up to 50Mbps. The operator is radio or holiday snaps stored in a digital news channel, on the web digital channels, according to offering mobile in combination the Proximus Cloud, and share initially, that will have a distinctive Ernotte-Cunci. She said she was with its existing fixed-line double them, via the SwipeBox , with remit and content from existing studying “several possibilities” for and triple-play packages dubbed friends and family on the TV commercial news channels, other distribution. 2er Kombi and 3er Kombi. Mobile

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p04-06,08,10 DTVE News DigestAugSep15v2st.indd 4 03/09/2015 14:25 Digital TV Europe News > digest August/September 2015

services will start at €19.99 on top on-year: BroadbandTV was up the operator’s TV Go mobile TV our business and our future.” of these, with an additional €4.99 84%, StyleHaul was up 112% and offering. The latter can be used Commenting on the rebrand, UPC charged on top for users who re- SpotXchange was up 90%. Catch- without impacting users’ data Ireland CEO Magnus Ternsjö said quire an additional data allowance up services, websites and MCNs allowance. Users can also access “the Virgin brand is famous for its of 1GB. Tele Columbus has teamed attracted 42.5 billion online views the Moziklub movies on-demand entrepreneurial spirit in delivering up with low-cost provider Drillisch in the first half, up 171%. RTL service either at home or on the more for customers” and that to offer the service, a move ini- estimated that net TV ad markets go within Hungary. Discounts are the renamed UPC Ireland plans tially announced in May. Drillisch were up in Germany, France and available on equipment required to build “even further on all our offers mobile services using the Spain, while the Netherlands, to receive the TV service, and innovation and achievements to Telefónica O2 network. Belgium and Hungary remained Magyar Telekom is also making date.” UPC Ireland confirmed that “challenging”. All RTL units except a version of the service available all operations, products and ser- PROG > Digital boost for RTL M6 Group outperformed in their to business customers. Deutsche vices will move to the new Virgin Digital growth has boosted RTL respective territories. Telekom is also making the Media brand with further details Group’s figures for the first half of Magenta1 offering available via to be announced “in due course.” this year, despite a mixed picture its subsidiaries in Slovakia and The move comes after Liberty on the advertising front. The Hungary Romania. Global bought UK operator Virgin group saw digital revenues rise Media in 2013, with UPC Ireland by 94% to €219 million. Overall IPTV > Convergent offering becoming part of the Virgin Media revenue was €2.788 billion, up Deutsche Telekom-owned Magyar Ireland UK subsidiary in December 2014. 3.8%, and EBITDA was €628 mil- Telekom has launched a new con- Virgin Media CEO Tom Mockridge lion, up 2.6%. The companies of verged offering combining fixed CAB > UPC becomes VM described the rebrand as a “step the RTL Digital Hub – RTL Group’s and mobile broadband, communi- Liberty Global-owned UPC Ireland change” for UPC Ireland. “We recently acquired digital business- cation and TV services. The opera- has confirmed plans to adopt the have some exciting plans in the es BroadbandTV, StyleHaul and tor’s Magenta1 package includes Virgin Media brand, in a move pipeline to step up competition SpotXchange – continued to show residential services along with that the head of Irish operator for consumers which we will an- strong revenue growth year- a post-paid mobile service and described as “a big investment in nounce in due course,” he said.

p04-06,08,10 DTVE News DigestAugSep15v2st.indd 5 03/09/2015 14:25 News > digest Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

Events Italy Luxembourg Poland

IBC 2015 SAT > Mediaset encrypts SAT > Fine Living HD on M7 SAT > Cyfrowy Polsat up Date: September 11-15 2015 Mediaset has chosen to encrypt Pay TV operator M7 Group has Cyfrowy Polsat saw its revenue Venue: RAI, Amsterdam, The its free-to-air channels Canale 5, extended its existing agreement grow by 6% on a like-for-like Netherlands Italia 1 and Rete 4, having failed to with channel provider Scripps basis in the first half of the year W: www.ibc.org strike a deal with pay TV operator Networks UK & EMEA for the to PLN838 million (e197 million). Sky to pay for retransmission of European launch of the latter’s Including Metelem Group – the Nordic Media Summit the services. Mediaset said that Fine Living HD channel on its holding company of mobile group Date: September 24 2015 in the absence of a deal with Sky, platforms. Fine Living HD will be Polkomtel – which was fully con- Venue: Grilleriet, Copenhagen, it had no choice but to encrypt made available to M7 Group’s solidated in the 2Q results for the Denmark the services, which will continue pay Skylink platforms in the first time, revenues amounted to W: nordicmediasummit.com to be available via the country’s Czech Republic and Slovakia, PLN2.469 billion. Cyfrowy Polsat digital-terrestrial platform and via Canal Digitaal in the Netherlands had 4.375 million post-paid pay MIPCOM 2015 free satellite service TivùSat. The and TV Vlaanderen in Flanders. TV customers at the end of June, Date: October 5-8 2015 move follows the recent battle M7 Platform Services will also up 2.8% year on year. While Venue: Palais des Festivals, between Mediaset’s pay TV unit arrange for the satellite delivery the number of post-paid mobile Cannes, France Mediaset Premium and Sky over of Fine Living HD to third-party customers fell by 1.9% to 6.519 W: www.mipcom.com European football rights, and a operators within the footprint of million, the number of internet decision by regulator ACGOM Astra 3B at 23.5° East. This in- customers rose dramatically by CDN World Summit 2015 that Sky should pay public cludes providing smartcards and 32.1% year on year to 1.483 mil- Date: October 6-7 2015 broadcaster Rai to retransmit its CI modules, monitoring and help lion. EBITDA excluding Metelem Venue: Radisson Blu Portman channels. desk support to the operators. rose by 9.7% to PLN306 million. Hotel, London, UK W: contentdeliveryworld.com Vivendi reorganises Canal+ management Broadband World Forum Date: October 20-22 2015 By Stuart Thomson > Bolloré: ture comes after the French Venue: ExCeL, London, UK taking press reported this week that W: broadbandworldforum.com Vivendi chairman Vincent Bol- supervisory Bolloré was planning to make loré has become chairman of board chair- significant changes to the or- Digital TV CEE the Canal+ Group supervisory man role at ganisation of Canal+ in an effort Date: October 27-28 2015 board as part of a wider manage- Canal+. to more closely integrate the pay Venue: Warsaw, Poland ment restructure at the French TV operator with Vivendi. W: digitaltvcee.com pay TV operator . Separately, Vivendi is in talks NC+ CEO Julien Verley said Canal+’s parent company to buy a minority stake in the TV Connect MENA and Bolloré Média chairman Vivendi in a statement. “He has soon-to-be merged Banijay and Date: November 2-3 2015 Jean-Christophe Thiery also been responsible for the com- Zodiak production and distribu- Venue: Jumeira Beach Hotel, join the Canal+ board at part of pany’s spectacular recovery and tion group. Dubai, UAE the restructure, with Thiery be- its transformation into the larg- Vivendi confirmed that it is W: mena.tvconnectevent.com coming chairman of the Canal+ est French media group, with in exclusive talks to buy into Group management board. leading positions in television to the new company. In a note DISCOP Africa Canal+’s recently appointed and film. Bertrand Meheut will in its 1H15 financial results, Date: November 4-8 2015 CEO, Maxime Saada, continues remain as special advisor to Vin- the Canal+ French media firm Venue: Sandton Convention in this role, but current pres- cent Bolloré on the significant said: “Vivendi has entered into Centre, Johannesburg, South ident of Canal+’s board, Ber- transformation that Vivendi exclusive negotiations to be- Africa trand Méheut will relinquish wants to achieve with Canal+ come a minority partner in the W: www.discopafrica.com his position after more than a Group.” international group that will be decade in charge. The Canal+ Group Manage- created as a result of the merger TV Connect Africa 2015 “The Supervisory Board wish- ment Board is now made up of between Banijay and Zodiak.” Date: November 17-19 2015 es to warmly thank Bertrand Jean-Christophe Thiery, Max- Vivendi reported 1H15 rev- Venue: Cape Town Convention Meheut for his outstanding ime Saada, Grégoire Castaing enues of €5.1 billion, 8.3% Centre, Cape Town, South Africa work at the helm of Canal+ and Julien Verley. up year-on-year. EBITA profit W: africa.tvconnectevent.com Group for the last 13 years,” Confirmation of the restruc- was €516 million, up 13.4%.

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p04-06,08,10 DTVE News DigestAugSep15v2st.indd 6 03/09/2015 14:25 Q&A: Matt Smith, Anvato

Matt Smith, chief evangelist at Anvato, talks about the challenges and opportunities facing broadcasters in developing OTT services.

What are the main technical and commercial challenges facing What do broadcasters and TV operators need to put in place to content owners as they address growing demand for on-demand maximise the value and usefulness of advertising around content? viewing? Will on-demand and targeted advertising substitute a longer-term The main challenges in recent years have involved mitigation of decline in linear ad viewing? the various legacy streaming formats. Many programmers and I don’t believe that this is something that is “put in place”, per se, but rather broadcasters had to wrestle with a Chinese menu of formats: from a value proposition presented to the viewer. If a viewer is watching a Smooth Streaming to Flash, HLS to HDS. These acronyms created stream and receives an inserted ad for the coffee shop right around the not only confusion and frustration, but also drove up cost in terms corner from them as they exit the tube station, they will see the value in of storage and delivery. Today’s HLS (and MPEG-DASH) driven world having a more relevant ad delivered to them. Taken one step further, if means that content owners can offer one format to reach every screen this same ad were also supplemented with an overlay ad that could be and be able to monetize through ad insertion or subscription with a tapped to download or save a coupon for a discount on their next coffee, simplicity and ease that was impossible until recently. an ideal ad experience has been achieved. The infrastructure is in place to deliver this today – we just need a better connection between the ad What do broadcasters and other content rights holders need to put world, content world and technology providers. in place to ensure that they can meet demand for video-on-demand and multiscreen viewing alongside linear channels? What challenges do content owners face in delivering TV everywhere Ideally, not more infrastructure. Some solutions on the market today services and how can this be done in a way that makes economic provide the rights holder with the ability to turn a live channel (and the sense? programming therein) into on-demand assets within seconds of an The largest challenges lie in trying to connect disparate components in episode’s airing. That means no secondary workflow to generate files search of a complete solution. Recognizing where ad breaks are present for VOD consumption. In the event that the content is back catalog in live content isn’t trivial and there is a complex orchestration that must and not necessarily airing on a channel today, much of this same take place “behind the curtain.” Therefore, a more cohesive, end-to-end infrastructure can be used to process on-demand content alongside approach that incorporates all the features and functionality necessary to the live channel. provide a TV Everywhere/OTT experience without issue or failure is a trend that is rapidly emerging. How significant an impact is the move to on-demand having on the channel providers’ business model and what needs to be done to What is Anvato planning to highlight at this year’s IBC and why? create sufficient revenue from non-linear viewing to offset this? First and foremost, we will be helping existing and prospective While on-demand consumption numbers outpace live linear broadcast customers to think about OTT and TV Everywhere as a profit center and viewing overall, we cannot discount the value and immediacy of live not a cost center. That means taking advantage of monetization and ad content. One of the more compelling trends today is the ability to replacement opportunities around their content from Day One. We’ll take a live event that has been delivered over the top and mark the also show our Live-To-VOD bridge, a feature that makes a live event a fully boundaries of the event or episode, as well as the start and end of each marked asset (to include commercial breaks) available within seconds of ad pod, as the live event happens. Why is this useful? When the live airing. Lastly, we’re seeing increasing interest in a “single stop” approach event is completed, the archived asset can be made available within to OTT where we help power not only the entire video supply chain, seconds so that the on-demand asset can have ads played/replaced, but also help with the user-facing functions, where we provide some representing new and incremental ad revenue for the content customers with an application as well. Bring your programming and go. provider. Subscription revenue is also playing a role with this content, but dynamic ad insertion (DAI) seems to be an early and significant Anvato will exhibit at stand 14.L20 at IBC 2015. For more information driver. contact [email protected].

p07 Anvato Q&A AugSep15v2st.indd 1 02/09/2015 17:56 News > digest Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

including mobile phone and internet Global Wrap Portugal but excluding modem-delivered South Africa mobile broadband – accelerated dur- Amazon Prime Instant Video CAB > ‘5x-play’ growth ing the second half of last year and OTT > Netflix rival launches is to launch in Japan, putting The number of multi-play packages have now been supplemented by the South African SVoD platform it in direct competition with taken by Portuguese consumers bundling of additional broadband ShowMax has launched with streaming rival Netflix. The reached 3.1 million at the end of services, according to the regulator. “more than a year’s continuous Amazon Prime delivery service June, up 2.6% on the previous Triple-play packages account for viewing” for customers and is already in operation in the quarter and 12.7% year-on-year, with about 1.3 million subscribers, while claims it “changes the game” for territory, but to this point it take up of ‘quintuple-play’ pack- quintuple-play services account on-demand in the country. The has not distributed its SVoD ages growing fastest, according to for 1.1 million, with double-play pay Naspers-backed service will have service there.The video service regulator Anacom. The number of TV and landline phone services complete box-sets of HBO shows launches this month, with Netf- quintuple play packages – or pack- accounting for 336,000 subscribers. and a catalogue of more than lix available from September 2. ages including fixed phone, fixed Altice Group/Portugal Telecom had a 10,000 hours from major studios Half of US internet homes now broadband, pay TV, mobile phone 51.4% share of the bundled product and local African content, and will own a connected TV device, and internet, and modem-based mo- market by revenue at the end of be offered on smart devices with such as a games console, bile broadband – grew by 5.5% in the the second quarter, followed by Nos internet connections, including streaming media player or quarter and by 99% year-on-year with a 32.2% share. Altice also led in phones, iOS and Android tablet smart TV, according to NPD Triple-play packages, accounting for terms of mutliplay subscribers, with apps, web browsers, connected Group. The new research claims 42.5% of all multi-play packages, a 48.8% share, followed by Nos with TVs and computers. Customers that the smart TV industry is declined by 0.9% in the quarter and 38.8% and Vodafone with 12.4%. will be offered a seven-day free a “primary driver” of growth by 14% year-on-year as subscribers Altice led in the double-, triple and trial, with the monthly rate priced and that the total number of upgraded to offers including mobile. quintuple-play categories, while Nos at ZAR99 that allows access from US homes with a connected Growth of quad-play packages – led in the quad-play category. five different devices. TV device is now 46 million, a four million home increase from Q2 2014. NBC Universal has Fashion One 4K channel launches globally invested US$200 million (e178 million) in news and viral media By Andy McDonald > Fashion It will be broadcast in North site Buzzfeed, with the compa- One claims America on the SES-3 satel- nies due to explore “strategic Fashion One Television has to have an lite at 103° West, across South partnerships” in the coming launched what it claims to be extensive America on the NSS-806 sat- months. Commenting on the the world’s first global Ultra library of ellite at 47.5° West, and in Eu- deal, NBCU CEO Steve Burke HD channel dedicated to fash- Ultra HD rope via SES’s prime orbital said that Buzzfeed is “among ion and entertainment in part- content. position at 19.2° East. the most creative, popular and nership with satellite operators In the Asia Pacific, Middle influential new media players” SES and Measat. content rights”, with Fashion East, Australia and East Afri- and uses technology, data and The free-to-air Fashion One One Television’s chief oper- can regions the channel will “superior editorial abilities” 4K channel has gone live ations officer, Gleb Livshits have an estimated reach of 130 to create and share content. across North America, South claiming the firm has “invested million households on Mea- NBC Universal has also made America and Europe via SES’s heavily in producing Ultra HD sat-3a at 91.5 degrees East. a US$200 million investment satellites, and across Asia Pa- content over the last two years.” “Now Ultra HD is a reality in Vox Media – the parent of cific, the Middle East, Australia “Together with SES, our for millions of viewers world- digital brands like tech site The and East Africa via Malaysian long-time partner, we are com- wide, with the first global Verge, news site Vox.com and satellite operator Mseasat. mitted to leading the industry broadcast channel launching sports site SB Nation. The pro- The channel launches and providing our audiences on SES satellites. There is no portion of TVs connected to the worldwide as Fashion One 4K, with the highest quality con- better way to broadcast Ultra web will climb from just 4.5% and in Europe as Fashion 4K, tent,” said Livshits. HD than over satellite and we at the end of 2010 to 29.9% with the rollout coming after SES claims the 4K chan- are delighted that Fashion One by 2020, according to Digital Fashion One began upgrading nel will have a technical reach is also relying on our exper- TV Research. The report says its production format from HD of 100 million households tise for the playout, encoding that the number of connected to Ultra HD in 2014. across North America, 23 mil- and uplinking of their Ultra TV sets will reach 876 million Fashion One 4K now claims lion households across South HD channel,” said Ferdinand by 2020, up from 415 million to own an “extensive library of America and 116 million Kayser, chief commercial of- this year. Ultra HD content with 100% households in Europe. ficer at SES.

Visit us at www.digitaltveurope.net 8

p04-06,08,10 DTVE News DigestAugSep15v2st.indd 8 03/09/2015 14:25 Expect More. AMOS Satellites.

Meet us at More Coverage. More Throughput. More Services. IBC September 11-15, 2015 Across the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. Amsterdam Hall 1, Booth C.65

Spacecom’s AMOS satellite constellation, consisting of AMOS-2 and AMOS-3 co-located at 4°W, AMOS-4 at 65°E and AMOS-5 at 17°E provides high-quality broadcast and communications services across Europe, Africa, Russia, Asia and the Middle East. With the upcoming launch of AMOS-6, Spacecom is expanding its coverage over Europe and Africa. The result: greater capacity, high-throughput Ka multibeam capabilities and affordable end-to-end satellite services. Spacecom. Expect More. EXPECT MORE

www.amos-spacecom.com

p09 Spacecom DTVE AugSep15.indd 1 02/09/2015 10:02 News > digest Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

its Prime Instant Video services features include a new recommen- miss. MTM surveyed 70 households Switzerland in the UK, Germany and Austria, dation service called More Like This, nationally, of which 22 said they as well as the US, where it made enabling viewers to click on the yel- would prefer to pay nothing and not IPTV > TV 2.0 growth content available on the Samsung low button to be served suggestions receive the BBC and 24 said they Swisscom had signed up 564,000 SUHD range of TVs in June. In the based on a single title selected, would be willing to pay less than the customers to its TV 2.0 service by UK, Amazon will debut its original while Watchlist enables viewers to current licence fee for the current the end of June, up 258,000 in the series Mozart in the Jungle and the create personalised lists of movies BBC. Twenty-two of the surveyed first half of the year. The compa- pilot of soon to launch Red Oaks in using the green button. households said they would be will- ny had a total of 1.238 million TV the HDR format. Amazon Prime ing to pay the licence fee or more customers at the end of the second members will be able to watch HDR PROG > Licence fee support to continue to receive services. All quarter, up 13.5% year-on-year, content via the Amazon Video app Households that either would like members of each household agreed and up 73,000 in the first half of on Samsung SUHD TVs. to be exempted from paying the UK to forgo BBC access across all this year. Fixed fee subscriptions licence fee and not receive BBC ser- platforms for nine days. Apps and accounted for 1.09 million of these. SAT > Sky debuts restart TV vices, or who would like to pay a re- websites were removed or blocked, The majority of TV 2.0 subscribers Sky has added restart, recommen- duced fee, are likely to change their TV channels locked, and pre-set upgraded from a previous Swiss- dation and other features to its Sky minds if deprived of the pubcaster’s radio stations changed. At the end com offering. Swisscom said that Movies service for Sky+ customers. content, according to a study of the period, the survey found that the growth in TV and broadband The Watch from Start feature, carried out by MTM for the broad- of the 48 households who originally connections more than offset the which is already available in Italy, caster. The BBC commissioned said they would prefer to not pay at company’s decline in fixed line will enable viewers who missed the the survey to understand what all and not receive the BBC, or who customers. Broadband subscribers start of a movie to watch it from the households that said they would wanted to pay a lower licence fee, numbered 1.922 million, up 3.6%, beginning by clicking on the green forgo the BBC or who thought the 33 changed their minds and said while fixed-line customers fell button on their remote control and licence fee was too high valued they were now willing to pay the full by 4.7% to 2.697 million. Swiss- downloading the film. Other new and what, if anything, they would licence fee for the BBC. com posted overall revenues of CHF5.758 billion (e5.3 billion) for the first half, up 1% and EBITDA of Discovery forms alliance for Russian distribution CHF2.133 billion, down 2.2%. By Andy McDonald > Kieli: Russia The news comes after Russia remains an amended its law on mass me- UK Discovery Communications will important dia at the end of last year that continue to distribute its pay TV market to will limit foreign ownership of OTT > Amazon downloads portfolio in Russia and will de- Discovery. media companies in Russia to Amazon Prime Instant Video will velop a regional free-to-air chan- 20%, down from the current allow customers to download nel, thanks to a new alliance that limit of 50%. This will apply to movies and TV series, making it the keeps it in line with media laws. both existing and future foreign only major subscription streaming Discovery has signed an “Russia remains an impor- ownership and comes into ef- service to offer such an option. agreement with Russia’s Na- tant market and we are confi- fect on January 1, 2016. Amazon subs in the US, UK and tional Media Group to form a dent that this deal will allow us National Media Group claims Germany with access to iOS and limited liability company, called to continue our growth there,” to be one of the largest private Android platforms will be able to Media Alliance, which will dis- said Kieli. media holdings in Russia. It download content at no additional tribute its portfolio of 11 pay TV Olga Paskina, senior vice was established in February charge to the monthly subscription channels across Russia. These president and country manager 2008 by merging media assets fee. The move, effectively allowing include factual channels Discov- of Discovery Networks, North belonging to AB Russia, A.A customers to bank content and ery Channel and Animal Planet, East Europe said: “With this ar- Mordashov, Surgutneftegas and access it offline, gives Amazon a lifestyle channel TLC, as well as rangement, Discovery will keep the Sogas Insurance Group. key point of difference to streaming sports network Eurosport. providing Russian citizens with Completion of the Media rivals such as Hulu and Netflix. Kasia Kieli, president and the scientific, educational and Alliance deal is expected in the Customers with Amazon Fire managing director, Discovery factual content that we have coming weeks, subject to cus- platforms are already able to watch Networks central and eastern broadcast for 17 years.” tomary closing conditions in- content offline. Separately, Amazon Europe, Middle East and Africa Paskina will take the position cluding regulatory approval. Prime Instant Video is to make its said that the agreement to form of Media Alliance general direc- Separately, Discovery World original content available in the Media Alliance is part of its strat- tor in addition to her responsi- in Russia has changed to Dis- High Dynamic Range (HDR) format egy to extend its reach across “all bilities for Discovery’s opera- covery Turbo Xtra (DTX), ad- in Europe for the first time. categories and platforms.” tions across North East Europe. dressing a male audience. Amazon is launching HDR TV on

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p04-06,08,10 DTVE News DigestAugSep15v2st.indd 10 03/09/2015 14:25 Q&A: Charles Dawes, Rovi Charles Dawes, senior director international marketing, Rovi, talks about the importance of search and recommendation to pay TV

What challenges do pay TV operators and others face as they attempt How is metadata best used to deliver meaningful recommendations to to provide unified search and recommendation, bringing content users? What advantages and disadvantages are associated with different together from multiple sources including OTT? methodologies? We are witnessing more and more Pay-TV operators embrace content There are two types of metadata involved when giving recommendations from multiple sources. This can include linear, all types of VOD and to customers. There is the traditional programme specific metadata that has content that is stored on the customer’s DVR. We’re also increasingly acted as the backbone of content discovery. At Rovi we consider this to be seeing OTT sources being included in products, as consumers look ‘static’ information as our editorial teams will create this data and it will remain to discover content in the most seamless way possible. Therefore the largely unchanged but it would be used to drive, for instance, content to operator, along with their suppliers, needs to be able to build a product content recommendations based on a field like Genre or Actor. that provides a consistent window into the whole range of content. There is also a new type of data that has emerged as the world has moved This can be more challenging than it sounds, as for instance you could to rely on semantic, graph-based systems for search and discovery. Systems, need to match up multiple ID spaces and adhere to the business rules of like our entertainment focused Rovi Knowledge Graph, allow us to have a the operator. Consumers don’t want to have a set of search results that more dynamic set of associations between content where relevancy and returns the same film three times because it’s on TV, VOD and an OTT relationship, both between the content items and how they relate to the service because this is not an optimal experience. Likewise, an operator real world, are crucially important in providing a set of unique and relevant may want to underline the value of their VOD offer by showing content recommendations to the consumer based on their context as well as their that is already included in a consumer’s package by pushing it to the top relationship to the content. of the list when available from multiple sources. What new developments can we expect in the area of content discovery To what extent can the user interface and the associated consumer and what impact could they have on the Pay-TV and free TV businesses? experience serve as the key differentiator for Pay-TV operators rather One area that we project will really take off in content discovery is around than, say, exclusive content or the number of channels they provide? what we call ‘conversational interfaces’. This is where you use your voice as Exclusive content will always be a potential differentiator for Pay-TV, the primary means of input but when taken to the next level it facilitates a be this access to a specific sports league or latest TV series. However, conversation that builds the content discovery experience. Microsoft’s recent the user experience itself is also a factor that can really help to make a launch of Windows 10 and the availability of Cortana, along with other service stand out from the crowd. For example, our Fan TV interface is intelligent digital assistants like Siri and Google Now are helping to introduce designed around the user and uses innovative input methods that are this exciting technology into the mainstream. more aligned to how we swipe on our smartphones in contrast with the When put into an entertainment discovery experience, this has the ability old fashioned cable remote. Having a user experience that entertains and to transform something that was traditionally limited to typing in a title one delights customers, whilst enabling them to find and enjoy content as character at a time, to being able to build out very complex sets of search quickly and simply as possible is paramount in today’s marketplace. queries. Take, for example, ‘Show me some James Bond films’, which is followed up with ‘How about the older ones without Roger Moore?’’ These queries are How much difference is there in approach to content discovery complex and require a conversational system that understands the nuances between Pay-TV providers, free-to-air platforms and smart TV and of the natural language used and the context of the previous query. other consumer electronics providers? What are the main points of distinction? What is Rovi highlighting at this year’s IBC and why? Over the last few years, this is an area that has become increasingly This year at IBC, we’ve moved to Hall 14, which features the IBC Content converged as the user experience has become more engaging and Everywhere Hub. We’ll be demonstrating a range of products that help our more visual in nature. Clearly one of the differences between the types customers facilitate the entertainment discovery experience. This includes of platforms is the breadth and depth of the content that is available our entertainment metadata that covers over 70 countries across TV, Video, and the consumer’s expectation about how much information is music, games and books. We’ll also be showcasing our patented Knowledge provided. For example, Free-to-Air platforms used to be driven by cheap Graph that turns metadata into dynamic metadata which takes detailed hardware that displayed a basic set of DVB information delivered with the relationships between content items into account and reacts to changing broadcast stream. This is no longer the minimum standard and as devices influences in the outside world. The Rovi Knowledge Graph powers our have become internet connected the expectation is that the content Search, Recommendation and Conversation services to deliver highly accurate discovery experience is ‘Google-like’ – i.e. fast, ubiquitous and relevant – and personalised results. Our award winning Fan TV user experience that is independent of whether you are a Pay-TV, FTA or OTT customer. available to operators to deploy their next generation service, will also be there.

p11 Rovi Q&A AugSep15v2st.indd 1 02/09/2015 17:58 p12 TiVo DTVE AugSep15.indd 1 02/09/2015 10:05 TiVo Logo Lockup | 4C Blue

Q&A: David Sandford, TiVo

David Sandford, TiVo vice-president and general manager, International, talks about the company’s recent acquisitions and the evolution of advanced TV services. TiVO will exhibit at IBC on stand 5.B48.

How have TiVo’s acquisitions over the last year or so – Digitalsmiths What are pay TV operators looking for from advanced user interfaces and Cubiware – enhanced your ability to serve customers and how is this likely to evolve? internationally? We see operators focused on four key criteria in evaluating a user interface: TiVo’s acquisitions have enhanced our ability to serve international (1) a modern, visually rich presentation, (2) simplicity and ease of use, (3) operators by expanding the breadth of TiVo’s best of breed technology flexibility to refine usability or to incorporate new features and technologies, as well as significantly growing the portfolio of solutions TiVo can and (4) support for a seamless mobile experience. provide to our customers. The growth in mobile consumption and the proliferation of CE The acquisition of Digitalsmiths has augmented TiVo’s capabilities devices capable of supporting operator content has already impacted in search, discovery and analytics, and has allowed us to deliver the user interaction with TV services. Increasingly consumers interact with most comprehensive video discovery platform that improves viewer content from multiple devices – for example, command and control may engagement and increases customer ARPU. Our recent acquisition of increasingly be performed from mobile devices. Within the home, content Cubiware has added to our ability to target a range of affordable set- can be streamed from a gateway or the cloud to devices that may present tops with a highly portable and performant software platform. a simplified user interface focused on consumption only. Finally, we expect The acquisitions have also increased our flexibility to serve the to see increased use of voice technology to interact with operator services. needs of a range of international operators. TiVo continues to offer the most advanced whole-home and multi-screen television solutions What role can TiVo play in enabling pay TV operators to differentiate encompassing set-top clients, mobile applications and cloud services. their offerings? TiVo’s expanded product offerings allow us to service the needs of Over the last few years TiVo has helped our operator partners differentiate operators that may require different solutions, whether it be a video their offerings through rapid innovation in consumer services, from the discovery solution or more advanced functionality. TiVo can now integration of OTT, to whole home PVR and multi-screen capabilities, to address a broader range of markets and operator needs. broadband applications. We continue to invest heavily in new innovation as a product company that provides a direct to consumer service – we’re driven How do you see hybrid TV platforms – for example combining cable by the same market forces as our partners. We help operators differentiate broadcast with IP delivery of OTT and on-demand content – evolving themselves and succeed in a chaotic environment, and create mechanisms and what role can TiVo play in facilitating that evolution? with which they can address the demands of their customers. Our solution Since our first integration of Amazon OTT services in 2009, TiVo has is particularly important for operators in three key ways: (1) It highlights the been at the forefront of delivering hybrid TV solutions combining entire vast library of content, including Linear, Operator VOD, TV everywhere, linear broadcast, on-demand and OTT content sources. Our operator web video, and OTT SVOD; (2) The library is personally curated for each customers were also the first to be able to offer Netflix alongside their subscriber; (3) The constantly updated results are presented to a subscriber own video services. TiVo has focused on providing consumers with one each time they interact with our solution on any device. user experience and one remote for all their content options. Operators are increasingly embracing this same goal while leveraging OTT What types of services are operators finding most in demand from technologies as well as third party applications to increase the choices subscribers now and which are likely to gain popularity in the future? they can offer their subscribers and reducing their delivery costs. Without question one of the most important capabilities has been in the TiVo continues to invest in providing the underlying technology area of mobile content consumption – the ability to stream or download foundation for hybrid TV delivery – providing software configuration content to portable devices both inside and outside the home. TiVo has to support either QAM or IPTV/FTTH support for linear and VOD supported the growth of mobile content solutions by giving operators services, as well as supporting all the leading DRMs and streaming the ability to experiment with mobile-only options for different devices, formats for OTT content. More importantly, TiVo enables the operator allowing them to reach new audiences and markets. to provide a much more compelling offering than simply integrating Moving forward, subscribers will continue to demand the ability to watch disparate third party streaming applications. We integrate all the their content whenever and wherever they want and to find that content content sources and present them with a single search and discovery across multiple platforms. Operators are in a unique position to bring value experience, such that for any given program the consumer can choose here as they occupy the primary input to the television and often are the from all the sources available and launch directly into watching it from incumbent broadband provider. We are still in the early days of advanced their favourite provider. In this way, operators have a differentiated television, but we’re beginning to see potential new services arise out of the experience relative to typical television streaming devices. proliferation of “connected” devices and in the internet of things.

p13 TiVo Q&A AugSep15v2st.indd 1 02/09/2015 18:05 Technology focus > Ultra High Definition TV Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

The big picture With the first 4K channels starting to go live in Europe, Ultra High Definition has become a reality. But, with standards still evolving, what challenges to its adoption still remain? Andy McDonald reports.

the first 4K TV broadcast iterate or wait to launch a more comprehensive the product of around 19 months of trials. With channels starting to appear UHD offering that promises to truly dazzle “This was never driven by a competitive across Europe, and high profile online players the consumer. With various industry bodies edge, but by our wish to be able to bring live including Netflix and Amazon backing the all trying to define what the future of UHD sports to the customer in a more immersive technology, higher resolutions are no longer should entail, there are also further risks of way,” says Hindhaugh. “The Champions confined to trade shows and technology trials. fragmentation, consumer confusion and League was obviously a great springboard, 4K TV sales are tipped to rise in the coming device upgrades for the market to navigate. because all eyes are on us because of that years and prices are already coming down, fantastic set of rights that we’ve got. But it was putting us at the beginning of the Ultra High- always about how you could showcase sport in Definition (UHD) revolution. Market moves this fantastic, immersive format from a range However, while DVB’s UHD-1 Phase 1 of the portfolio that we have.” standard, which is widely being followed by In August, UK operator BT launched Europe’s Hindhaugh describes BT’s Infinity fibre the industry, offers a step-change from HD first live sports Ultra HD channel, marking a broadband infrastructure, its TV platform in terms of resolution, it does not currently significant milestone in the deployment of 4K and its sports rights as a “perfect storm” for incorporate other Ultra HD technologies like technology. BT Sport Ultra HD is broadcast launching a UHD channel. Starting from wide colour gamut and High Dynamic Range. over IP to a new UHD-compatible YouView the 2015/16 season, BT has exclusive live UK This leaves operators and broadcasters with set-top box and was, according to Jamie TV rights to all Champions League football the difficult question of whether to launch and Hindhaugh, chief operations officer, BT Sport, matches as part of a £897 million (€1.07

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p14-15,18,20 UHDTV DTVE AugSep15v4am.indd 14 02/09/2015 19:21 Digital TV Europe Technology focus > Ultra High Definition TV August/September 2015

BT launched its BT Sport Ultra HD channel in what Wrede claims was “Sky Deutschland’s the UK in August. first Ultra HD live production [test] beyond the soccer field.” movies will be of interest as more people capture in native 4K.” He says BT is also “in discussions with Netflix about enabling their Technological evolution 4K content to our box”. With BT now in the market, the signs are In July, Sky in Germany signed a new deal already there that a host of new UHD channels with satellite operator SES, leasing more will start to come on air in the coming months. capacity on Astra at 19.2° East for Ultra High In July, German shopping channel Pearl.tv Definition broadcasts. Though the firm has announced it will start broadcasting in Ultra not announced an Ultra HD service launch, it High Definition via satellite and the web this has been trialling UHD internally since early September, in what it claims will be a first for 2012 – primarily around live football. a European free-to-air channel. SES Platform Stefan Kunz, vice-president of business Services is due to provide HEVC encoding and distribution services at Sky Deutschland, of the UHD live signal, uplink to the Astra says that while sharper picture quality and satellites at the orbital position 19.2° East, and more pixels are attractive propositions for internet streaming. consumers, they are not the only interesting Pearl.tv is not the only UHD channel due factors related to UHD. to launch soon via SES. In its July earnings “More important for us are the new announcement, the satellite operator said it functionalities that are coming along with had has signed client agreements for three UHD, which are of course High Dynamic new UHD channels in Europe. Range (HDR) to increase the full colour space Thomas Wrede, SES’s vice-president, of the picture itself, [and] also wide colour reception systems, says “the first wave” gamut,” says Kunz. He pinpoints HDR, which of UHD channel launches via SES is due Sky Germany is currently testing, as “the most to start this autumn. “In terms of what’s interesting one for us at the moment” but happening and the uptake, it’s similar to what says: “I think for us to launch all factors are happened with HD ten or 11 years ago,” he important.” says, predicting that private broadcasters or “The goal is to convince the customers specialist channels with an enthusiasm for right from the beginning. That’s why we the technology will help lead the way, followed need a composition of many new features next year by the pay operators. Wrede draws a which are visible to customers, including also parallel between broadcasters like Pearl.tv, and audio enhancements,” he says. “We are still early adaptors of HD in 2003 and 2004 like in a testing phase and we are trying to find Belgian network Euro1080. the right set-up and we also need to give the SES itself has helped to spur interest in market some time to develop functionalities.” billion) three-year deal, and will air matches UHD with three Ultra HD demo channels As Ericsson points out in its ‘Understanding in the higher resolution format, along with currently broadcasting over its 19.2° East Ultra High Definition Television’ white paper, domestic football and sports like rugby, squash orbital position with content designed to published earlier this year, HDR is currently and MotoGP. highlight viewing experience of Ultra HD the “front-runner as the next enhancement” Hinting at BT’s wider aspirations in in terms of detail, colour and movement – for UHD, with HDR displays having the the UHD space, Hindhaugh says that the featuring city scene footage from Chicago, ability to look sharper than a standard dynamic operator has already experimented producing Paris and Luxembourg. The satellite operator range display at the same resolution. sports-themed content in 4K – such as the has also partnered on a number of live UHD “In theory, some HD TV content with HDR documentary One Day in May: The Story of broadcast trials in recent years. appears to be subjectively ‘sharper’ than 4K The Bradford City Fire. He says that by using These include a collaboration with Samsung TV without HDR,” says Ericsson, adding that the “halo effect” of a large-audience UHD Germany to transmit coverage of the US rock modern digital cameras are able to capture a Premier League game, BT will start scheduling band Linkin Park’s concert from the O2 World much wider dynamic range than is currently docs and other content captured in 4K off the arena in Berlin in November 2014, encoded used in TV transmissions. back of that. in 10-bit HEVC/H.265 in 4K resolution at 50 The problem relating to HDR is that this While Hindhaugh says that UHD is part of frames per-second (fps). SES also partnered technology is not included as part of the “the wider strategy for BT Sport to be seen as with Sky Deutschland last December to do a DVB’s UHD-1 Phase 1 specification. The DVB a credible and innovative broadcaster,” he adds live UHD broadcast of a concert by German (Digital Video Broadcasting organisation) that across BT’s wider portfolio “obviously hip-hop group Die Fantastischen Vier – in – a global industry-led consortium of over

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p14-15,18,20 UHDTV DTVE AugSep15v4am.indd 15 02/09/2015 19:21 SECURING THE CONNECTED FUTURE

The world of video is becoming more connected. And next- generation video service providers are delivering new connected services based on software and IP technologies.

Now imagine a globally interconnected revenue security platform. A cloud- based engine that can optimize system performance, proactively detect threats and decrease operational costs.

Discover how Verimatrix is defining the future of pay-TV revenue security.

www.verimatrix.com/verspective

Visit us at IBC 2015 RAI Amsterdam • Booth # 4.A59

p16 Verimatrix AugSep15.indd 1 02/09/2015 10:14 Q&A: Steve Christian, Verimatrix Steve Christian, senior vice president, Verimatrix, talks about the use of data to improve revenue security.

How can user data and analysis help pay TV operators improve the extension to this thought process is the field of offensive security measures. efficiency of their networks and improve revenue security? Offensive security extends the proactive stance and has been gathering Pay TV operators constantly strive to improve the quality of experience for momentum as a model. It includes pre-emptively upgrading or changing their customers. More detailed subscriber behaviour and usage visibility is security to make a pirate’s objectives harder to achieve, monitoring the essential to reaching this goal. The analytics component increasingly relies market for pirated content, gathering information about would-be on a ‘big data’ approach with computing resources and extra customer hackers, and anticipating trends. data from outside the operator’s network. In-house expertise, data capture capability and computing infrastructure of all but the largest operators will What challenges do operators face in delivering content to multiple not be able to scale to deliver the promise of analytics, which can help to devices and what solutions, if any, are on hand to help overcome these? answer questions like: what is a given piece of studio content worth to an As consumers demand support for more devices to access their preferred operator? What value does a given operator add to a studio’s distribution OTT services, complexity seems likely to increase further, with operators strategy? How can consumption patterns drive the best-informed required to support multiple streaming formats and DRM schemes native recommendation engines? Which audience segmentation provides the to browsers and device families. The situation is predicted to get worse at most value to advertisers and programmers? least over the next two to three years, but fortunately to reduce the impact of this complexity operators can partner with specialist revenue security How can revenue security technology help operators gather and analyse providers such as Verimatrix – our MultiRights solution, for example, data? helps operators provide their users with a common experience that is Analytics relies on data from multiple sources including the end device, the transparent to the network or device platform, without any arbitrary delivery network, and headend, as well as key service components such as restrictions. content security. Over the next few years, all broadband and video service providers will have to deploy analytics effectively to remain competitive What key threats are raised by the distribution of UHD content over the and this means they must tackle the associated issues that arise. web, and what do operators need to prioritise to minimize the risk? Privacy and security are two of the biggest topics to consider because Because it is much higher quality, UHD content offers greater scope for some of the data feeding the analytics can be considered sensitive – and pirates to copy, even just by camcording, and then redistributing over the because the more data that is accumulated, the more operators have to Internet. To minimize this risk, content owners need to take a three-pillared consider the implications of breach or loss. Verimatrix is well placed to approach to revenue security. These pillars reinforce each other and when meet these challenges through our Verspective™ Intelligence Center, an combined provide a strong security platform for UHD content, whether innovative cloud-based engine designed specifically for pay-TV system live or on-demand and however it is delivered. The whole is greater than deployment, management, monitoring and analytics, with the objective the sum of the three parts in isolation. of optimizing performance and reducing operational expenses across the These three pillars include: (1) Hardware-based security; (2) Trusted whole video delivery infrastructure. Through Verspective, Verimatrix can software security; (3) Forensic watermarking. provide an additional layer of data that operators and their monitoring The approach represents a shift away from client-based towards server systems are otherwise unable to obtain. Because of our ‘preferred real side security, which is easier to manage and harder to compromise. It also estate’ in the network and devices, our revenue security solutions provide adds multiple layers of protection via a “moat and castle” approach that us with a unique capability to gather data. This means that by working with means the whole system does not collapse just when a single component partners we can give operators a secure and, yet comprehensive, analytics is compromised. But it does rely on the whole being greater than the sum capability. of its part with each reinforcing each other, just as a castle moat is harder for invaders to cross if defenders are firing arrows from behind the walls. As the world becomes increasingly connected, what new content security threats are emerging and how can pay TV operators combat these? What will be the main highlights of Verimatrix’s presence at IBC? In the pay-TV environment, a wholly defensive security posture has We have several exciting announcements in the works for IBC, including traditionally been the norm. However, now it is common that devices, the launch of our new Verspective™ Analytics suite of services that such as set-top boxes (STBs), are connected to the Internet inside the leverages the inherent power in globally interconnected instances of home. Subscribers also expect to have their TV services available on mobile VCAS™ to aggregate data, and help operators harness the power of devices, which are connected to more generic cellular and broadband detailed yet secure, subscriber behavior and usage visibility. We will also distribution networks. It is clear now that management of physical security be hosting our fourth annual Multi-network Solutions in the Real World alone is an insufficient approach, and even trying to architect a highly Forum on Saturday 12 Sept. from 8:00 – 9:30 hrs. at the RAI. This year’s isolated network environment has its limitations. It is the nature of the theme, “Creating Connected Video Experiences with IP,” will highlight case environment that any defensive walls will always be under attack, and studies where operators are leveraging the latest in IP and software-based these attacks must be proactively addressed in order to eliminate the technologies to deliver a more engaging experience for consumers. To threats they pose. At the very least, this requires active management—an register for the Forum, visit www.multinetworkforum.com/ibc2015

pXX Verimatrix Q&A AugSep15v2st.indd 1 03/09/2015 14:37 Technology focus > Ultra High Definition TV Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

200 broadcasters, manufacturers, network if you’re just talking resolution – not talking because it will delineate something more than operators, software developers and regulators– HDR and all the other things,” says Turner. that.” is due to tackle higher dynamic range, a wider Turner claims that the UHD Alliance’s new colour gamut, frames rates of 100/120 per logo will make it “very clear to consumers” second and deeper bit sampling depths – Fragmentation risks that a device is capable of delivering a next- in its second phase specification. However, generation viewing experience without having there is, at the time of going to press, no exact The ‘problem’ relating to the lack of agreed to go into the detail behind colour standards or rollout date for Phase 2, with current estimates standards for technologies like HDR and brightness levels. “Your Average Joe consumer suggesting 2017 or later. colour gamut helped to spur the launch of the who doesn’t need to know what a wider colour DVB’s UHD-1 Phase 1, which is where UHD Alliance at the Consumer Electronics gamut really means can comfortably go ‘this is the one that has been badged by someone as being a premium product’.” “We need more than just [high] resolution to Though the logic seems sound, in reality the UHD Alliance is just one of a number make a step-change in quality beyond High of bodies working on UHD standards – Definition.” leading, ironically, to the possibility of further fragmentation and market confusion. The Ultra HD Forum is a separate US- Simon Gauntlett, DTG based body designed to bring together “market leaders from every part of the industry”, while the industry stands right now,. stipulates Show in January. the Forum for Advanced Media in Europe 3840x2160 resolution, which is four times the With an aim of creating a “seamless, (FAME) – a an initiative led by the EBU and spatial resolution of 1080i HD and sets down integrated and high-quality Ultra-HD Digital Interoperability Forum (DIF), a group maximum frame rates of 50/60fps, compared ecosystem”, this powerful coalition of representing pay TV operators on technology to 25/30fps for HDTV. Hollywood studios, consumer electronics matters – also aims to plot a course for the Technicolor’s vice president of partnership makers, content distributors and technology UHDTV rollout in Europe. relations and business development, Mark companies including Technicolor, LG Simon Gauntlett is chief technology officer Turner, claims that HDR and a wider colour Electronics, Panasonic, Sharp, The Walt Disney for the UK-based Digital TV Group (DTG), gamut are the two factors that are “truly Studios, and Warner Bros. Entertainment. an industry association for digital television impactful for almost all content.” The alliance aims to create its own broader that was responsible for launching the UK “High frame rates are very appealing in one standard for Ultra High Definition by the UHD Forum back in 2013 – a group that category of content, and that’s sports…. 120 fps end of the year. “The branding is yet to be works hand-in-hand with the FAME and other sports content would be incredibly life-like, a finished, but it will be called something else to European standardisation bodies. great experience. But on the movie side, there delineate the difference between [UHD and] “It’s difficult to have a single body. What we has been a general apathy about high frame- just resolution,” says Turner. “The CEA has did with HD was each European territory had rate content, because it just doesn’t look like a defined the logo that means resolution – it’s their own HD forum and they all met under a movie any more,” he says. 4K Ultra HD – so it has to be different to that European HD forum. We do a similar thing Turner agrees that resolution needs to be combined with the likes of HDR and colour gamut to “move into this new world” of UHD, and claims that the price premium for 4K resolution alone has not yet been proven and may not justify the “three-or-four times increase in bandwidth” needed to deliver 4K content. “I think in Europe at least, next summer is going to be a crucial one with the Euro 2016 [football] championships. There will be a lot of people that will want to pile in and get a 4K service launched [by] then, just to appeal to that one event, so we expect a big uptick there in very premium sports and movie channels. But I think there is a law of diminishing returns,

Technicolor is a founding member of the UHD Alliance, which launched at CES this year.

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p14-15,18,20 UHDTV DTVE AugSep15v4am.indd 18 02/09/2015 19:21 pXX RSCC DTVE AugSep15.indd 1 28/08/2015 20:16 Technology focus > Ultra High Definition TV Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

in Europe now where we run the UK’s UHD some opportunities to consider how much Bird 4K1, was launched in 2013, broadcasting Forum. France and Germany and others variation you’re going to see in the standard at 25 frames per second, before later switching have similar forums and we meet under an and to cater for that,” Thexton claims, citing to the “significantly better and more accepted organisation called FAME where we try to co- over-the-top providers that deliver UHD quality” 50fps, explains Eutelsat’s director of ordinate a European view on where things are content through a VoD model, which is commercial development and marketing, going,” he says. different from the multicast broadcast model Markus Fritz. SPI International has been Gauntlett claims that while the industry in that it only delivers video that is suitable for previewing its first native Ultra HD content on generally agrees that “we need more than just a given device. the Hot Bird 4K1 channel, and will launch its resolution to make a step-change in the quality Thexton says that a few years ago own 4K FunBox UHD commercial network beyond HD”, consumers are already being consumers and industry-watchers may have via Eutelsat’s Hot Bird satellite this autumn – sold 4K TVs, meaning there are now issues been surprised that over-the-top providers marking the first commercial UHD channel surrounding how you handle the devices that like Netflix and Amazon Instant Video, would to do so. are already in the market. be leading the push towards 4K – with each Fritz claims that having done focus group “Some people, like BT are starting with now investing in original UHD productions. tests in Germany, France, Poland, Turkey, 4K resolution-only services that don’t have “It would have sounded contradictory because Ukraine and the UK, the feedback it got the colour or the dynamic range or the high everybody expected the content quality and was that “there is a recognisable difference frame rates,” says Gauntlett, pointing to BT’s the quality of video to be rather poor. Now the between HD and Ultra HD” in today’s DVB 50fps deployment, which, though in line with situation has completely flipped in the other UHD-1 Phase 1 standard. He claims a phased approach to UHD deployment is simply “the philosophy of how you create markets” and “BT Sport Ultra HD was driven by our should not stunt uptake. Similar to Apple’s frequent update cycle for the iPhone, Fritz says wish to be able to bring live sports to the that “as long as the market accepts the tangible customer in a more immersive way.” value increase, there is a justification not to wait [before upgrading]”. “We expect HD to become the de facto Jamie Hindhaugh, BT Sport standard definition in a few years time. As such, Ultra HD will become the HD of the DVB UHD-1 Phase 1 specification, is “not direction, but the reality is that it’s still costly tomorrow,” says Fritz. what we would regard as high frame rate”. for them to deliver,” he says. SES’s Wrede agrees. Though he claims Gauntlett says that discussions are ongoing With industry hype historically being something in the order of 10 UHD channels about what the right “recipe” should be for centred on cable and satellite as likely to have or above by the end of next year may be quality that is above HD. “There are a lot of the best opportunities for UHD, Thexton says realistic, he says: “I think Ultra HD over time commercial pressures to deliver this change that BT’s deployment of a UHD, broadcast IP will replace HD, or will be the new HD. The soon, but equally you have to have a balanced service may even now be surprising to some – real factors that could hamper the fast take-up decision as to what are the benefits,” he says. even though the investment on BT’s side has is if channels would start in a not good enough “Obviously the longer you wait, the better been “absolutely colossal”. quality.” the technology becomes and the more you “I don’t know if a few years ago people would YouView’s Thexton says he believes that can potentially do. But you’ve got to strike a have predicted that the first UK real service for the trend towards UHD is “irreversible,” even balance between affordable and available, and 4K for broadcast would have actually been though it may take “a number of years” to build when the commercial time is right to launch a happening over IPTV infrastructure. The point up the volume of UHD channels. “I think it’s service with what is technically possible.” is that all of the elements coming together has an unstoppable, but relatively slow-moving made it quite a suitable infrastructure to do force, in the market [as] the replacement cycles this,” says Thexton. happen,” he says. Future prospects While BT customers need to have BT Recent IHS research claims that shipments Infinity fibre speeds of 44Mbps or higher to of 4K TV panels will reach a record 40 million YouView’s chief technology officer Nick receive its new Ultra HD Sport service, the units in 2015, up 108% compared to last year. Thexton doesn’t believe it is an issue that company estimates that it still has a substantial The research firm predicts that 20% of all TV components such as frame rate and colour addressable market. A representative for the panels that will ship in 2016 will be 4K panels gamut are still to be locked down to a common company claims that BT has roughly three – thanks to a trend towards higher resolutions standard. “I don’t think this is unusual. I million Infinity customers and that around in the high-end TV segment and better think it’s the normal shakeout that happens 80% will be able to receive the service. production efficiency among panel makers. at the start of a new standard emerging in the Elsewhere, satellite operator Eutelsat, UHD uptake has already started and looks market,” he says. like SES, is gearing up for its first Ultra HD only set to climb. But what form the Ultra HD “I think the one good thing about digital launches having launched two UHD demo standard will take in years to come is still to infrastructure is it genuinely does give you channels of its own. The first of these, Hot be seen. l

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p14-15,18,20 UHDTV DTVE AugSep15v4am.indd 20 02/09/2015 19:21 Digital TV Mag. Full Page Ad 21 x 29.7 cm

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pXX Arabsat DTVE AugSep15.indd 1 26/08/2015 11:50 TUNING IN TURNING ON TO 1°WEST

Reaching close to 18 million TV homes and broadcasting over 750 digital TV channels, 1°West has established itself as the no.1 spot for broadcasters and DTH operators throughout Europe. Visit us at IBC 2015 Hall 1 stand A59

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pXX Telenor DTVE AugSep15.indd 1 26/08/2015 11:52 Q&A: Lars Janols, Telenor Satellite Broadcasting Lars Janols, head of strategy and business development at Telenor Satellite Broadcasting talks about THOR 7 and the CEE DTH market.

What can THOR 7 offer to broadcasters in the central and eastern mistaken. There has been a lot about increased reach to new customer European region and beyond, and how much successes have you had groups and complimentary services in your bouquet, but with more and with the satellite since the satellite entered commercial operation in June? more operators now having the same wide portfolio, we are back at the With THOR 7 we can now offer much awaited growth capacity to our basis of actually competing on product level. This means that operators DTH and broadcast customers at 1°West, targeting the Central and need to constantly develop their competitive position with new Eastern European region, specifically, the Czech Republic, Hungary, attractive satellite services and to work on the efficiency of operations. Romania and Slovakia –countries whom already have large subscriber There has been an increased interest amongst the 1°West community to bases at 1°West and are eager for growth capacity. further develop the concept of sharing the cost of satellite services, and More capacity on 1°West will also allow us and our customers to with THOR 7, we are well equipped to further support this development. expand into nearby markets- there is much interest to draw synergies from the existing 1°West channel line-up. What impact is growth in demand for non-linear, on-demand TV A number of transponders will be commercialized during the autumn, having on DTH and how far do you expect the DTH market in CEE to but at this time I am not in a position to disclose customer names. evolve around a hybrid model? It puts pressure on the business models and thereby the need to What are the prospects for growth DTH in Central and Eastern improve in efficiency, but also on the quality of product development. Europe and what markets offer the most compelling prospects? The impact varies from country to country and in speed, largely due to Our main priority is to support customers at 1West in their business the state of the ground infrastructure, which in many countries also is development. a matter of city vs district. No doubt the development is in direction of Top of the agenda now is the launch of further HD channels and the product blends from a technical and commercial perspective. It also migration from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4. Technology migration will require triggers development on the content side, specifically the interest in additional capacity within the transition phases, and longer term we live events, and notably sports. To be able to monetize on the rising expect growth in capacity demand from today’s levels due to the rights cost for these events, you need reach, and satellite television is increase in number of HD services. Slovakia and Czech broadcasters a very important distribution channel in Central and Eastern Europe, are front runners in this respect, with a clear direction for the phase and will continue to be for many years. out SD (standard definition) services, and we think they will set the standards in the region, with more countries to follow. What further plans do you have to develop the 1° West orbital Furthermore, we are forward leaning in addressing new markets, both position and your other orbital slots? by ourselves and in partnership with our DTH customers. The powerful We are always working on a number of projects, but the nature of such footprints of THOR 5, THOR 6 and THOR 7, offer a good basis for growth projects is that I cannot reveal anything specific, other than to confirm in the whole Central and Eastern European region. that we are pursuing a number of routes with the intention to grow our satellite-based business in the broadcast and maritime areas. What types of operators are typically looking to launch or expand THOR 7 provides us a good basis to develop 1°West in a very DTH across the region? To what extent is satellite primarily seen as important region to Telenor, and it will certainly keep us busy for some complementary to fixed networks and used to extend operators’ time to come, to which we are very much looking forward to. reach? I think we have seen the peak of telecom operators launching new DTH platforms in Central and Eastern Europe, although I would happily be Telenor Satellite Broadcasting will exhibit at IBC on stand 1.A59

p23 Telenor Satellite Q&A AugSep15V2ST.indd 1 02/09/2015 18:04 Technology focus > Hybrid platforms Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

Pay TV providers are increasingly embracing hybrid delivery and the inclusion of OTT services such as Netflix. But how far down this route do they want to go and what implications do their technology choices carry? Stuart Thomson reports. Open all apps TV operators – at least in Europe based on-demand and catch-up services. The steps being taken towards migration to Pay – are increasingly being driven Not everyone is convinced of the merits of IP delivery by DVB-based pay TV broadcasters by the popularity of services including Netflix providing access to Netflix on their set-top – particularly cable operators – are well to provide IP-based OTT content alongside boxes. However, a significant number of documented. Operators are progressively legacy MPEG broadcast services. cable and telecom service providers are of moving towards all-IP headends, and towards Most advanced pay TV broadcasters are the opinion that the more popular content delivering video in IP as close as possible to looking to develop hybrid platforms that they offer to their customers – from whatever the edge of their networks. However, taking combine linear broadcast channels with IP- source – the better. IP-based video, including OTT services, all

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p24-26,30 Hybrid TV DTVE AugSep15v4st.indd 24 02/09/2015 19:18 Digital TV Europe Technology focus > Hybrid platforms August/September 2015

Operators such as Com Hem have embraced “We are curators of the customer with selected services rather than have a OTT services including Netflix. experience. We make the billing and discovery bewildering mass of icons on the screen.” of content simple and provide a one-stop For Gunatillaka, OTT is “complementary – the way to end users has implications for shop. From a user-experience perspective, it’s and that is why we are happy to include it”. the design and functionality of set-top boxes. important to have a single user interface as a In the case of Netflix, he says, the operator Cable operators such as Liberty Global-owned prime point of discovery for content but also has taken the approach of providing access to Virgin Media, and Com Hem with TiVo, have have the flexibility to enable them to go into a the full Netflix experience but also integrating deployed hybrid boxes that allow them to full screen environment,” he says. “We have Netflix content into its own search tools. continue to support legacy DVB broadcast an app-enabled platform. We have YouTube “Netflix is an impressive service not just in delivery alongside new IP-based services, on the platform and users can enable a full- terms of content but the elegance of its UI. As including the likes of Netflix and YouTube. screen experience for that. However, we a one-stop shop we have integrated that app In setting off on this path, operators have are the curator, and it’s about helping the but the beauty of our search functionality is taken steps to migrate from older middlewares consumer find the best content. We partner you can find something from Netflix [on our that supported limited interactive TV services to more advanced technologies, including the RDK platform promoted by Comcast and Content providers and the free-to-air Google’s Android TV system, as well as the likes of TiVo. While content providers’ most obvious route the cost of over-the-air spectrum is rising. The to deliver services to TV viewers is to pair ‘hybridisation’ of DTT also enables existing up with pay TV operators, there are other broadcasters and OTT content providers Perfect platform choices, such as delivering content to a free- alike to supplement their own channels with to-air audience equipped with hybrid devices. Red Button services including restart TV, According to Asanga Gunatillaka, chief Tom Cape, Arqiva’s director of connected something Arqiva will highlight at IBC. product officer at Swedish cable operator Com solutions, says that content providers are “If you look at the EPG listing, the top Hem, TiVo provides the “perfect platform” increasingly using connected digital-terrestrial channels will probably always remain for advanced services and “provides both platforms, such as Freeview in the UK, to reach broadcast-based. However, OTT channels technology and market-leading expertise” consumers direct with OTT services that are will move up from the bottom and – what I that Com Hem, as an operator, can leverage. integrated into the Freeview EPG. hope will happen – we will extend the EPG “Some of the things operators need to “People can buy services on top of [free TV] downwards with more content to make it think about include not just technology but as a value add. It works really well against a richer,” says Cape. what they are getting in terms of product big bundle approach that costs the earth and Content providers can also reach viewers features. A lot of the technologies out there forces people to pay for stuff they don’t want,” through smart TV portals. However, in the are really operating systems and you have to says Cape. While buying broadcast spectrum words of Luke Gaydon, vice-president of develop functionality on top,” he says. requires scale, piggy-backing on a broadcast media, EMEA at online video specialist Gunatillaka gives the example of mobile platform allows niche-interest content Brightcove, “the smart TV ecosystem is pretty multiscreen delivery as an area where the providers to reach a large audience while only complicated”, with a need to build apps for use of TiVo’s platform has enabled it to get paying for the bandwidth they need. specific TV manufacturers. More popular are services up and running quickly and enabled “Content providers have struggled in connected devices such as Roku and Apple TV, it to avoid long and costly integration efforts. the past to reach the scale they need to get which “represent quite a straightforward way “TiVo has integrated mobile multiscreen, onto pay TV platforms, but now they have an of delivering content to the TV”. allowing customers to set a recording or use opportunity to get on cost-effectively,” says A standard such as HbbTV, on the other hand, their iPad as a virtual remote,” he says. Cape. The OTT route provides for the use of can enable broadcasters to develop services One of the key questions facing operators simple, flexible payment models. that will work across a wider range of TV sets. that have developed hybrid and IP delivery is Arqiva enables content partners to reach a Brightcove is working with broadcasters in the how far to open up their platform – whether Freeview audience via the internet, providing UK on HbbTV 2.0-compliant services for the to form partnerships with a limited number them with an individual EPG listing. forthcoming Freeview Play service. of high-profile providers such as Netflix, or For Cape, the hybrid model is only likely While there are variations in implementation, open up to a much wider range of OTT apps. to grow in popularity, not only because it HbbTV does hold out the promise to OTT of For Gunatillaka, developing a hybrid provides a way for niche content to reach a delivering a rich user experience on a mass- platform is about enabling customers to do wider audience but because pay TV providers, market platform. “There are definitely limits additional things. It is not a substitute for being under pressure from consumers to on the UI if you go via smart TV portals, and cable’s role as an aggregator and packager of provide more à la carte options, are losing broadcasters and other distributors would like content and custodian of the user experience. interest in subsidising smaller channels as part to have more control and ownership of the UI He stops short of endorsing the view that pay of a big bundle. On top of that, the economics – because that is the window to their business TV providers should simply act as storefronts of IP delivery mean that costs are falling, while – to their content,” says Gaydon. for others’ content and services.

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p24-26,30 Hybrid TV DTVE AugSep15v4st.indd 25 02/09/2015 19:18 Technology focus > Hybrid platforms Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

platform], and then launch the Netflix app,” launched the Cisco-supplied Horizon TV your investment in the set-tops.” he says. “Our preference is to focus on our platform in various western European This is an important aspect for operators core UI and we will then look at things on a countries, has turned to RDK for its latest that are deploying set-tops that sit on their case-by-case basis. Netflix offered a very good Horizon launch in Poland. (Vodafone-owned balance sheet, putting money on the table in discovery experience and we were happy to Kabel Deutschland has also licensed the RDK the expectation that the sale of content will have that on board.” software for its own advanced TV plans). provide a predictable return on investment. In general, says Gunatillaka, operators will “The RDK platform has a number of For Hahn, cable’s migration to IP is continue to play the role of content aggregator benefits because RDK was built [on the something that will happen in stages. He as well as differentiating their service through initiative of] an operator and not a technology points out that, in the case of RDK, DVB the user experience. “We need to bring on provider. They put in ideas and concepts that technology is used simply to deliver video the best content but at the same time deliver they had in mind as an operator,” says Peter rather than accompanying metadata. the best discovery experience,” he says. “Our Hahn, director of product management, “Cable operators are thinking of going focus has been on broadband for the last 18 Seachange, which has been closely involved pure IP – definitely with metadata and as IP months, which has paid off. The work we have with and aligned to the RDK project. “A lot of delivery becomes more affordable they will go done has given us an all-time high customer these are around three elements – innovation, that way for video,” he says. base but we have also seen a high rate of TiVo flexibility and quick time to market, and growth – from zero to a third of the base. TV control. Control is very important for a lot is very much at the heart of the business and of operators so that they…can make their Open source options underpinned by strong broadband growth. decisions and define where they want to go You need to be a leader in both.” in the future. They want to control the UI, While cable operators started in TV and Gunatillaka says that Com Hem’s TiVo box because that is very important and going added broadband and telecom services to is “not just a box but a multiscreen service forward will be the part of the service that their portfolio later, telecom operators see TV – the box is what you have in the home but differentiates the operator most. They also as a way of boosting and reinforcing their core the experience is also about multiscreen want control over the future of the platform offering of broadband. As such, they have apps. We have the set-top in the home and – the way it evolves, which elements will be been more open to Android and less fearful cloud-based delivery of content to iPads and supported technically and control of the costs of giving up too much ground to Google smartphones”. that will be associated with these platforms.” than a cable operator may be. However, not every telecom operator views the world the same way, and some are looking at alternative “Some of the things operators need to think strategies, with select very large players even looking to RDK as the best option. about include not just technology but what Android for TV has two variants – the full- they are getting in term of product features.” fat Android TV platform, certified by Google, which includes access to the Google Play store and integration with Chromecast and Asanga Gunatillaka, ComHem the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), whereby Google makes most (but not all) He says that the box still has a central role Because RDK only deals with the basic of the elements of the Android source code to play. “Consumer premises equipment is elements, says Hahn, operators are able to available royalty-free to third parties to develop a great way of ensuring a robust TV services retain flexibility and room to innovate at their own proprietary devices and services. In that customers frankly expect, especially on the application layer. Most operator UIs are the AOSP approach, Google is not providing the main TV,” he says. “Over time more and built using HTML5 and content apps can be its services such as its store, Chromecast and more things may be app-centric but there is deployed on top of this. YouTube app. Swisscom, among others, has still great relevance in having a media hub “We are also working with app providers enthusiastically embraced Android Open in the home. It is all about being pragmatic that provide apps as part of a store that Source as the basis of its TV 2.0 platform, and making sure that customers can do what brings added flexibilty on top of the HTML5 believing that it gives enough control to the they want to do, and that the navigation tools layer. Today it is still a niche, but all the new operator while allowing it to leverage some of provided are robust.” projects involve app stores. Going forwards the benefits of Android. the majority of deployments will have some Switzerland-based iWedia has been closely sort of app store,” says Hahn. However, involved in developing Android platforms. RDK and OTT operators are willing to sacrifice the app-rich Marketing director Hervé Creff says that world of Android for a degree of influence, Android’s advantages include its open source While Com Hem, along with Virgin Media he suggests. “They want some sort of control nature and app ecosystem. This includes the in the UK and Vodafone-owned Ono in over the app store. If you go for Android you ability to develop new services via apps, the Spain, opted for TiVo, Virgin Media’s parent are opening up to potential competitors. With wide range of existing apps and the existence company Liberty Global, which earlier operator-controlled app stores you can secure of an extensive community of app developers.

Visit us at www.digitaltveurope.net 26

p24-26,30 Hybrid TV DTVE AugSep15v4st.indd 26 02/09/2015 19:18 Q&A: Donald McGarva, Amino Communications

Amino’s CEO Donald McGarva talks about the company’s recent acquisitions and the challenges facing pay TV operators

Amino has recently been in the news thanks to its acquisition of OTT content providers into their offerings alongside their premium Booxmedia and Entone – why are you hitting the acquisition trail and linear content – but also beginning to rollout ‘TV everywhere’ solutions what will these acquisitions enable you to do? to offer a seamless branded experience across multiple screens wherever There is a compelling logic to what we’re doing with both acquisitions. their customers might be. Plus, in terms of ‘owning the home’, they have Effectively, we’re transforming Amino into a significant global tier 2 a head start in being able to deliver ‘Internet of Things’ offerings in areas player that now spans both the IPTV and broadcast pay-TV industry – like home monitoring and control which we see as having real potential plus mobile – with the ability to offer customers the combined resources in retaining customers and growing subscription revenues. of a larger business. Our respective portfolios are highly complementary – with Entone How do you think the CPE will evolve over the next few years? Will more bringing broadcast hybrid expertise and partnerships plus valuable service be done in the cloud or will operators invest in high-end equipment in assurance capability which plays very well with our own IPTV pedigree and the home? home monitoring and control portfolio. When you add in the cloud-TV There’s no doubt the set-top box is evolving into becoming more of a platform capability of Booxmedia, you can see how we’ll be able to deliver media server acting as the home hub for distributing live and recorded some powerful new offerings for a wider pay-TV operator customer base content to a range of devices around the home. The need for more that combines quality devices in the home supported by cloud-based “TV horsepower to handle 4K UHD will also cement the role of a physical everywhere” capabilities. For us, and customers and partners we’ve spoken device in the home. to since the acquisitions completed, that’s an exciting proposition. The ability to access recorded content from a hard drive or via the cloud is naturally a key function of the device. But there are a number of issues More generally, what do you think are the main forces driving the to resolve particularly around content rights with cloud-based recording, current wave of consolidation in the set-top and consumer premises which suggests PVR-enabled home gateways will remain a key element in equipment business? the many operators’ offerings. Pay-TV operators across the industry are shifting to IP delivery to manage We do see growing importance in cloud delivery, particularly in the delivery of TV everywhere inside and outside the home in line with terms of ‘TV everywhere’ deployments. Essentially, we see ‘the cloud’ as changing consumer demands. This puts pressure on companies like us complementary to the in-home device rather than a replacement and to deliver solutions that will help manage this transition whilst ensuring certainly that’s the feedback we receive from operators when discussing operators retain their core business. the future shape of their future pay-TV strategies. Device manufacturers are looking to bridge this gap – combining broadcast, cable and IP capability – so they can still serve the existing and What key trends do you anticipate at this year’s IBC? highly valuable market but also position themselves for both the transition Cloud TV, TV everywhere and 4K UHD will dominate the show like to hybrid IP and full IP service delivery. To do this requires more than just never before. The broadcast industry has standardised on 4Kp60 10- hardware, and that’s why we’re re-positioning ourselves with our new bits for mainstream introduction of 4K UHD content, and whist debate acquisitions to offer a complete “TV everywhere” solution that aligns with continues on ‘better pixels”’versus ‘more pixels’, with a variety of HDR this trend. solutions in the mix, the key is delivering the robust foundations to build Other companies are doing the same – consolidating and acquiring the new 4K services on. to increase the scale and scope of their offerings but also ensuring they Premium content security will also be a key issue. In our new range of remain highly relevant for current operator requirements. 4K UHD devices we’ve made sure the technology enablers are in place to handle the latest content security requirements mandated by MovieLabs What are the principal challenges the pay TV industry faces and to for 4K content, including hardware support for watermarking, secure video what extent can technology help operators overcome these? path and a trusted execution environment. We’re also seeing strong interest The key things – customer retention and growth, ARPU enhancement, in practical implementations of “TV everywhere” solutions. It’s very near the service innovation – remain constant. New competitive threats, from OTT top of operators’ agendas and we’re looking forward to showcasing our players and new market entrants, such as mobile operators transitioning solutions to support this industry-wide trend. to quadplay providers, are also providing fresh challenges to incumbents. The more agile operators are already responding – bringing well-known Amino will exhibit at IBC on stand 14.K20

p27 Amino Q&A AugSep15v2st.indd 1 02/09/2015 17:52 Q&A: Jon Cobb and Jim Henderson, Pace

Jon Cobb, President of Pace Software and Services, and Jim Henderson, President of Pace International, talk about next-generation TV services and consumer premises equipment.

What key requirements do pay TV operators have as they look to invest STB – then there is likely to be a push to remove legacy options from those in consumer premises equipment to deliver next-generation services? devices such as traditional card-based conditional access systems or IP JC Pace has a wide range of hardware and software solutions for video delivery techniques, and move to an OTT-style delivery of video the PayTV operator, from set-top box to user-interface software, to using adaptive-bitrate streaming and software conditional access or DRM service-management systems, so we find ourselves in many different for content protection. conversations with our customers and thus well-positioned to observe the marketplace. What we see is that there’s a large interest in Ultra HD and 4K JH It also depends on how far into the future the operator wants to video in the higher-end devices, while at the same time there’s continual invest. Today, operators are weighing the availability of 4K in order to pressure to remove cost from the lower-end devices. We are seeing many decide their investment in 4K vs. HEVC; in-home distribution topology operators look to use IP-based video delivery techniques even on their and technology and networks based solutions to match their network managed networks, with more use of OTT-style streaming video and DRM and service offering maturity. Weighing whether to pursue more cloud/ than in the past. Operators are also looking to expand their services to network based or how much to embrace in-home content distribution non-traditional pay TV set-top boxes, with increased interest in Android- based pucks and HDMI sticks; plus apps for a wider range of consumer Which categories of consumer premises equipment – basic zapper devices, including tablets, phones, games consoles, and smart TVs. No boxes, high-end multimedia gateways, EMTAs etc. – are likely to be longer is the operator content with delivering his service just to the main most in demand in the future? TV in the house: now it must be everywhere. Finally, with the operators JC This depends greatly on the network available: traditional, satellite wanting to deliver their services to consumer devices, there is an increased operators are expected to have very strong Ultra HD credentials due to focus on the role of the wireless gateway in the home. Many operators are their massive bandwidth. So, IP-hybrid satellite PVR and Media Gateway treating the gateway with the same importance as the set-top box, and STBs are expected to remain popular, where the user can plug in his own are focusing on end-to-end monitoring solutions, where the operator can Internet access to enable advanced IP features such as VOD, Restart TV, etc; use head-end tools to manage and monitor the performance of his entire meanwhile, cable operators are shifting towards IPTV over DOCSIS, with service: from individual devices in the home to region-wide reliability. a consequent interest in diskless IPTV STBs and network PVR equipment instead. No matter what, wireless performance remains a critical topic, as JH Operators want to deliver a consistent user experience on every does the need for end-to-end service management and monitoring. device in the home to ensure their content remains relevant and at the forefront of innovation compared to their competition. Operators are JH All categories remain relevant – however, there is likely to be a attempting to balance their investment across consumer premise and shifting amongst the types of new CPE purchases based on where network based solutions with the latest technology as a platform for each individual operator is in the maturity of their content offering. As innovation at a cost effective and affordable price. time goes on video distribution will utilise a greater proportion of IP distribution, wireless and networks based technologies, thanks to OTT What are the main technology choices facing operators in deploying experiences which shift content distribution towards media gateways. next-generation set-top boxes and what factors will determine the decisions they take? What role do you envisage cloud-based technology playing and how JC High-end media gateways are being driven by the new Ultra HD far can the deployment of cloud-based applications be considered an standards, including 4K-resolution, high dynamic range colour, and high alternative to investing in hardware in the home? frame rates. These gateways are typically being equipped with large PVR JC We believe that it is the operator’s choice to select the right topology disks, plus high-speed wireless access points capable of serving the whole for their market. Pace has cloud-based content-delivery, video security, household’s pay TV needs. The use of lower-cost, yet highly-capable IP and service management software. But Pace also has a thriving business devices is another focal point. If an operator is capable of delivering linear in in-home Media Gateways and PVR STBs. Depending on the market, the video over IP – either directly from the head-end, or via a media gateway Internet infrastructure, and the expertise of the operator, there will usually

pXX Pace Q&A AugSep15v2st.indd 2 03/09/2015 15:28 Q&A: Jon Cobb and Jim Henderson, Pace

The Pace Elements user interface is delivered, ready-customised to meet operator service requirements and brand identity

be a need to create a blended service, with some parts cloud-hosted, and demands investment across the supply, delivery and support chain, not others based in the home. Even with today’s network PVR servers, video just in CPE, but increased investment in other areas of the business. trick-mode functionality and response time is still better from a local disk. What technology solutions are available to enable TV operators to JH As broadband interconnectivity increases, the relevance of cloud deliver smart home services and what still needs to be done to ensure based technology has the ability to play a greater consideration for in- that systems work smoothly? home content consumption and distribution. JC There are various competing consumer networks for the Internet of Things, such as Apple’s HomeKit, Google’s Nest, & Samsung’s SmartThings. What impact do you think 4K/UHD TV will have on the market and what Furthermore, there are underlying communications standards like Zigbee opportunities does this present for Pace? and Z-Wave that carry the IoT data. Having support for the network JC This is a good opportunity for the traditional pay TV operator to technologies, and having the ability to bridge from one IoT network to demonstrate how their fully-managed, high-bandwidth, high-quality another will be critical for an operator to play in this space. Customer services can offer the best picture quality in the world. For Ultra HD to support and troubleshooting services will also be a key differentiator and really make an impact on the viewer, it has to be very high frame rate, high network gateways and service-management software can provide an dynamic-range, and transmitted at a high bitrate. An OTT-delivered stream advantage here. that is at 4K resolution, but in a low-bitrate, at a low frame rate and standard dynamic range will look very poor in comparison. For the viewer who cares JH Leveraging internet technologies to scale historical point-to-point about live sports and the best video quality, the choice is obvious. individual end devices is passé and becoming rapidly outdated. Blending of content regardless of origin is becoming an expected and accepted JH 4K/UHD is something that will increase year-over-year in a measurable user experience. way. What key trends are you anticipating at this year’s IBC and what is Pace How much opportunity do you see for TV operators in delivering smart highlighting? home services and what are the main technology challenges that they JC We expect this year’s IBC to be about the productisation and launch of face? UltraHD services; about the commoditisation of IP video delivery to low- JC I see this market being played out between the Internet providers, cost OTT-style set-top boxes and consumer devices; about the continued Apple and Google. The operators can and should win here but they blurring of the lines between broadcast video operators, internet-based need to provide installation and support for a wide number of consumer video providers, and consumer brands; and about software platforms devices and the integration point for different connected devices that enable the rate of change that operators must embrace to keep their in the same home or ecosystem. Operators who invest in providing services up to date and relevant. high-quality wireless access points, and who make use of end-to-end Pace will be showing solutions for all of these concepts, from UltraHD service management systems will be very well placed to act as the with high dynamic range, to end-to-end service management solutions, interoperation point between the in-home Internet of Things and the high-performance user-interfaces and content security products for both wider world. broadcast and IP delivery.

JH Delivering smart home services puts additional demands on JH Anticipate greater awareness of 4K/UHD, smart home, OTT, and operators – services need to be available ubiquitously across a market whole home solutions. Expect to see more examples around the or service area in a highly reliable, highly predicable fashion that satisfies Internet of Things that drive greater utility and ultimate satisfaction for customer expectations with true value/utility delivered, regardless of consumers from the services delivered by operators to their customers. whether it’s part of recurring subscription fee or an individual purchase experience. This high level of on-demand instantaneous satisfaction Pace will exhibit at IBC on Stand 1.B19

pXX Pace Q&A AugSep15v2st.indd 3 03/09/2015 15:28 Technology focus > Hybrid platforms Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

Wyplay has developed hybrid TV platforms for operators including Canal+.

Creff contrasts this with the “lack of flexibility” of legacy pay TV middlewares, where the time taken to introduce new services no longer “corresponds to the lifecycle of the TV market”. RDK, he says, is too cable-oriented. Creff also admits that going for Android does align operators with Google, which may be uncomfortable for some. “Android TV is perhaps more suited to TV service providers who see themselves as content ‘distributors’. This is why it started with telcos – Swisscom, Bouygues Telecom – and has more difficulty convincing legacy sat-cab pay TV operators who have their own flexibility to operators that older systems capability to create their own app store, as has consistent policy with respect to content struggle to achieve. He says Wyplay’s been done by Proximus in Belgium. Wyplay management,” he says. “In that respect approach is similar to that of RDK, but that provides solutions both for the back end and Android TV should be very interesting for the latter provides a ‘toolbox’ that is quite client. The Frog back-end platform can help small-to-medium-sized operators who might complex and that operators will generally operators aggregate new content sources and find it difficult to build a consistent content require the services of a system integrator “make them transparent for the set-top box”, offering – which naturally comes together to make sense of it. “We try to provide a according to Feral. The platform aggregates with Android TV.” pre-integrated solution for operators but we metadata from different sources and presents Creff says that operators could combine have an open approach,” he says. Regarding it in an integrated way. Android TV with their own search and Android, he says that Frog is “complementary Combining additional sources of content recommendation tools, allowing them to rather than a direct competitor”. and providing unified search, together present different sources of content using “Android for me is going to deliver the with access to the full user experience of a an alternative approach to ranking findings. richest app ecosystem, but it is not going seasoned OTT provider such as Netflix, can “Even though an operator might use Android to provide all the stuff a pay TV operator be challenging, particularly if operators are TV, it could make the choice to use its is looking for, such as PVR functionality, looking to make services available over older own search engine and recommendation Teletext, security and all the DVB-related generations of set-top boxes with different engine. And these engines could encompass stuff,” he says. In fact, says Feral, Wyplay levels of capability. Proximus is planning to different sources of content including those has developed a complete Frog for Android release a new version of its own platform that delivered by Google,” he says. “The other way version, which it will demonstrate at IBC, matches the next-generation user experience they could choose [to go] is to use Google’s with discussions for deployment underway of OTT providers such as Netflix, which has search and recommendation engines and with two large operators. its own app on the platform. have those engines encompass other sources Wyplay is involved in one project involving In the face of demand for services, of content than Google’s.” the Android Open Source Project and one operators are embracing OTT, but cautiously. Alternative advanced TV platforms include full Android TV project, according to Feral. Few want to give up control and reduce Frog by Wyplay. This open source operating “The pro with Android TV is you get access to themselves to dumb storefronts, leaving all system from France-based Wyplay has been the Google Store and apps and a short time to the added value to third party apps. Indeed, adopted by players including Sky Italia for the market. You have access to Chromecast and their investment in set-top boxes – a strategy IP-based service it offers in partnership with Netflix – the service is populated with content that lives on, precisely because it enables Telecom Italia. Other key customers include on day one,” he says. On the downside, the operators to better control the user experience Proximus in Belgium – the former Belgacom operator has to have a button on its remote – means that they can’t afford to sell the pass – and Canal+. that sends viewers straight to the Google to OTT entirely. Dominique Feral, co-founder and general universe with access to apps that might be Cable and telecom operators may have manager of Wyplay, says that the company’s directly competitive with other services that entered into an alliance with large OTT installed base of about 10 million devices the operator is trying to promote. With the players, but they remain reluctant to let go is still “small” compared with established Android Open Source Project, operators can of the reins altogether. In the meantime, pay TV middleware providers. However he contract individual Android app developers to their traditional content provider partners argues that Wyplay’s open-source approach, create bespoke apps on a case-by-case basis. are themselves experimenting with direct-to- using Linux components that already exist in Regarding Frog by Wyplay itself, the consumer delivery. Both sides are hedging many devices, along with HTML5, provides company provides operators with the their bets. l

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p31 DTVCEE AugSep15.indd 1 02/09/2015 09:58 Technology focus > LTE Broadcast Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

Mobile broadcast: the sequel

LTE Broadcast is an impressive technology but it opens up more questions than answers, a major one being what is the commercial application for it? Adrian Pennington reports.

DVB-H standard once held out technology, but one that is still looking for a of mobile infrastructure to 4G. But the big The a lot of hope for broadcasting market. question remains: who is going to pay for it? live TV to mobile devices, but the technology The critical difference this time around is Managed service provider Quickplay has never took off. To some extent LTE Broadcast that where DVB-H depended on a whole new no doubts. “The ecosystem is maturing at a (also known as evolved Multimedia Broadcast infrastructure for deployment, LTE Broadcast rapid space; the network infrastructure and Service or eMBMS) is similar: a great piece of is relatively well integrated with upgrades chip manufacturers are aligned around one

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p32-34,36 LTE Broadcast DTVE AugSep15v4st.indd 32 02/09/2015 17:32 Digital TV Europe Technology focus > LTE Broadcast August/September 2015

EE is among the operators that have begun TV infrastructure. You can have eight to ten than DVB-T from a cost perspective. LTE for tests of LTE Broadcast technology. channels and that becomes the offer to a large broadcasting is comparable to DVB-T, so we number of people.” are not adding a more expensive technology. common standard,” says Jim Nelson, co- When you add all of these things together founder of Roundbox, which was acquired by the chances of eMBMS replacing DVB-T are Quickplay in March to boost the company’s Nokia cost analysis good.” LTE credentials. Nokia supports this claim by pointing out The first use-cases are in-venue where trials The potential of the technology to replace that its partner in the trial is research body during sports events like NFL and European terrestrial broadcasting standard DVB-T or Institut für Rundfunktechnik (IRT), research soccer matches continue. Quickplay’s latest T2 in Europe has excited many. Nokia has body for Germany’s public broadcasters. “We trials included one in May, which sent five HD arguably gone the furthest in testing the are also talking with the BBC,” says Held. streams over Vodafone’s 4G network during a technology’s fitness for purpose in this regard. “These two groups are forward-thinking La Liga match played at Valencia FC’s Mestalla Its Munich trial, ongoing since July 2014 organisations and the BBC in particular has a stadium. Huawei video servers, Qualcomm and due to end March 2016, is the first big impact on the broadcast community. They chips, Thomson video decoders and Samsung and still the only one to apply the eMBMS understand the capability of eMBMS.” handsets were other components. technology on the UHF spectrum, using part Schink admits, though, that the BBC does “Where 80,000 people are trying to access of the 700MHz band to broadcast over a 200 not see it is a short-term replacement for DTT video in one spot (whether the same video square km area for national broadcasting. in the UK where 10.6 million households stream or not) using LTE Broadcast to alleviate The 700MHz band is the hotly contested receive TV via Freeview. “In other countries the bandwidth strain is natural,” says Nelson. spectrum used by DTT in Europe. the scenario is more attractive. There is 10% Quickplay sees a subscription model working “We’ve done cost analysis of deployment DVB-T coverage in Germany, and in other in this scenario. of eMBMS, which is a software update of areas it’s below this, plus there are fewer Beyond that the company is looking existing base stations, and concluded that outdoor antennas so base station density to monetise the network by interfacing it depends on the availability of antennas,” needs to be higher,” he says. Quickplay headends into the LTE network says Helmut Schink, head of telco standards, Nokia is talking to operators, many of for content providers. Quickplay can provide Nokia Networks. “The business case we have whom recognise the opportunity to use LTE ingest, encoding, content packaging and analysed is that the cost to operate an eMBMS to broadcast content, according to Held. “Not apply business rules to push content out to network is comparable to the DTT network. all of them see a requirement to broadcast networks provided by Ericsson, Samsung, Because we can reuse the sites of 2G and public service media with full coverage Alcatel and others. 3G deployment we do not need to deploy nationwide, but they do recognise use cases Applications include push-VoD, where eMBMS on all sites, but only around a third for broadcasting content in higher population certain sets of VoD assets are cached on the of sites, which drives cost down. We think this density metropolitan areas with or at sports device for later playback. This, says Nelson, makes LTE Broadcast in urban environments events.” would be monetised either as a traditional pay absolutely possible and cost efficient with Even when the current project ends the model or ad-supported. current technology.” Munich infrastructure is unlikely to be torn “An operator can push the most common Nokia believes the chances of eMBMS down, say Nokia. Meanwhile, the company titles or bundles – of sports, lifestyle replacing DVB-T in certain territories is good. has embarked on Future-UHF in Finland programming etc – to devices based on user “When you compare both technologies which is testing supplemental downlink. The profiles and intelligent algorithms. It will there are certain advantages with eMBMS,” main advantage of this technique is that LTE include full DRM with expiry and content says Schink. “DVB-T is fragmented in Europe Broadcast could be deployed in areas where protection,” he says. and in other parts of the world there’s another there is no DVB usage. In enterprise use cases, LTE Broadcast standard. LTE Broadcast on the other hand could be sold to large corporates or provides a global standard. That makes it governments looking to push software immediately attractive to companies outside The EBU view updates, notifications, or public safety broadcast, such as automotive manufacturers messages to digital signs, for example. who do not want to cope with regionally Nokia’s diagnosis sits at odds with several Quickplay also suggests a monetization case fragmented standards.” key members of the European broadcasting in leasing bandwidth to third parties. In addition, says Volker Held, head of community. Among them, the EBU, which Another use case is live linear TV in which innovation marketing, Nokia Networks, LTE states categorically that LTE Broadcast is no small packages of channels – focused on Broadcast provides better spectrum utilisation substitute for DVB-T. sports, entertainment, lifestyle – might be than the high-tower solution of DVB-T. “DTT and LTE are designed and used for broadcast for a subscription. “When you operate DVB-T you operate different purposes,” explains Darko Ratkaj, “This is not going to replace the US multiple frequencies. One of the big senior project manager, technology and cable system. LTE doesn’t have that kind of advantages is that we are using a single innovation, EBU. “DTT is a purpose built capacity,” says Nelson. “But in developing frequency network for covering a wide area platform for a cost-efficient delivery of linear countries, LTE Broadcast is overtaking the and are proving that to be much more efficient TV services [mainly] to stationary receivers.

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p32-34,36 LTE Broadcast DTVE AugSep15v4st.indd 33 02/09/2015 17:32 Technology focus > LTE Broadcast Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

It provides near-universal coverage and can a contentious issue. At the turn of the year, be received free-to-view which is essential for Farncombe co-authored a project with Plum A push technology public service broadcasters. DTT networks Consulting on this topic for the EC and are designed for high reliability, robustness, concluded that the economics didn’t work. For the foreseeable future, it feels that LTE and a sustained QoS delivered to all viewers “DTT is based on fairly powerful Broadcast will be a push technology for linear irrespective of their number or location transmitters with relatively low density. LTE content. “Live or recorded, it’s a push scenario within the network. DVB-T2 is a state-of -the- would require a mobile technology using with nothing on demand,” says Robertson. art transmission system and rather spectrally smaller cell and a higher density network,” “Live events are the obvious application. LTE efficient.” explains MD Jean-Marc Racine. “We also Broadcast is live, to mobile devices and via LTE Broadcast on the other hand is described looked at the argument for using LTE to reach a mobile network. It is, therefore, ideal for by Ratkaj as an operational mode whose the last 10% of the population in Europe the likes of sporting events. I think mobile “primary purpose is bandwidth optimisation” which can’t be served by DTT. These are operators will want to wait and see how on a base station for certain types of usage. edge cases where most of the time satellite successful this type of application is before “eMBMS cannot operate without the unicast can be used as cover. So I would bet that LTE expanding support across the entire network. LTE network. LTE networks are designed Broadcast is not going to replace DTT.” If the business case in venues and live events for reception on handheld devices – either The Mobile Video Alliance (MVA), which works, then we will see more applications.” stationary, portable, or mobile – but not via was set up by operator EE to examine Unsurprisingly, given that it is a co-chair fixed roof-top antennas.” multicast over LTE and is now run out of of the MVA, EE agrees with this view. It In addition, Ratkaj notes that the coverage the UK’s Digital TV Group, is set to publish remains a cheerleader for LTE Broadcast, of LTE networks does not match that of DTT a white paper exploring the technology’s but has reigned in its ambitions over the last and that there is no free-to-air reception. potential. few months, perhaps while BT’s £12.5 billion “LTE is a general purpose infrastructure that “LTE Broadcast will not replace DVB-T or acquisition of EE goes through. delivers best-effort services. Pre-defined and DVB-T2 and talk of a migration is slightly “The MVA are not discussing [LTE sustained QoS is an issue. Costs for both the missing the point,” says DTG Principal IP Broadcast] as a DTT replacement but as a way broadcasters and the viewers would need to Engineer, George Robertson. “The DTG of improving performance and efficiencies be comparable to the costs of DTT. We do not sees LTE and DVB-T/T2 as complementary of delivering live linear TV, predominantly. know what the costs of a large scale linear TV solutions for different audiences, neither On top of that we have all the other services distribution over LTE eMBMS would be.” of which is a universal solution for both [like mass software updates],” says Matt Stagg, The cost of converting DTT to eMBMS is domestic and mobile reception.” EE principal strategist. EE itself is “actively steering away from that and saying let’s focus on where we need this technology now,” he LTE Broadcast and the spectrum debate says. “In the future, who knows?” EE plans a limited live rollout for LTE Can LTE Broadcast resolve spectrum Broadcast toward the end of 2016. “We’re not contention in Europe? Ratkaj: LTE Broadcast is saying it’s a commercial launch but we will “Not if the TV services currently delivered less spectrally efficient start to put capacity on the network for certain over DTT networks would need to be provided than DVB-T2 for fixed events where it provides benefits,” says Stagg. over LTE Broadcast in [the] future,” says Darko reception. While Cisco predicts that 72% of mobile Ratkaj, the EBU’s senior project manager, traffic will be video by 2020, “we are looking technology and innovation. “Actually, this at 75% by 2019,” says Stagg. For that reason would increase the overall spectrum demand EE views 4G as a media distribution network, for TV because LTE Broadcast is less spectrally DTT is a competitor that can be weakened with LTE Broadcast augmenting an operator’s efficient than DVB-T2 for fixed reception.” or eliminated if the spectrum is denied. ability to maximise resources. Technically, some of the niche DTT channels In our view, the mobile industry has failed “The biggest fundamental shift we will see with a very small audience could be delivered to demonstrate that further spectrum is in the next decade for mobile distribution of via LTE unicast, he says, but it is unclear required for mobile broadband beyond the TV is LTE Broadcast,” says Stagg. “EE’s vision whether this would reduce the amount of current allocation – around 1000MHz in for LTE Broadcast is that it will be better than spectrum required to deliver them. Europe,” says Ratkaj. “In any case, further TV.” He observes that mobile operators “show mobile spectrum allocation is expected at Stagg led the team that delivered the UK’s no interest” in the business of transporting the ITU conference in November 2015 – first engineering proof of concept at the 2014 linear TV services as performed by Arqiva, without the remaining DTT bands. On the Commonwealth Games (partnered with the TDF or Media Broadcast. “Instead, they other hand, DTT has lost more than 40% BBC, Qualcomm and others), and followed seek to offer pay-TV services over their – of the available spectrum in the last eight that up with a trial at this year’s FA Cup Final IPTV and increasingly LTE – networks, but years and further loss would undermine the at Wembley to prove how it could combine the also via cable or satellite. In that context, viability of the platform.” efficiency of broadcast with the functionality of unicast. “It’s the next iteration of red

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p32-34,36 LTE Broadcast DTVE AugSep15v4st.indd 34 02/09/2015 17:32 Q&A: Ferdinand Maier, ruwido

ruwido CEO Ferdinand Maier talks about pay TV operators’ need for advanced remote control functionality.

What are pay TV operators’ main priorities for the functionality to be Developing an interaction mechanism for all these services that is easy to delivered by the newest generation of remote control devices? Do their use by several age groups will be one of the challenges in near future. It is requirements differ significantly from those of TV manufacturers? vital to identify the most important services that people want to control Requirements of pay TV operators do differ from those of TV and how the user interface must be structured. The easier it is for the user, manufacturers: most often they provide bundled services including the more complicated it is in terms of technology. For example, voice internet and phone, as well as TV services. The functionalities available input. The command: “show all movies tonight” requires one button press lead to the need of supporting the user to communicate in an enjoyable by the user but the software process in the background must not be yet effective way. These next generation remote control devices are bi- underestimated. The complexity of signal treatment is now sometimes as directional, multimodal, intelligent and able to support users individually, high as in an aircraft cockpit. But not everyone in the industry is aware of which includes a set of highly specialized direct access buttons as well this change. And this is why we will see user interfaces appear in the near as voice command to enhance usability. In the near future, content future that do not support the experience that providers want to deliver. will be distributed on several devices but the remote control - as the physical device accessible to everyone at home - will remain central for How far can the remote control and user interface together serve to navigating the big screen in the living room. differentiate either smart TV portals or pay TV services and help their providers to retain customers? What impact is the ongoing trend towards viewing on multiple devices It’s about emotion, it’s about desire and it’s about design. Nowadays, and the use of smartphone and tablet apps provided by broadcasters people are willing to invest in valuable furniture and perfectly shaped TV having on user interface and remote control software design and sets, making the living room a personal flagship. Remote controls, set-top development? boxes and user interfaces have to meet these requirements as well. As the What changed for us is that, step by step, the industry understands that brand carrier, the remote acts as the business card of a provider, finding the remote control is an integral part of the TV experience, potentially its place proudly next to the smartphone on the living room table. Good even the most important part of the TV experience, as it enables access design is the shortest way to touch the emotion of the user and can be to content. Receiving the red dot design award: ‘best of the best 2015’ seen as key differentiator. within the category: consumer electronics – not for a TV design or smart phone but for a remote control – confirms our assumption of the What areas of product innovation and design is ruwido focusing on at growing importance of intuitive input devices. To reach what we call this year’s IBC? ‘user experience excellence’ it is now even more essential to develop the At last year’s IBC, we launched our ‘leaf’ input device. Extraordinary remote control together with the user interface software. The earlier we in design and functionality, ‘best of the best’ red dot award winning, it are involved in the design and development cycles of a new interaction has already exceeded all expectations. By adding new features ‘leaf’ will mechanism or living room concept, the more innovative it will be. become the king of remotes. Though, our highlight to be presented Supporting providers to understand their customers’ needs allows us to at IBC 2015 will be the ‘organic haptic’. Intensive research has been put come up with input solutions that provide the best to all user groups – into investigating new forms of touch, as this interaction mechanism and not just for early adopters and early majority, but for everyone from technology has become a natural form of moving through content on 2 to 99 years old, from single to three generation household. smart devices. But on a remote control, navigating items on a large screen by using classic touch interaction has proven to be difficult. Therefore As advanced pay TV platforms and smart TV portals incorporate we developed a combination of touch with a specialized form of haptic access to more and more web-based content, including premium feedback that provides instant gratification. The new ‘organic haptic’ will services that place their own demands on the user experience, what be demonstrated at this year’s IBC at our booth. impact is this having on the requirements for remote controls and onscreen software? ruwido will exhibit at IBC on stand 1.D69

p35 Ruwido Q&A AugSep15v2st.indd 1 02/09/2015 17:59 Technology focus > LTE Broadcast Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

button,” says Stagg. LTE Broadcast is still in test mode and could Can unicast and multicast be combined? be further developed to become capable of delivering linear TV on a large scale. However, Combining unicast and multicast could provide several, identical, unicast streams to a single technical capabilities alone would not make an opportunity for new use cases and a better multicast stream. This saves resources for LTE Broadcast a viable TV platform, according use of the spectrum and network resources. other OTT and web applications.” to the EBU. “LTE coverage would need to However, the technique has yet to be proven to The EBU has initiated joint work with the match or exceed that of DTT, Free-to-view everyone’s satisfaction. industry to better understand the capabilities reception would need to be possible, and LTE According to DTG Principal IP Engineer, and the limitations of the underlying Broadcast would need to be spectrally at least George Robertson, LTE Broadcast is not technology. “So far we have more questions as efficient as DTT,” says Ratkaj. a technology for dynamic allocation of than answers,” says Darko Ratkaj, the EBU’s resources. “LTE Broadcast will be delivered senior project manager, technology and over pre-allocated and managed bandwidth. innovation. DTT replacement Otherwise that bandwidth might not be there Farncombe’s managing director Jean-Marc and it wouldn’t work reliably. It is able to save Racine agrees that there might be peak events Legacy DTT receivers in homes would need bandwidth by monitoring activity. For example, where such dynamic switching makes makes to be replaced by the (currently non-existent) if one person in a cell requests a certain linear sense but the key question once again is who LTE Broadcast receivers which could take feed, then that will likely be delivered in a pays for the service. many years, he points out. “We are not aware unicast fashion – think standard OTT delivery,” “A lot of the time around live events you can of any notable efforts to address these issues.” he says. “If then more people in that cell get free apps from the broadcaster in which The EBU acknowledges that the technology request the same linear feed, LTE Broadcast the user pays for data usage,” he says. “Is does have a certain appeal to operators because can jump in and broadcast a single linear the broadcaster going to pay for it at a time of its global standard with which they may be feed, on managed bandwidth, to all interested when they are looking to make savings on their able to reach the whole range of receiving viewers. The mode would switch from serving distribution costs rather than increasing it?” devices. At the same time, the body highlights a major concern that replacing DTT with LTE would “substantially increase the distribution network build-out and deliver the needed Politically, the decision to maintain DTT, costs for broadcasters” and would “strengthen technical and cost-efficiency for wide-scale for example to achieve certain competition or the gatekeeping position” of mobile operators. DTT replacement. “There could be an audiovisual policy objectives, remain strong. Quickplay reiterates that LTE Broadcast can industry-wide consensus that this is the way Ratkaj holds out the possibility of LTE compete in countries saturated with DVB-T by to go,” says Ratkaj. “Political decisions on Broadcast being decoupled from the current providing a small number of niche packaged spectrum allocation could lead to the decline mobile operator business model and deployed channels as a complement. of DTT and so could a shift of the audience as a standalone DTT network. “This is not “Operators will have the ability to reach onto other platforms like satellite, cable, IPTV possible with the current LTE eMBMS but a customers on mobile – on trains and for linear TV.” future incarnation might allow it,” he says. Operators are in a phase of understanding the business opportunities for the technology. “The business case we have analysed is that It is possible that many will combine LTE Broadcast with unicast VoD and with fixed TV the cost to operate a eMBMS network is distribution. comparable to the DTT network.” As mobile and fixed line providers are coming together in quad platforms as evidenced by the EE/BT deal, LTE could be Helmut Schink, Nokia Networks used as a product differentiator. “eMBMS doesn’t create value in itself but as buses, for example - and enhance the video Other drivers influencing a possible shift part of a quad play bundle to provide quality experience.” from DTT to LTE include a major shift from video over mobile, it could be an interesting The EBU asks further questions. Who linear to on-demand viewing – abandoning the product differentiator,” says Racine. “That would finance such a transition? Mobile large TV screen in favour of personal mobile doesn’t mean consumer’s will pay extra for operators, content and services providers, devices. Arguments against the likelihood of it, but it’s an interesting angle for mobile equipment vendors, governments? What this happening are many. “There is no viable operators upgrading their network.” would be their incentives? “It is also unclear business model to sustain the whole value Racine thinks LTE Broadcast is a technology [what] would be the benefits of such a chain,” says Ratkaj. “The perceived benefits that has come too late to the party. DTT may migration to the viewers,” Ratkaj adds. of LTE are insufficient to justify investment in eventually be replaced by IP video delivery, he Looking around the corner, new business the technical developments, network rollout, says, but not through the mobile network – models might possibly drive LTE Broadcast and the transition.” through WiFi access. l

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p37 BBWF DTVE AugSep15.indd 1 02/09/2015 09:54 Technology focus > Playout Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

Arriving on air

Multiplatform deployment, fast time to market and flexibility are becoming ever more important for channel providers. Is playout technology keeping up with the demands being made on it? Anna Tobin investigates.

the old days of simple linear requirement means long development the business aspect of planning content In broadcasting, getting a TV channel on and testing cycles. This has caused many availability, scheduling and spot placement to air was a huge financial, technological and organisations to re-architect and deploy newer drive revenue.” logistical undertaking. While many aspects of technologies that allow systems to evolve In response to rapid change, playout and the process are now simpler, the opportunities more quickly and with greater flexibility.” asset management is becoming increasingly offered by anytime, anywhere instant content The state of a broadcaster’s existing digital automated and software-based. “The key thing requirements have added a new dimension supply chain and software-defined workflows to remember here is you can’t throw the baby of trickiness, particularly to workflow and is key to how prepared they are for new services, out with the bath water, because the majority playout. Broadcasters are now publishers in says Steve Smith, CTO of cloud at Imagine of the audience is still on traditional TV. charge of vast content management systems Communications. “Almost all broadcasters Viewers are migrating. There is no denying taking instantaneous orders, often from have transcode and media asset management that this is happening, but I don’t think customers on the opposite side of the world. capabilities, but it is less common for them traditional television will disappear anywhere The exponential growth in OTT and VoD in to be integrated into a manufacture-to-order soon either,” says Scott Rose, director of particular has put new demands on workflows environment,” he explains. “When assets are product management at Grass Valley. in recent years. “In many cases, systems manufactured to order through automated Greater integration between channel have evolved organically over time and have creation and delivery workflows, versus a providers and distribution platforms and had to accommodate activities not originally human-driven push workflow or ‘hot folder’ outsourcing to service providers who can envisioned in the design,” explains Steve system, delivery to new distribution platforms streamline workflow management is the Plunkett, CTO, broadcast and media services is straightforward and scalable. The effort is answer to tackling new challenges, says at Ericsson. “Business agility can be slowed simply in defining the ‘what’ and ‘where’ Valéry Bonneau, media management product down in such a situation as each additional of new distribution. Beyond that, there is manager at Globecast.

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Localisation and customisation are Amagi. “It enables broadcasters to support “It looks like a market that should really becoming key as platforms proliferate. regionalisation at a country level, along with work,” says Rose at Grass Valley, “but we don’t the capability to monetise advertising in see a huge demand for pop-up TV yet. That “Many broadcasters are still struggling each country. The cloud-based approach also might be to do with the fact that it’s more with separate content preparation silos for enables broadcasters to move away from a difficult to launch a pop-up channel if you’ve different target platforms and often trying to capex-based delivery model involving large got to get on to a multiplex than if you’re manage everything in house when they don’t onsite data centres, to one that is much more going to deliver it as a stream to a device. As have the economy of scale to do so. Service flexible and scalable,” he says. more viewers move to different methods of providers such as Globecast can invest once It’s now possible to get a simple channel consumption, pop-up channels are likely to in on-boarding a delivery platform, or in running recorded content up and running become more viable.” understanding the regulatory compliance within hours. “If we have spare capability, Service providers who already have constraints of a country and leverage this for our existing customers we can get a new broadcast feeds and knowledge of event across all of our customers. Our scale channel up and running in half a day,” says distribution are best placed to exploit this also enables us to provide elasticity in our Pannell at Arqiva. “If we’re dealing with a market when it develops. workflows to allow us to accommodate last new provider where you have to set up a new minute priority changes,” he says. process for them to bring in their content, match it to schedules and you don’t have On-demand connectivity to where you want to distribute it, Lucrative localisation it can take you six to eight weeks.” Viewing figures prove that time-shifted Often, however, there are basic obstacles, channels are still popular, but as consumers As broadcasters become more global, content is in many ways becoming more localised. “Since there are more platforms and “As channels move into more markets the distribution options, localisation and customisation of programming and workflows have to deal with a lot more advertising content has become a key complexity around subtitles and voice overs, differentiator for broadcasters needing to adhere to regional requirements,” says graphics and localisation of ads.” KA Srinivasan, co-founder of Amagi. “The Alex Pannell, Arqiva bottleneck for broadcasters is shifting from last-mile distribution – i.e. lack of access to such as obtaining distribution and access to become more aware and confident about platforms or operators – to delivery capabilities content to prevent channels launching, says accessing on-demand content, these are likely for different platforms.” Bonneau at Globecast. “For broadcasters that to start losing their appeal. This will free up Workflows need to be able to adapt to need rich branding, advanced navigation a lot of bandwidth. Satellite operators in new markets agrees Alex Pannell, portfolio like dynamic now/next and later promotion, particular would much rather their precious development director at Arqiva. “As channels or integration of closed captions, subtitles linear bandwidth wasn’t wasted on plus-one move into more markets the workflows or live content, more time will be needed to and plus-two channels. have to deal with a lot more complexity successfully manage the project.” For the time being however, content around subtitles and voiceovers, graphics Channel launches are still costly and risky. providers will need to juggle these services and localisation of ads,” he says. “The Anyone that wants to have a channel up and with the added complication of online delivery workflows have to change and become a lot running fast needs to understand how to build and integration with alternative distribution more complex, because they are dealing with real-time synchronous broadcast systems channels such as social networks and web more markets and, therefore, more complex using IT and IP technologies, says Plunkett video sites. The key to this, says Plunkett at requirements in terms of compliance. at Ericsson. “This is not a trivial undertaking Ericsson, is “high levels of automation, both Different markets have different watershed and one that can easily go wrong. The best in terms of media processing and platform times, for example. There is a lot more advice today is to experiment and evaluate operation. Doing this securely and with high work to do around subtitles and voiceovers. third-party solutions and note that real world resilience is not easy, but it can and is being Workflows have to become a more automated implementations often behave differently to done successfully.” to deal with all this, as to deal with all this the trade show stand. Learn the characteristics With most providers now running file- manually would be cost prohibitive.” and differences of the new technologies and based content, it is a lot easier to create on- Taking your content further creates more look to partners who can help,” he says. demand assets from live feeds too, either financial opportunities and this is where There is a lot of talk about the possibilities for streaming or as a VoD asset. The mass localisation of advertising, subtitles and for quick-to-market pop-up channels, but adoption of HTML5 has also made it much supplementary online content is key. Moving while there has been some experimentation simpler to do this to multiple platforms and over to cloud-based content distribution is the in this area, especially on the OTT side, devices now. “The technology is there,” says best way of achieving this, says Srinivasan at surprisingly few have materialised. Pannell at Arqiva, “but what tends to hold it up

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Adoption of HTML5 has made it simpler to target multiple devices.

is editorial or platform standards – overlaying different graphics, putting bumpers at the start and end, for example.” Pannell also says that on-demand feeds are often delayed for commercial reasons. “For some of our customers we can deliver VoD for them pretty much as soon as it’s gone out live, but what we find is that they often don’t want to do it too soon, because they feel that people won’t watch their linear schedule.” Cloud technology is often seen as the future for playout, but there are very few who believe it is ready to cope with the demands of delivering live content. Its current strength lies in coordinating other aspects of playout. Globecast, for example, has developed a cloud- based customer portal to help with creating on-demand assets from live feeds. “This cloud- based tool allows our customers to work with us and other partners collaboratively on media Those solutions include flexible playout with get almost all the environmental robustness preparation workflows,” says Bonneau. “They the ability to localise channels on the fly for we are accustom to for free. It is just achieved can see the status of all the content we hold different territories or platforms, multi-device differently.” for them, view the content and orchestrate OTT offers with integrated catch-up video Maximising QoE across multiple platforms tasks for third party specialist providers such management and a monetisation suite that is down to selecting the right service provider, as subtitling or dubbing.” enables broadcasters to maximise revenues says Levira’s Aav. “Quality of experience can Jumping language barriers isn’t the only with ad-funded, subscription or transactional be achieved by selecting a service provider challenge in the on-demand space when payment models.” who fully understands all distribution broadcasters work internationally; regulations platforms and end user devices and is able to are another major hurdle to jump. Raul Aav, cater to all of them with the same quality that technical manager, play-out at Levira gives Social media is expected from a linear TV channel. I like to an example: “Levria is operating in a region believe that Levira has earned a place among where we are subjected to both Ofcom and As well as the demands of catch up and VoD, those companies...as our portfolio includes Scandinavian regulations, when broadcasting content providers are increasingly integrating more and more channels where alternative the channels for our customers. Although their content with social media and web media distribution channels are considered even some of the regulations are already covered sites too. This adds another dimension to more important than the primary linear during the programming stage by our requirements for QoE and security of content. channel,” he says. Aav says that security is customers, we have to be compliant with To approach this pragmatically, broadcasters often overlooked by service providers who the technical ones – audio–video levels, de- need to change their mindset, says Smith at rush to second-screen distribution, adding flashing and compulsory localisation, etc.” Imagine Communications. that the same principles should be applied to Investing in additional channels and “Being under pressure is a good thing. It streaming as are applied to TV and theatrical services is one thing, but making that means there is demand for your product, but content today. “As one of the early adopters investment pay is another; and yet it seems it [is] simply not being delivered quick enough and developers of HbbTV we have been that you need to be in it to win it. or on the right platform. This is easy to fix,” looking closely into ways of securing streams “Making money is important, critical even, he says. “The concept of ‘robust’ changes in such a way that they are only usable for the but a broadcaster in 2015, must have digital dramatically as you switch from broadcast intended end user. We have been successful services available on multiple devices to retain to web. In a broadcast world the failure of in our endeavours and hope to see similar an audience. Digital services are no longer any single device in the chain will impact a practices being applied to streams originating just nice to have. If you don’t have them, your few thousand to a few million customers. from other VoD portals and sites,” he says. customers will leave,” says Bonneau. “How In the web world, content is distributed or It’s still a minefield out there, but with the much money you make depends entirely on proxied by thousands of servers, so failure right support and technology behind them, how smart you are with your business models of any one impacts only a few customers content providers should be able to get their and infrastructure. That is why we propose and, in most cases, it will be invisible to the channels to market quickly and competently; ‘pay as you grow’ solutions wherever possible. customer. Moving to IP-enabled platforms we and, it should only get easier. l

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p38-40 Playout DTVE AugSep15v4st.indd 40 02/09/2015 17:34 Q&A: Andrew Burke, Paywizard

Paywizard chairman Andrew Burke talks about his company’s international ambitions, growth opportunities in emerging markets and the changing subscriber management and customer care needs of pay TV operators.

Paywizard has expressed an ambition to expand internationally. The technology exists to support these operational complexities so Which markets offer most promise for you and why? the real challenge lies in acquiring and retaining customers – which For us, Asia Pacific is certainly a high growth market - every market means effective marketing capability is crucial. Operators and service throughout the region is launching OTT services. Specifically in Asia providers need to support the personalisation of services and deliver Pacific, we believe that India, Indonesia, Australia, China and South marketing campaigns that are tailored to every single subscriber. Korea to be the markets with the most potential. There was a lot of DTT switchover activity in the region two years ago, and some countries What are operators’ key requirements for subscriber management have still to complete their switchover - which for us, gives us plenty systems in emerging markets such as Latin America and South Africa? of opportunity to help operators and service providers grow their In emerging markets, one of the main requirements for a subscriber traditional and multiscreen TV businesses. management system is the ability to extend traditional DSAT/DTT Africa is another market that has high growth potential. What is delivery to multiscreen. Operators are also experimenting with business interesting about this region is that it’s not one market but many models such as AVOD going through to TVOD/SVOD, which means they markets with widely different conditions between and within individual need a flexible subscriber management system that can also support countries. Some of the biggest challenges they are facing are with piracy various types of business models. and corruption. The DTT switchover is also in progress, which again, There are also a number of operational requirements, including provides ample opportunities for us. contact centre support and multichannel contact support. However Finally, Latin America is another target market for us that has high there is still a strong awareness of good subscriber management growth potential. The DTT switchover is in progress and digital TV homes practices and the need to handle churn, upsell, cross sell, promotion, are set to double by 2020. However, some reports this year are showing bundling and multi-device distribution. that Latin America’s six-year pay TV boom is petering out - I think Brazil, Venezuela and Chile will continue to enjoy gains – but growth in Mexico What obstacles do OTT players face as they seek to market pay services is likely to slow down. to users over multiple platforms and what solutions are available? In broad terms, developing markets offer opportunity for our growth, Ultimately, OTT players need to deliver multi-channel customer but so too are established markets with disruptive new challengers engagement – and provide the same personal, easy to use service entering the fray and where established operators are fighting against regardless of the device customers use. They also need to handle cord-cutting and churn. payments across borders and make this process as simple and efficient for the consumer as possible. What customer care and billing-related challenges do pay TV OTT players also face high levels of churn due to competition, piracy, operators face as they seek to deliver a wider range of TV services pricing and poor customer service. They often lack information about including multiscreen services, video-on-demand, buy to keep and the subscriber base, with analysis and segmentation problems. OTT video? As operators seek to deliver more multi-device services across borders, What do operators need to put in place to deliver a single integrated there are a number of challenges they need to overcome. Firstly with subscriber management system encompassing all the services they payments - not only do operators need to handle multiple payment offer? options, including local, international and cross border billing, they When creating and delivering OTT services, it may at first look simple. also need to reconcile revenues in one or more tax regimes. Yet the But operators need to ensure their content is protected, ensure they can accounting of income, expenditure and reporting is becoming more bundle and can deliver their service to multi-devices. difficult thanks to the ever-growing number of devices and business Operators will therefore require a subscriber management system models. that covers a lot of ground. First and foremost, they need a system that There are also a number of challenges related to payment processing, can provide content security. They also need a content management complex credit control cycles, reconciling discounts and vouchers. Data system, an online video platform, payment processing capabilities management and financial analysis is also becoming more complex, – including payment gateway, PSP, e-wallets – all in one solution that and there is an ongoing need for integration with accounting systems. works seamlessly. They also need marketing analytics and tools if they In terms of customer care, operators need to have a range of are to engage with their viewers. multichannel customer contact methods, including calls, SMS, social Today, operators need to be able to bring on new devices, new networks and email. Operators also need to provide a consistent user contact channels, new bundles and new services. They need to be quick, experience over devices, with a simple registration process, including responsive and cost effective. They need a specialist provider focused single sign on. solely on pay TV – like Paywizard!

p41 PayWizard Q&A AugSep15.indd 1 02/09/2015 17:57 IBC 2015 > Preview Digital TV Europe August/September 2015 IBC 2015: the preview IBC 2015 will take place at the Rai in Amsterdam from September 10-15. Digital TV Europe preview some of the key technologies on display.

enhancing the user experience. such as multiscreen live TV, VoD, Albis Elcon The SoC features HEVC decoding, and catch-up TV (for up to seven Amagi STANDS 14.C11 AND 14.C04 enabling service providers to days). Featuring a simple UI, the STAND 2.C23 deliver HD-quality content at low SceneGate 8083 can run on an bitrates, according to Albis Elcon. exclusively developed global CDN. Elcon will showcase its SceneGate The platform is based on an open STB as a turnkey solution that is software architecture that can pre-integrated with third-party be integrated with popular OTT middleware, conditional access, services. DLNA-based media shar- WHAT’S NEW? WHAT’S NEW? and backend systems, enabling ing is available, enabling in-home Managed playout; mid-roll inser- SceneGate Flex STB service providers to introduce streaming and multiroom envi- tion demo WHAT DOES IT DO? new offerings with a short time ronments. The SceneGate 8073 WHAT DO THEY DO? Albis Elcon will provide several live to market (i.e., approximately 14 is suited more towards operators Set to debut at IBC 2015, Amagi’s demos of its SceneGate STB at days). During the demo Albis looking for an entry-level OTT and managed playout service is based IBC2015, showing attendees how Elcon will also highlight a variety IPTV STB capable of delivering on a hybrid architecture consist- they can use it in various applica- of features for the SceneGate STB, 1080p HD resolution video. The ing of cloud-management and tions. The latest SceneGate Flex such as internal WiFi, USB 3.0, and SceneGate 8073 features what edge-playout solutions, and en- STB model is based on an ARM HDMI 1.4, to enable a connected the company says is an extremely ables content owners to transfer CPU and GPU architecture that home entertainment experience small footprint — 85 mm wide x assets through fast file-transfer on supports broadcast, broadband, for end users. Also on display at 85 mm deep x 35 mm high — and the internet or transport content and OTT services, combined with IBC will be Albis Elcon’s globally advanced functionalities, such into the cloud infrastructure via up-to-date middleware and broad- deployed SceneGate 8073 and as DLNA-based in-home media portable storage methods. Amagi band software solutions. Through SceneGate 8083 STBs. The Scene- streaming and sharing. then ingests and transcodes the the SoC’s ARM Mali GPU, service Gate 8083 is for service providers CONTACT assets into the required formats, providers can deliver 3D graphics, that want to deploy new services www.albistechnologies.com archiving the content as needed. The service features an automat- ed content ingest workflow with ABox42 launches 4K smart set-top STAND14.J13 built-in heuristics to prioritise assets scheduled for earlier aByte capacity. The M40 STB STB platforms. The SmartSDK playouts. Amagi will demonstrate platform also includes fast WIFI supports a fast HTML5 brows- personalised mid-roll ad insertions up to 802.11ac as an option, er-based user interface and ap- in linear and on-demand OTT 1Gbps Ethernet, and supports plication environments including content utilising its watermark built-in Bluetooth 4.0 and RF for HbbTV and all major streaming detection technology, which hybrid remote controls and home formats for OTT, IPTV and DVB automatically detects ad breaks control system support. are supported. and splices different mid-roll ads ABox42 will unveil its new The M40 platform is based In terms of security, the M40 to various users based on their M40-Series smart set-top plat- on Broadcom’s latest Ultra High is ready for Verimatrix VCAS, user profile. Amagi will showcase form at IBC, which was developed Definition 10,000 DMIPS sys- Marlin, Playready, SecureMedia Cloudport 2.0, the company’s flag- for advanced operator projects. tem-on-a-chip, BCM7251S. In and WideVine DRMs or soft- ship cloud-based channel playout The M40-Series SmartSTB terms of software, the M40 STB ware-based central authentica- platform. Cloudport 2.0 provides supports the HEVC compression platform includes ABox42’s tion services. The M40 SmartS- TV networks with end-to-end standard and is capable of play- SmartSDK middleware and de- DK has been upgraded to support broadcast workflow capabilities on ing 4K video at up to 60 frames velopment environment, and can HEVC on 4K and full-HD and with the cloud, including media asset per second. Multichannel video be integrated into existing oper- all streaming formats. management, quality control, recording is possible via fast ex- ators’ environments as the soft- subtitle editing and management, ternal USB 3.0 hard disks or a ware stack is compatible with all CONTACT and automation and scheduling built-in hard disk of up to 2 Ter- other current ABox42 M-series www.abox42.com features. It will also show its

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Storm regionalisation platform to er Element Management System, and High Dynamic Range (HDR)- insert local advertising and local Artel Video Systems allowing end users to trunk and ready TVs. The ATEME-NexGuard content, without using separate STAND 2.A20 tag video and Ethernet data solution uses UHD 12 or 16-bit satellite feeds, to match viewer streams for subsequent routing uncompressed source content to preferences, abide by broadcast- through their networks. prepare HDR versions of content ing regulations and content rights CONTACT for Blu-Ray and electronic distribu- obligations, and monetise regional www.artel.com tion. The images are watermarked markets by attracting local adver- and encoded to 10-bit Perceptual tisers. At the heart of the solution Quantiser (PQ) HDR with 45Mbps is Storm IRD, Amagi’s enhanced ATEME & NexGuard High Efficiency Video Coding satellite receivers, which are capa- WHAT’S NEW? STAND 1.D71 AND 2.B41 (HEVC), then rendered on an HDR ble of storing content, detecting DigiLink DLM205 and DLC205 capable UHD TV, according to the remote-insertion triggers, and modules WHAT’S NEW? companies. The watermarking inserting HD video, multiple audio WHAT DOES IT DO? Watermark for pre-release HDR solution will be integrated with tracks including Dolby surround, Artel Video Systems will showcase content ATEME’s Titan Software Transcod- subtitles, and multi-layer animated its DLM205 and DLC205 nine- WHAT DOES IT DO? er, which will be demonstrated graphics. Amagi will also demon- port Ethernet aggregators and ATEME and NexGuard will launch on the ATEME stand. NexGuard strate its Cloudport OTT platform. optical transceivers at IBC. The a joint solution for the forensic demonstrations will be held during Amagi has been named a finalist modules include VLAN trunking watermarking of pre-release High IBC to help the industry under- in the IBC2015 Innovation Awards and tagging capabilities and can Dynamic Range (HDR) video con- stand how watermarking can help contest in the ‘Content Distri- aggregate up to nine channels tent at IBC. The solution is based deter piracy by allowing content bution’ category for its content of 10/100/1000 Ethernet traffic. on NexGuard’s SDK and is integrat- owners and rights holders to easily regionalisation solution provided This can be transported across ed with ATEME’s Titan Software identify the source of a leak. to Sundance Channel Global. electrical or optical networks. Up Transcoders, to allow customers CONTACT CONTACT to nine VLANs can be defined and to identify leaks prior to delivering www.ateme.com www.amagi.com managed via DigiLink’s DL-Manag- content to the home over UHD www.nexguard.com

Chameleon: The software based headend

„ Single hardware for every application „ Extension of functionality by software download „ Awarded as „best digital processing solution“ See you at

IBC, Amsterdam-15, 2015 September 11 Hall 4, booth 4.B50

More information

www.wisi.de

p42-47 IBC Preview DTVE AugSep15v4st.indd 43 02/09/2015 19:25 IBC 2015 > Preview Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

tors can use the BkS350 origin experience on any screen. Using export adapter and scripting; item BBright packager to dynamically convert the engagement solution, pay TV reconciliation; data enrichment; STAND 2.B39A recorded and video-on-demand operators can develop, control, data normalisation and data content into any ABR streaming and roll out interactive applica- deduplication; and editorial tools WHAT’S NEW? format while securing content tions (WatchApps), based on the for metadata. UHD-Record, UHD-TS, HEVC-Mas- with DRM encryption, according to content the viewer is watching, CONTACT www.contentwise.tv ter Broadpeak. By enabling operators whether live TV, VoD, or Inter- WHAT DOES IT DO? to package video content on the net-based content, in a simple and BBright, will launch three new fly, the BkS350 reduces storage non-intrusive way, to every screen. Easel TV products at IBC that will comple- costs and optimises resources Comigo’s TV experience is facilitat- STAND 14.M25 ment its UHD baseband player and for multiscreen delivery, making ed by the company’s back-end en- live 4K HEVC encoder: UHD-Re- it suitable for a range of applica- gines. These Experience Engines WHAT’S NEW? cord for quad 3G-SDI baseband tions, including VoD and cloud are fully controlled by the opera- Suggested TV recording; a 4K HEVC transport PVR services, the firm added. The tor. Comigo also provides a full set WHAT DOES IT DO? stream player called UHD-TS; and BkS350 origin server supports a of client-based solutions including Multi-screen video software its HEVC-Master file mastering range of adaptive bit rate formats, mobile apps for smartphones and company Easel TV will launch the station for HEVC. The firm said including Apple HLS, Microsoft tablets and an Android-based STB latest version of its Suggested that the updates will extend its Smooth Streaming, Adobe HDS, solution, which supports HEVC TV platform at IBC this year. The capability across the UHD work- and MPEG-DASH, allowing oper- and 4K technologies, according to new version of the cloud-based flow ecosystem. The 4K baseband ators to deliver video content to the company. software-as-a-service solution is recorder will enable capture of an any screen – including TVs, PCs, CONTACT designed to give more control to Ultra HD live content source. The smartphones, and tablets. Using www.comigo.com content owners, offering improved UHD HEVC transport stream play- HTTP adaptive bit rate technology, analytics, enhanced reporting, er will enable cost effective distri- the servers offer the best possible enhanced security and the ability bution of 4K compressed content video quality depending on their ContentWise to run promotional campaigns. At at lower bit rates. Meanwhile, the device. The BkS350 origin server STAND 14.K05 the same time, Easel has launched HEVC mastering station enables can be integrated within a video a service based on its Suggested creation of non-live content or delivery system from Broadpeak WHAT’S NEW? TV platform for Airwave’s hotel VoD file such as movies and TV or implemented as a standalone Knowledge Factory TV offering, Airtime. This service documentaries at the highest product. Broadpeak is a provider WHAT DOES IT DO? will be delivered to Samsung Hos- video quality – HEVC encoded of content delivery network (CDN) TV personalisation, discovery pitality TVs and gives hotel guests up to 4:4:4 12 bit. France-based technologies and live and vid- and recommendations specialist the choice to search and find technolgy company BBright claims eo-on-demand servers for cable, ContentWise will show off the programmes and movies to watch to have grown rapidly to become IPTV, OTT, hybrid, and mobile TV latest version of its ContentWise on-demand. The service will be a reliable source of 4K content to operators. Knowledge Factory metadata made available in selected hotels leading UHD sport trials. CONTACT management solution at IBC. across the UK this year and then CONTACT www.broadpeak.tv Knowledge Factory is an integrat- globally from 2016. Airwave is a www.bbright.com ed set of metadata management European installer and integrator software and tools designed to of digital hotel televisions, signage Comigo help operators source, enrich, inte- and audiovisual equipment, pro- Broadpeak STAND B.52 grate and maintain better content viding digital-ready TVs to hotels, STAND 4.B78 metadata. The product is designed hospitals, student accommoda- to help operators struggling to tions and commercial buildings. understand metadata coming CONTACT from several different sources, www.easeltv.com as viewers watch content across linear TV, catch-up, DVR, TVoD and SVoD. Knowledge Factory Envivio WHAT’S NEW? blends, de-duplicates and enriches STAND 1.D73 WHAT’S NEW? Comigo Multiscreen TV Platform data from these different sources BkS350 Origin Packager WHAT DOES IT DO? to eliminate metadata silos and WHAT’S NEW? WHAT DOES IT DO? Widely deployed and endorsed by deliver personalised TV experi- Virtual headend Broadpeak has added to its range various pay-TV operators around ences, according to ContentWise. WHAT DOES IT DO? of streaming servers the BkS350 the world, Comigo’s TV platform New features in the updated Encoding specialist Envivio will origin packager with on-the-fly enables pay TV operators to version of Knowledge Factory introduce a virtual, all-software packaging capabilities. Opera- control and offer a TV viewing include: data source adapter, data headend for satellite, terrestrial,

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cable TV, broadband and wireless are delivered with up to 67% less live captioning and metadata. In supports software-only graphics IP networks at IBC. According to rack space required while using up addition, Ericsson will offer Media with 2x2D DVE, internal and Envivio, the platform will enable to 40% less power, according to insights, including findings from its external automation, integra- video providers to now deliver the company. recently published ConsumerLab tion with the Nexio Farad SAN traditional TV and multiscreen ser- CONTACT www.envivio.com TV and Media report, its Media solution, as well as third-party vices from a single encoder. Enviv- Vision 2020 report and for the SANs and industry standard NAS io’s platform is optimised for Intel first time, an on-booth live studio, offerings, and any-to-any trans- architecture. The company says Ericsson presenting ask-the-expert sessions port, including compressed or that operational improvements STAND 1.D61 with senior Ericsson spokespeople. uncompressed IP (2022-6) and are delivered via three Envivio CONTACT SDI/baseband. The 3.0 release of products. First, it includes virtual WHAT’S NEW? www.ericsson.com Versio also marks the introduction software processor Envivio Muse, Advanced video processing, cloud of the Versio MCS, an optional which is available as software/ DVR and VoD updates; on-booth touchscreen-based master control virtual instance or embedded in live studio Imagine surface. The Versio MCS feature a server and supports MPEG-2, WHAT DOES IT DO? Communications brings new efficiencies to master AVC, and HEVC, from SD to UHD Ericsson will launch new solutions control, enabling operators to with the latest audio coding and and services at IBC that empower STAND 4.AMT manage Versio’s advanced switch- advanced statistical rate control customers to “put the connected ing, graphics and automation (SRC). Envivio Spark is a new consumer at centre stage in the WHAT’S NEW? capabilities with a simple touch of all-software multiplexer, which new internet era of television”. Er- Versio 3.0 a button in a single or multichan- enables integration with legacy icsson said that among the items WHAT DO THEY DO? nel environment. The new control transmission equipment. As an it will showcase will be launches Versio 3.0 IS the latest release of surface also enables advanced advanced IP gateway, it demodu- and announcements related to Imagine Communications’ inte- levels of user interface customi- lates, descrambles, and de-multi- advanced video processing and grated channel playout solution. sation. Media companies can now plexes for signal reception and for virtualisation as part of its media Providing all playout functions and optimize their control surfaces distributing the live channels over processing portfolio. It has also features in software, Versio 3.0 is for specific requirements and use IP networks. As a multiplexer, it promised new product updates 100% software-based, supports cases, according to the company. ingests the various channels over around cloud DVR and VoD. Erics- premises-based COTS servers to Imagine has also unveiled the IP produced by the headend and son will highlight media publishing cloud-based virtual machines, line-up for ImagineLIVE, a week- performs multiplexing, scram- services, including managed play- including a traditional integrated long series of presentations and bling, and signal modulation as out and information on new Ultra playout appliance model and sup- interactive discussions. Guest required for each type of signal HD channel launches. It will show ports baseband, IP-only, baseband contributors include Microsoft, transmission. Finally, it includes off media enrichment solutions and IP, and cloud (VersioCloud) Cisco, HP and IBM. Envivio Guru, its network man- including immersive sports graph- deployment models, according to CONTACT agement system which monitors ics and portfolio updates around Imagine Communications. It also www.imaginecommunications.com each service end-to-end. Unlike the traditional headend, where a proprietary interface is required Harmonic and Dimetis team for DVB-T2 STANDS 1.B20 & 1.B30 between the encoder and the multiplexer, there is no interface is say that transitioning to the with Envivio: a control module is DVB-T2 standard will provide embedded in Envivio Muse, the broadcasters with a wide range company says. Envivio’s statistical of benefits, including improved multiplexing technology requires Video delivery infrastructure pression standards and reduce spectrum efficiency, SD to HD 1Mbps or 30% less bandwidth firm Harmonic and German IP capital and operational expens- service enhancement, superi- for the same reliable video broadcast specialist Dimet- es. The field test system will or video quality, Dolby Digital quality normally transmitted in is have partnered to create a use a combination of Harmon- Plus/AAC audio support, and 1.5Mbps, the company claims. The next-generation TV field test ic’s Electra X2 advanced me- DVB subtitles. Using HEVC, converged all-in-one headend can system designed to “accelerate dia processor, ProStream 9100 the DVB-T2 standard enables deliver live or offline content in the distribution of next-genera- high-density stream processor, broadcasters to deliver more all current formats; and provides tion terrestrial television servic- DiviTrackIP statistical multi- services per channel at a low to- functionalities such as content re- es in Germany.” plexing technology, and NMX tal cost of ownership with high placement – ads or blackouts – live The system is designed to let Digital Service Manager. video quality, they claim. stream monitoring, seamless input video content and service pro- It will be integrated with the switching, and a complete service viders easily migrate to the new Boss Broadcast Manager from CONTACT view. All of these enhancements DVB-T2 and HEVC video com- Dimetis. Harmonic and Dimet- www.harmonicinc.com

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p42-47 IBC Preview DTVE AugSep15v4st.indd 45 02/09/2015 19:25 IBC 2015 > Preview Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

CPE devices and is designed to IRT Netia Opera Software provide end-to-end visibility from STAND 10.F51 STAND 1.A29 STAND 14.E20 the content source, across the network, down to millions of CPE WHAT’S NEW? WHAT’S NEW? and in-home devices, according HbbTV 2.0 showcase HbbTV 2.0 SDK to the company. Skyline will also WHAT DOES IT DO? WHAT DOES IT DO? demo confidence monitoring using The research institute for Opera Software is to start shipping hardware- and software-defined public-broadcasting organisa- WHAT’S NEW? an HbbTV 2.0 software develop- monitoring probes, digital headend tions in Germany, Austria and AirPlayList 2.0 Module for Media ment kit to TV manufacturers management for linear and OTT Switzerland, the Institut für Rund- Assist Software Suite and set-top-box OEMs, which it streaming, Master Control Room funktechnik (IRT), will present an WHAT DOES IT DO? says will enable them to be first management with single-click HbbTV 2.0 showcases at its booth The Netia Media Assist software to market with devices that are studio configuration, and satellite at IBC. The IRT developed the Hb- suite empowers users to manage compliant with the new spec earth station management. bTV 2.0 prototype service in close all types of content in multiple and simplify the task of creating CONTACT cooperation with the innovation formats on multiple platforms. The interactive content for TVs.HbbTV www.skyline.be projects division of ARD broad- new AirPlayList 2.0 module facili- 2.0 builds on HbbTV 1.1 and 1.5, caster Rundfunk Berlin-Branden- tates automated playout of multi- which are already deployed in burg (rbb) and TV manufacturer ple radio channels simultaneously Europe. Opera’s HbbTV SDK, built Teleste Samsung. It combines live and with guaranteed redundancy. alongside Opera’s widely deployed, STAND 4.B61 streaming using MPEG-DASH (Dy- Because the module is AES67- and Chromium/Blink-based HTML5 namic Adaptive Streaming over audio-over-IP-compliant, users can SDK, includes video streaming, WHAT’S NEW? HTTP) and subtitles based on the broadcast from a traditional phys- application management and all Luminato enhancement EBU-TT-D specification. The work ical sound card or using IP-based the APIs needed to create HbbTV was carried out with HBB4ALL, virtual drivers. In high-demand 2.0 devices. TV manufacturers WHAT DOES IT DO? a European co-funded project on scenarios, the AirPlayList 2.0 user that integrate Opera’s HbbTV SDK Teleste is to introduce a new media accessibility in a con- interface supports centralised will be able to deploy HbbTV 2.0 application module to its Teleste nected TV environment. Several control and monitoring of different interactive experiences in their de- Luminato headend platform. partners have contributed to the playout systems installed across vices by the first quarter of 2016, The module is a complete Linux showcase – Samsung is providing different servers. Users can access according to the company. computer that provides an open a prototype TV based on their and broadcast channels located CONTACT platform for application develop- current HbbTV development and within separate databases rather www.opera.com ment and enables development rbb is supplying sample A/V and than one central database. With of homegrown applications to the subtitle material for the demon- the module’s web-based interface, Luminato headend. As an integral strations, while ARD broadcaster remote users can access the Skyline part of the headend, the module Bayerischer Rundfunk is stream- module to monitor or supervise Communications makes it possible to code headend ing the TV channel Das Erste to playout on each channel. AirPlay- applications for various needs the internet in accordance with List 2.0 module offers users the STAND 1.A23 and application areas, including the new HbbTV 2.0 specification. choice of one-to-one redundancy remote management, stream anal- The HbbTV 2.0 specification was or a one-to-N option, in which ysis, NVoD, CA server and more. published early this year and a dedicated pool of servers As an example, hospitality opera- supports the latest web standards ensures that even in the event tors could code an application to like HTML 5, TTML subtitles (EBU- of a disaster, a secondary server deliver internet radio and video TT-D), the DVB profile of MPEG- can recover media and ensure an channels to a hotel TV or develop DASH and the new video codec uninterrupted broadcast. Netia will a messaging application that HEVC enabling new formats up to also feature the integration of its WHAT’S NEW? allows them to deliver emergency UHD. HbbTV 2.0 allows for new multiple-device interface for media DataMiner 9.0 alerts and notifications to TV applications that will connect management with its Radio-Assist WHAT DOES IT DO? screens in guest rooms and public devices like tablet PCs or smart radio automation module via a Skyline Communications will show- areas. Different types of EPG phones with the TV to extend the cross-platform, web-based inter- case version 9.0 of its DataMiner applications are possible, as shown user experience to multi-view and face that enables repurposing of network management and OSS by Teleste’s own EPG module that multi-user applications. The first professional branded multimedia, platform.DataMiner offers unified addresses the needs of easy and HbbTV 2.0 devices are expected but also automates publishing to control, monitoring and workflow flexible EIT information gathering to launch in 2016. any platform. automation across devices, data and management. CONTACT CONTACT centre infrastructure, cloud OS, CONTACT www.irt.de www.netia.com virtualised software functions and www.teleste.com

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p42-47 IBC Preview DTVE AugSep15v4st.indd 46 02/09/2015 19:25 Digital TV Europe IBC 2015 > Preview August/September 2015

WHAT’S NEW? multiple customers and device to a certain SVoD service can Viaccess-Orca Voyage Console; Voyage types; and personalised content be notified about a newly added STAND 1.A51 Applications for Cross-Screen discovery through a single unified series. Viaccess-Orca will show Engagement; Adaptive Sentinel; system that supports all delivery front-end applications, powered by Connected Sentinel Player networks. The console allows itself and Zenterio, on a variety of WHAT DO THEY DO? operators’ marketing teams to devices. Leveraging the compa- Viaccess-Orca will showcase its build service offerings and engage ny’s Voyage — TV Everywhere new backend management con- with customers by sending mes- solution, Voyage apps enable sole for TV Everywhere, enabling sages to segmented groups. For synchronization between devices. service providers to manage example, all accounts registered Through the apps, end users can interact with content, switching between a second-screen device Thomson highlights 4K and HDR STAND 14.A10 to the TV screen, in addition to viewing advertisements on second In Thomson Video Networks’ of live encoding by the ViBE® screens. During a series of live HDR demonstration, ViBE 4K VS7000 HD/SD encoder and en- demonstrations, Viaccess-Orca will take a UHD HDR signal from capsulation via Expway’s BMSC will highlight Voyage deploy- a SMPTE 2084-compliant broad- multicast server and eMBMS ments with Telekom Romania and cast feed and encode it to provide middleware devices. Olympusat. Viaccess-Orca will Highlighting its new ViBE® 4K a standard UHD HEVC Main10 Multimedia Broadcast Mul- also unveil its Adaptive Sentinel real-time compression solution compressed stream with specific ticast Services (MBMS) over solution, a unified card-less CA for Ultra HD (UHD) broadcast- HDR information. The stream can LTE, known as eMBMS, enables system that combines the compa- ing, Thomson Video Networks then be decoded using any HEVC distribution of popular content ny’s Prime Sentinel and Dynamic will demonstrate encoding of a Main10-compliant decoder. in a one-to-many (multicast) Sentinel solutions, offering service live UHD TV signal to distribute Separately, Thomson Video configuration as opposed to the providers chipset and smartcard high-dynamic-range (HDR) con- Networks has struck a new part- inefficient method of unicast- security alongside card-less tent at IBC 2015. ViBE 4K ena- nership with Expway, a leader ing individually to each viewer. security and preventive services. bles media enterprises to lever- in delivery of live content and Thomson Video Networks and Viaccess-Orca will demonstrate age high-efficiency video coding multimedia files in multicast Expway have worked together how Italian broadcaster Mediaset, (HEVC) to provide an optimal mode over wireless networks, to to integrate an end-to-end chain Israeli pay TV operator Yes and video experience to consum- combine the compression perfor- for live HEVC transmission over Norway’s TV2 were able to get TV ers through live compression of mance of live HEVC video with an LTE eMBMS network for fast- Everywhere apps up and running UHD sources at up to 60 frames the efficiency of LTE multicast er and more bandwidth-efficient with the downloadable Connected per second and in 10-bit colour. distribution technology. At IBC, deployments. Sentinel Player that protects con- ViBE 4K with HDR support will Thomson Video Networks and tent on Android and iOS devices. be commercially available in ear- Expway will showcase a full LTE CONTACT CONTACT ly 2016. distribution chain consisting www.thomson-networks.com www.viaccess-orca.com

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p42-47 IBC Preview DTVE AugSep15v4st.indd 47 02/09/2015 19:25 Preview > Content Innovation Awards 2015 Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

Content Innovation Awards: the shortlist Ahead of the very first Content Innovation Awards event at the Carlton Beach, Cannes on October 4, Digital TV Europe unveils the shortlist across the event’s categories.

competing for top spot in the MCN of the Year number of free-to-air content providers. category at the inaugural Content Innovation Competing for the Multiscreen TV Awards Awards. are Liberty Global for Horizon Go, KPN for its iTV service, Nemo TV by Nemo Telecom, The Voice and The Voice Global App by Talpa and Producers and distributors Sky Online by Sky Deutschland. Having a social strategy is now seen as key for The Content Innovation Awards will include programme makers and, increasingly, also for an award for Best Content Distributor, with platform operators. The shortlist for our Social a shortlist that includes Content Media, TV Innovation of the Year Award includes Global Agency, TCB Media Rights, Endemol Keshet/Mako’s Hacking App, Watch with In partnership with Shine International and ITV Studios Global Twitter by Orange, The Box Plus Network’s Entertainment. Vote4Music, Tavgance Media’s Second screen The Most Influential Production Company & TV Monetisation Platform for Kanal D and first Content Innovation Awards category will see a four-way contest between #SansLeMains by Marc Dorcel. The is set to be the latest addition to Entertainment One Television, MarVista Our overall Pay TV Service of the Year delegates’ diaries at MIPCOM in October. Entertainment, New Media Vision and New category will meanwhile see pay TV and OTT The event, which Digital TV Europe is hosting Pictures. providers battle it out in a four way battle in partnership with our sister title TBI on TV is nothing without the shows between M7 Group, Videocon D2H, Cirkus the eve of the Cannes show this year, will themselves, and the Content Innovation and YipTV. celebrate the most impressive innovations in Awards will recognise the effort that goes TV content and the technology that enables its into creating and marketing top series with delivery over the past year. the Best Series Launch of the Year Award, Technology featuring a shortlist that includes season four of Dynamo: Magician Impossible by Discovery, The Content Innovation Awards would not Channels Lip Sync Battle by Viacom International Media be complete without a category honouring Networks, Wataha by HBO Europe and Wolf the technology behind the innovation. We Key categories for TV channel providers Hall by the BBC and BBC Worldwide. will present three TV Technology Awards include Best International Networks on the evening, one for the Second Screen Group, Channel of the Year and Best New Experience (with Viaccess-Orca, Voyager Channel. In the Networks category, global UHD, multiscreen & social TV Apps, Turner Latin America and Kaltura’s programming giant Discovery will battle it TNTGO, EE’s LTE Broadcast trial, Netgem’s out with Sony Pictures Television and Trace, With Ultra High-Definition TV now very Telco TV Multiscreen Solution and Talpa’s while Channel of the Year will see Discovery’s much on the way, the Content Innovation The Big Picture in contention), one for UK & Ireland flagship channel compete for Awards will see BT, Blue Ant Media, Sky Content Discovery (Freesat’s Showcase, Rovi’s the honours with Discovery’s sports service Deutschland, Filmbox and TravelXP compete Personalised Discovery Solution, Siemens’ Eurosport, Trace Urban HD, Mezzo Live HD for the honour of being recognised in the 4K OTT Swipe the Kids Edition, UPC Romania’s and Gusto TV. Initiative of the Year category. TV Recommendations Application and The Best New Channel category will also TV Everywhere is now a must-have feature XITE’s Personalised Music Television form see a five-way contest between AMC Global, for pay TV operators and their content the shortlist) and one for Service-Enabling BBC Brit, Non Stop People, Viacom’s Spike partners, as well as a growing Technologies (with Conviva’s Intelligent and international kids channel Fix&Foxi. Control Platform, S3 Group’s StormTest Multichannel Networks (MCNs) have Warning Centre, Harmonic’s Electra XVM, been a key investment area for channel Screenz Cross Media’s Real-Time Platform groups over the last few years. BroadbandTV, and Pace and Foxtel’s iQ3 PVR). Endemol Beyond and Barcroft Media will be For more information about the Content The InterContinental Carlton Cannes’ The Innovation Awards and to book tickets, Beach bar will host the awards. visit www.contentinnovationawards.com.

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pXX MIDEM DTVE AugSep15.indd 1 26/08/2015 11:53 Technology > in focus Digital TV Europe August/September 2015 Technology in focus Infrastructure equipment and product news for digital media distribution

In Brief Matchstick pulls plug on Firefox OS dongle

Haier launches Roku line Matchstick has pulled the plug on Matchstick was initially due to Chinese electronics firm Haier its Mozilla-endorsed, Firefox OS- Matchstick ship in February. However, the has launched a new line of TVs based TV streaming dongle ahead was “unable firm announced that month that it powered by Roku’s operat- of launch, citing problems with to continue” anticipated a delayed, August 2015 ing system in the US. The 4 DRM development. with its HDMI launch and that it was planning Series Haier Roku TVs will The Chromecast rival was an- dongle. to increase the HDMI dongle’s cost between US$300 (e266) nounced last year with a Kickstart- CPU power from a dual core to and US$750 and will come in er campaign attracting more than a quad core chip and update the sizes ranging from 32-inches 17,200 backers, who pledged some road,” said Matchstick in the software to support Digital Rights to 55-inches. The TVs include US$470,300 to help get the project statement. Management – required by content built-in access to the Roku off the ground. “We have come to the conclu- providers like Netflix. Channel Store, which has more However, in a post addressed sion that we will not be able to “We are continually in talks with than 2,000 streaming channels, to backers, Matchstick said that reliably predict the completion date all the content you will want to ex- and features the Roku Feed – a after 11 months of development of the DRM development without perience on your Matchstick. DRM feature that lets viewers know it is “unable to continue on this significantly more research, devel- is a barrier and has become our pri- when content becomes available journey” and that it will aim to opment and integration. mary focus, and as we work to nail to stream. The sets can be refund all cash pledges by the end “We feel the only responsible that down we continue to explore controlled from the Haier Roku of September. thing to do now is to refund 100% new opportunities to upgrade the TV remote control or with the “After struggling with the DRM of the pledge money to our back- entire Matchstick experience,” said free Roku mobile app. development based on Firefox OS ers. You have been very patient the Matchstick team at the time. for most of this year, we realise with us, and we feel announcing The device was due to retail Nvidia Android TV console continued development of DRM, another major delay in the Match- in the US at US$25, some US$10 Games console provider Nvidia though showing early signs of stick delivery would not be fair to cheaper than Google’s Chromecast has launched an Android TV promise, will be a long and difficult our backers.” device. platform, Nvidia Shield, that is available via the Google Store. The console includes Android Set-top market set for decline, says Futuresource apps and Google Chromecast functionality, enabling users Global set-top box sales fell by 2% the smaller modem and gateway is expected to ship over 60 million to ‘cast’ content from mobile last year to 275 million units, high- business would remain promising, devices worth about US$3.3 devices to the TV using the con- lighting low growth or cutbacks in thanks to growing dependence of billion this year. sole. The device, which includes markets including Brazil, Russia, consumers on broadband, home “At US$600 million, Technicolor 16GB of storage will retail for India and China, and will continue networking and managed servic- seems to be getting a good deal US$199.99 (E178) in the US. A to fall gradually, highlighting the es. According to Futuresource, – an incremental US$1.2 billion ‘Pro’ version with 500GB stor- need for consolidation moves Technicolor’s acquisition of the in STB sales and access to key age is available for US$299.99. such as Technicolor’s recent deal Cisco set-top business will leave North American cable and IPTV The Nvidia device includes with Cisco, according to Future- Technicolor accounting for about accounts, bringing its worldwide access to a range of Android TV source Consulting. 13% of the global set-top market, share up to 13% [15% of pay TV],” apps such as Netflix, Hulu Plus, The company predicts that with a share of about 30% of the said Jack Wetherill, senior market Vevo, Crackle and Sling Televi- shipments will remain in excess key North American market. analyst, home electronics, Future- sion, as well as Google Movies, of 250 million units for each year Cisco’s total connected device source Consulting. “It also gets Google Music and YouTube. It until 2019, when the market will sales are expected to total US$1.6 Cisco’s Cable Modem business to also includes a GbE port, HDMI be worth about US$17 billion, billion in 2015, which will double complement its own Broadband 2.0 and HDCP2.2 for 4K TV. down from the current US$20 Technicolor’s connected home CPE unit, lifting its worldwide billion. Futuresource said that business in a full year. Technicolor share up to about 15%.”

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p50-53 DTVE Tech AugSep15v4st.indd 50 02/09/2015 20:37 Digital TV Europe Technology > in focus August/September 2015

Cross MediaWorks acquires BlackArrow In Brief

Media services group Cross via its Cadent Network subsidiary, Hisense £499 UHD TV MediaWorks has acquired pay TV and creative and advertising ser- Troiano will Chinese consumer electronics advertising and data solutions vices through The Cross Agency, serve as CEO manufacturer Hisense is to specialist BlackArrow. the company says it is now able of Cross Me- launch an ultra-low cost UHD BlackArrow customers include to offer customers a full range of diaWorks . DLED TV in the UK market. US and international pay TV services from self-serve software The 40-inch version, the operators such as Time Warner to fully managed services across LTDN40K321UWTSEU, will sell Cable, Comcast, Charter Commu- all forms of TV inventory. for as little as £449 (E612), with nications, Bright House Net- Nick Troiano, who previously roots in the pay-TV communi- 50-inch and 55-inch models works, Rogers Communications, worked as CEO of BlackArrow, ty,” said Joan Gillman, execu- available for £599 and £699 Liberty Global and Virgin Media. will serve as CEO of Cross Me- tive vice president and chief op- respectively. Hisense products The addition of BlackArrow to diaWorks, and Stephanie erating officer, media services for have previously only been avail- the Cross MediaWorks family will Mitchko-Beale, CTO of Cross Time Warner Cable and a member able in the UK through specialist expand the types of products and MediaWorks will assume CTO/COO of the board of directors of importers. The UHD devices will services the company can offer to responsibilities. BlackArrow. “The integration of have smart TV functionality, pay TV operators and advertisers Troiano will join Barry Baker BlackArrow into the Cross Me- allowing users to access apps on a worldwide basis, according to and Bob Wright, senior advisors to diaWorks family will provide oper- including Netflix and YouTube. the companies. Lee Equity Partners, on the Board ators with the tools and services BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime BlackArrow software prod- of Directors of Cross MediaWorks, they need to maximise revenue Instant Video apps will be avail- ucts enable inventory owners to a Lee Equity Partners portfolio from their TV inventory, whether able via a software update later manage, sell, and optimise their company. that’s traditional linear TV spots this year. All devices have HDMI own inventory. Coupled with Cross “Cross MediaWorks and Black- or addressable advertising on VoD 2.0 ports to enable them to play MediaWorks’ existing media sales Arrow individually have deep or OTT platforms.” back content from UHD Blu-ray players and other external devic- es and are capable of playing Turner takes over iStreamPlanet New set-top back HEVC-encoded video. They also include USB3.0 ports Turner Broadcasting System has “This partnership will expand from GS Group for home media and to enable bought a majority stake in live vid- our capabilities to offer live events viewers to record programming eo streaming company iStream- within and outside of the tradi- Russian technology provider GS via an external memory stick. Planet, a major cloud investment tional ecosystem and, by bringing Group, which supplies equip- The Hisense models, which will that will see it “develop new iStreamPlanet’s innovative ment for market-leading pay TV provide access to Freeview HD products and services.” technology in-house, allow us to operator Tricolor TV, has launched in the UK, will be available from Announcing the deal, Turner cultivate future business opportu- a new twin-tuner set-top box retailers including Argos, Euron- said that it will use iStreamPlan- nities on digital platforms.” under the General Satellite brand. ics, Ao.com, Hughes, ebuyer.com et’s technology to deliver its OTT Under the deal, iStreamPlanet Designed for the Russian market, and Crampton & Moore. programming and shift the firm’s will remain a standalone business the GS E502 includes two DVB-S/ “core technology infrastructure to and continue to make deals with DVB-S2 tuners to allow viewers to MTV partners with IM360 the cloud.” existing and new third-party watch TV simultaneously on two for VMA virtual reality It added that it will develop new clients, while working with Turner screens. MTV in the US partnered with products and services for existing to explore new business opportu- Users can view content on a immersive video firm IM360 to and new businesses and that the nities. mobile device if they have a valid broadcast 360-degree, virtual deal marks “an important piece iStreamPlanet founder and CEO satellite TV subscription and the reality video from August’s of Turner’s ongoing technology Mio Babic said: “We couldn’t ask relevant app. The GS E502 comes Video Music Awards (VMAs). transformation”. for a better partner to accelerate with an internal 500GB hard Viewers on desktops could click “We’ve worked with iStreamP- our growth and expand our portfo- drive, providing recording and with their mouse to get 360 lanet in the past during the PGA lio of multiplatform OTT solutions pause live-TV functions and the degree views from the red car- Championship and they have also to meet the changing needs of Stingray TV software developed pet. Mobile users were able to delivered world-class events such content owners and consumers.” by the group’s GS Labs unit, which download the IM360 app to get as the Super Bowl and Olympics iStreamPlanet offers large- supports teletext, subtitles, EPG, the same experience by moving to millions of viewers,” said Turner scale, live event streaming, TV programme reminders and games. their iOS or Android device in chairman and chief executive Everywhere Network simulcasts GS Group expects to ship over different directions. officer, John Martin. and OTT multiplatform solutions. 11,000 units by the end of 2015.

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p50-53 DTVE Tech AugSep15v4st.indd 51 02/09/2015 20:37 Technology > in focus Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

In Brief ContentWise teams with Babeleye for MEA move

ALi launches set-top and ContentWise has partnered with sound bar combo platform multi-lingual video content meta- Chipset specialist ALi has data platform, Babeleye, to bring launched a new DVB-plus-sound personalised TV experiences to bar combination based on its the Middle East and Africa (MEA). DVB-C/T2/S2 and IPTV video ContentWise – which specialises streaming chipset. The applica- in personalisation, discovery and tion supports premium-quality recommendations for digital TV streaming music delivery to the content – will integrate Babeleye’s set-top. According to ALi, the metadata platform, allowing it to solution fills a gap in the market deliver search, discovery and rec- created by moves by TV manu- ommendations for local content. facturers to create devices that ContentWise is integrating are as slim as possible, leaving Babeleye’s solution into its little space for speakers that re- Personalization System and tinue to expand globally. The part- countries, with a particular focus quire volume in order to deliver Knowledge Factory metadata nership with Babeleye ensures on the Arab region. decent sound, leading to the processing engine and will now that we are able to deliver the Babeleye sales director, Lasse need to connect sound bars with provide advanced content search, very best, personal TV experience Schmidt, said: “Our partnership TVs, set-tops and other equip- discovery and recommendations to viewers across the region,” said not only benefits local viewers, ment. The ALi chipset removes for Arabic and other content in ContentWise CEO Paolo Bozzola. but it also means TV providers the need for this by combining the MEA region. Babeleye’s mapping of local across the region will be able to set-top with sound bar for both “As one of the fastest growing market metadata in the MEA get the very best of Babeleye and video and audio. The application pay-TV markets, the MEA region region offers metadata across ContentWise technologies in one, not only enhances sound quality is a key market for us as we con- multiple platforms and in multiple ready to use platform.” of audio streaming from the TV broadcast but also functions as a standalone speaker capable Piksel teams up with metadata firm Lingospot of playing music from local USB storage, mobile devices via Blue- Online video platform provider Lingospot with the capabilities tion. The addition of Lingospot’s tooth technology, and online Piksel has teamed up with TV of the Piksel Palette will enable technology to the Piksel Palette services such as Spotify, Qobuz, metadata specialist Lingospot to services such as random access will give our customers exclusive and Deezer, without having to deliver personalisation, search, TV viewing, plot based recom- access to a suite of enhanced turn on the TV, according to the targeted advertising and content mendations and personalised metadata services that are truly company. In addition, ALi has discovery. The partnership will media delivery, according to the innovative in the video space and also enabled remote control of make it possible to derive rich, companies. we are delighted to formalise our the set-top/sound bar solution scene-level metadata for each “Meeting the demands of the partnership together,” said Mark on Android smartphones. piece of content, comprising online audience and creating Christie, chief technology officer the subjects, themes, topics and compelling user experiences at Piksel. Coeno, Espial to provide concepts contained within it, and requires deep understanding of “Over the last two years, new UX for Tele Columbus to use this compiled intelligence the content itself, one that can Lingospot has focused on building German TV technology special- within Piksel’s video solutions to be achieved with metadata. This the technology to analyse various ist Coeno is advising cable oper- drive content suggestions and can be accomplished using easily modalities of video content. We ator Tele Columbus on the cre- advertising selections that are accessible metadata about the have become leaders in decipher- ation of a new user interface to personally relevant to viewers, video content, in combination with ing exactly what is happening accompany the launch of its new according to the pair. analysis of what occurs within the inside a video stream, in real-time. set-top box. The Munich-based Lingospot uses patented natural video content. Rich metadata This understanding goes a long design agency is working closely language processing, semantic can power increased usage and way towards building revolution- with US-based middleware search, image analysis, and ma- monetisation opportunities ary video discovery and consump- specialist Espial to develop the chine learning technologies to an- through effective content search, tion experiences. Piksel is a leader user experience, with the set-top alyse multiple modalities of video discovery, hyper-personalised in all the technology elements expected to launch towards the and extract time-coded metadata recommendations and advertis- we were missing to launch these end of this year. about what is happening on a ing. All of which play a key role in services,” said Nikos Iatropoulos, scene-by-scene basis. Combining much-needed service differentia- CEO of Lingospot.

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p50-53 DTVE Tech AugSep15v4st.indd 52 02/09/2015 20:37 Digital TV Europe Technology > in focus August/September 2015

Broadcaster OH-TV taps PlayBox to offer playout In Brief

London-based broadcaster and USA, a channel transmitted via precise combination of features Com Hem picks Elemental TV channel provider OH-TV the online UN1TY platform. we needed for our combination Swedish cable operator Com has tapped playout technology The broadcaster currently of live and scheduled channels. A Hem has chosen Elemental to specialist PlayBox Technology provides playout services to second PlayBox Technology Air- unify the delivery of live linear to supply 10 additional AirBox channels including Smash TV, Box system was added in 2009,” and multiscreen TV services. playout channels. Tiwa Tiwa, Hip TV Nigeria, Glitz, said OH-TV CEO Akin Salami. ComHem has chosen Elemental The move will enable OH-TV, Views and VEATZ 24. “We now have a total of 12 software-defined video process- which supplies entertainment “We bought our first AirBox AirBox playout automation ing systems to deliver linear channels focusing on the black playout system in May 2008 servers working in sync with video across cable, IPTV and experience worldwide, to offer following careful evaluation network-attached-storage, fully OTT TV networks from a unified playout services to other broad- of the available systems. The integrated by PlayBox Technolo- headend. This supports both IP casters in addition to produc- service-provider we were working gy. All 12 servers can be operated and SDI inputs, with Elemental ing and transmitting its own with at that time was itself a suc- remotely or straight from our Live used to simultaneously channels. cessful PlayBox Technology cus- MCR. This solution is very robust, process live H.264 DVB-C, RTP, OH-TV transmits it own content tomer which certainly influenced working continuously every day and ABR streams for all Com to viewers in the UK and Europe our choice. We were impressed of the year. Its reliability allows us Hem delivery networks. “Com via the Sky satellite platform by the modular structure of the to get on with our core business Hem is committed to offering and digital-terrestrial platform PlayBox Technology platform. It of making and transmitting our customers the best available Freeview, and also produces OH gave us the ability to choose the programmes. content and a high level of ser- vice. By consolidating our head- end with Elemental we are able Roku tops US device sales Launches for to meet this commitment across all of our networks and to all Roku still leads the streaming Eutelsat and types of devices,” said Com Hem media device market in the US chief technology officer Henri having outsold rivals like Google Intelsat Caddeo. Com Hem’s broadband, and Amazon in 2014, according New satellites from Eutelsat and TV, and phone services reach to Parks Associates. Intelsat have both launched into approximately 1.92 million The research claims that orbit on an Ariane 5 rocket from households in Sweden. Roku devices accounted for Kourou, French Guiana. 34% of streaming devices is not the primary function Eutelsat 8 West B will transfer ITV extends playout con- sold in the US last year, trumping but an extra feature to provide to 7/8° West where it will enter tract with Ericsson second place Google which additional value,” said Barbara commercial service in October, UK commercial broadcaster accounted for 23% of sales with Kraus, director of research, Parks after performance tests. The sat- ITV has extended its playout its Chromecast stick. Amazon’s Associates. ellite hosts Ku-band and C-band contract with Ericsson for its Fire TV products overtook Apple Nearly 20% of US broadband payloads and will cover TV homes portfolio of channels until 2024. TV to take third place. households are estimated to own in the Middle East and North Under the new deal, Ericsson Combined, these four leading at least one streaming media Africa, according to Eutelsat. will continue to provide playout brands accounted for 86% of player – like an Amazon Fire TV, Intelsat 34 is due to be placed services for ITV, ITV2, ITV3, all units sold to US broadband or Apple TV – while 8% own at into service at the 304.5ºE or- ITV4, ITV HD, CITV and their households in 2014, according to least one streaming stick, such as bital location and is also a C- and associated regional variants, as Parks’ Streaming Media Device a Google Chromecast or Amazon Ku-band satellite. It will host a well as providing services for Landscape report. Fire TV Stick. Ku-band DTH television platform ITV’s most recent TV channels – “The market consolidation Parks said that Roku devices as well as a specialised Ku-band ITV Encore and ITVBe. Ericsson around these four brands forces are the most used among US payload serving broadband said that as part of the contract, new entrants to develop more broadband households that own services for the aeronautical and it has designed, built and creative features and func- a streaming media device at 37%, maritime mobility sector in the integrated a scalable simulcast tionality to tap into the strong followed by Google Chromecast North Atlantic. The new satellite platform for ITV. It said that the consumer demand for streaming at 19%, Apple TV at 17%, and will replace Intelsat 805 and modular infrastructure will give content. Devices with additional Amazon Fire TV devices at 14%. Galaxy 11 as the third in Intelsat’s ITV the flexibility to deliver new functionality such as the Intel The research estimates that 86 Latin America, pan-regional video services and easily launch exist- Compute Stick may be a sign of million streaming media devices distribution neighborhood – which ing services onto new platforms. things to come, where streaming will be sold globally in 2019. includes Intelsat 11 and Intelsat 21.

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p50-53 DTVE Tech AugSep15v4st.indd 53 02/09/2015 20:37 People > Places Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

On the move

Altice has confirmed the business development UK and Media, will report to John Burke, provider for telecommunications appointment of Alcatel Lucent Western Europe, AMC Networks, Rovi’s executive vice president and content service providers. CEO Michel Combes as chief will split the role as co-chairmen. and chief operating officer. Chun joined SeaChange as vice- operating officer of the group Tveter, who is also CEO of Central president, business development and chairman of the board of Europe Group, Liberty Global, Digital watermarking specialist upon the acquisition of Timeline Numericable-SFR. Combes’ move steps down from CTAM Europe Friend MTS has named Rob Labs, of which he was co-founder, was widely anticipated following after three years in the post. As Brown as senior solutions in February. Nokia’s agreement to acquire part of the merger between CTAM architect. Brown, who has held Alcatel Lucent in April. Combes Europe and Cable Europe, the two similar positions at both Irdeto Georg Ramme has been said his priority would be to organisations will bring together and Piksel, has designed, built and promoted to global managing consolidate the group’s existing their respective annual events, supported the OTT infrastructure director of Endemol Beyond, base, following three major integrating EuroSummit into a for pay TV providers including the digital and multichannel acquisitions in the last 18 months. “refreshed and relaunched” Cable Sky, Channel 4’s 4oD, OSN and network division of the Endemol Congress from 2016 onwards. AT&T. He has also consulted Shine Group. Ramme started up Eutelsat has appointed the head on internet video for Disney, the Endemol Beyond initiative, of TDF’s media services division, NBCUniversal Univision, BBC and ITV. overseeing a German hub in Julien Seligmann, as its regional International, 2012. He is being promoted from vice-president of the UK and aligning its Danish telco international managing director. Nordics. Seligmann has served distribution TDC has as head of special events at and networks named Pernille TV security specialist Conax Globecast and CEO of Globecast business in Erenbjerg as has appointed Oliver Bernau, do Brasil and later founded Europe, the its new CEO, formerly an executive at Nordic IT electronic content delivery firm Middle East and Africa, has taking over company Evry, as executive vice- SmartJog, which was acquired by promoted Satpal Brainch from former president and head of services. TDF in 2006. (pictured) to the new role of MD, president and CEO Carsten Bernau will lead Conax’s recently- distribution and networks, EMEA, Dilling. Erenbjerg was previously formed services division and work Polish reporting to Belinda Menendez, deputy CEO, having been to grow the company’s global broadcaster president, NBCUI Distribution & promoted from chief financial services portfolio and launch new TVN Group Networks. Carolyn Stalins has officer in January. She has service offerings. has appointed been appointed senior vice- worked for TDC since 2003. company president, distribution, EMEA. Dilling, who has helmed the Former Turner executive In this new role, Stalins will lead telco for the last three years and Broadcasting Christian NBCUI’s content distribution has left by mutual agreement System EMEA Anting to the management across the region, reporting to with the board, according to the senior VP and board, with overall responsibility Brainch. Brainch was previously company, will continue to act as COO Pete for digital and e-commerce. executive vice-president and an advisor to Erenbjerg for the Flamman has Anting first joined TVN Group in managing director, NBCU next few months. Erenbjerg will joined Viacom 2010 and has been chief strategy International Networks. Stalins combine the CEO role with her International Media Networks’s officer and managing director of was previously MD, southern existing chief financial officer northern Europe operation. digital and e-commerce since last Europe, distribution and networks responsibilities for the time being. Flamman is taking on a newly- year. The appointment means with oversight of both businesses created role of SVP of brands TVN’s digital activities are now across France, Iberia and Italy. TV technology provider for northern Europe at VIMN represented at board level. SeaChange has named Paul Northern Europe. He left Turner TV search and discovery and user Crann as senior vice-president last year as part of a restructuring Liberty Global executive Eric guide specialist Rovi has named of product management of the EMEA business that Turner Tveter has stepped down from Michael Hawkey as senior vice- and solutions architecture, international president Gerhard his role as chairman of CTAM president and general manager and Mitchell Chun as senior Zeiler initiated and Giorgio Stock Europe. Inge Smidts, chief of its Discovery business group. vice-president of business subsequently oversaw. marketing officer at Liberty Hawkey, who was previously development. Crann previously Global, and Marco Frazier, senior senior vice-president and general worked for BTI Systems, a Please email contributions to: vice-president of distribution and manager for EchoStar’s Sling software-driven network solutions [email protected]

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p54 People DTVE AugSep15v3st.indd 38 02/09/2015 19:16 Formally FREE TO ATTEND FOR BROADCASTERS, OPERATORS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS known as:

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p55 TV Connect Africa AugSep15.indd 1 02/09/2015 10:12 Final analysis > Kate Bulkley Digital TV Europe August/September 2015

“While there is plenty of evidence from the US that people want to pay less and cut the cord in favour of a ‘skinny bundle’ from the likes of Netflix and others including Sling TV, naysayers are also looking at how Amazon and other digital players are starting to nip at Netflix’s heels.”

Netflix: the troubled teen

is a difficult age goal of being in 60 countries by 2016. It has all the new projects with big name talent ac- Eighteen for humans and- continued to beat the odds with its growth tually work. Will Ricky Gervais really create so, it seems, for at least one media company. plan, adding a better than expected 3.28 more subscribers than Hunger Games star Netflix – which came to life in 1997 as a DVD million new subscribers in the most recent Jennifer Lawrence? rental company by post and then in 1999 as quarter. In October it will launch in Spain in Nor is Amazon standing still. Origination an SVoD service, made headlines in 2010 partnership with Vodafone and it aims to add is now on the top of its agenda, most recently when it became the biggest source of internet another 10 countries by the end of next year, with the acquisition of the former Top Gear traffic in primetime in the US. including China and India. Subscriber num- team Jeremy Clarkson and his chums. To- Netflix took the media business by storm. bers stand at a healthy 65 million. gether they will make a new motoring show Users loved its ease of use and its inexpensive Netflix’s stock has recently plunged – fall- that could help make Amazon a brand name and flexible pricing and it transitioned easily ing by 21% over three days in August – partly for middle aged men all over the world. through its teenage years into a major media on the back of China’s problems and their But even more interestingly, Amazon has player. It picked up programming awards for potential impact on global economic growth, recently announced a download service – its original series like Orange is the New Black but also because media analysts had already something that even Netflix has shied away and House of Cards and launched internation- begun questioning a model based on contin- from. The multi-layered Amazon is still a ally, while its stock price rose almost as fast as ued growth. long way from challenging Netflix in terms of its subscriber numbers. Cable pioneer John While there is plenty of evidence from the subscribers (the UK figures alone show this Malone admitted that companies he invests US that people want to pay less and cut the – 4.4 million subscribers for Netflix against in were caught out by the super-fast rise of cord in favour of a ‘skinny bundle’ from the 1.2 million for Amazon, according to Ofcom), Netflix, which fed on subscribers’ disillusion- likes of Netflix and others including Sling TV, but Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is not usually ment with big cable bills. naysayers are also looking at how Amazon the kind of man to play the underdog role for Netflix has recently tweaked its model to and other digital players are starting to nip at too long. achieve CEO Reed Hastings’ ambition of Netflix’s heels. For example, in Japan Netflix On top of Amazon, Netflix also now has to breaking even next year and achieving what recently announced a partnership with Soft- keep Spotify, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter and he described as “material global profits” in bank to distribute its service but Amazon loads of other high profile web brands in its 2017. Some investors on Wall Street even also has a Japanese business and is hungry sights because they are turning more towards think it could become a US$100 billion (e90 to compete, including moving into the fund- video content to attract eyeballs. YouTube is billion) company by market capitalisation. ing of original programming, emulating the also set to add SVoD channels to its platform, But there are problems afoot. The root of Netflix model. Meanwhile, Netflix has plans bringing another potentially bruising source concerns over Netflix in 2015 remains its to launch in China, but local player Alibaba of competition to the body of Netflix. business model: how can it justify a soaring recently announced that it will launch a simi- All in all, by the time Netflix lights the can- stock price and a market valuation of nearly lar service there. dles on its 21st birthday cake in three years US$45 billion – over 255 times earnings – At the same time, Netflix has said it will time, things might look considerably differ- when for the past four quarters Netflix’s cash not be renewing its licensing deal with Epix, ent than it did as a teenager. Nothing stays flow has been negative? so a major part of its library (including the the same for very long in the media business. Netflix recently dropped large chunks of likes of The Hunger Games and the Transform- Even for Netflix. l its library to focus on acquiring original pro- ers series) will move to its competitor Hulu. gramming. It has also been signing up both Original material from stars including Ricky Kate Bulkley is a broadcaster and writer cable and telco distribution partners, increas- Gervais, Idris Elba and Adam Sandler is great specialising in media and telecommunica- ing its footprint as it moves towards its stated but, as anyone in the TV business knows, not tions. [email protected]

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p56 Final Analysis DTVE AugSep15v3am.indd 40 03/09/2015 13:57 2016

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pOBC OTT Summit DTVE AugSep15.indd 1 02/09/2015 10:01