March/AprilMay/June 2019

App, app and away The rise of Android TV

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pIFC Vewd DTVE MayJun19.indd 1 22/05/2019 18:47 Digital TV Europe May/June 2019 Contents March/AprilMay/June 2019

16. Onwards for Android

The rise of Android TV as the operating system of choice for an ever-growing range of service providers speaks to the realisation that aggregation of multiple app-based video services and a App, app and away compelling user experience are the key competitive tools for operators. Stuart Thomson reports. The rise of Android TV

pOFC DTVE MayJun19.indd 1 22/05/2019 19:13

21. Taking on the cord cutting threat 21

Zappware’s inaugural Strategy Summit in Ghent saw a raft of industry participants discuss strategies for succeeding in pay TV and taking on the cord-cutting challenge.

24. Speed merchants Broadband providers are engaged in an arms race to deliver ultra-fast services to subscribers. 24 HFC cable network operators are making use of a fast-evolving range of tools to stay ahead of rivals, writes Adrian Pennington. 28

28. Telcos get smart

Telecom operators are increasingly looking to smart home applications to deliver additional revenues, but partnerships are crucial to making this work, writes Anna Tobin.

Regulars

2 This month 4 News digest 32 Technology 38 People 40 Final analysis

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p01 Contents DTVE MayJun19 V2 JE.indd 1 22/05/2019 19:23 This month > Editor’s note Digital TV Europe May/June 2019

Issue no 345 The new triple-play Published By: Informa Tech Blue Fin Building 110 Southwark Street service providers face serious challenges. London SE1 0TA Multi-play The phrase ‘highly competitive environ- Website: www.digitaltveurope.com ment’ has been making an increasingly frequent appearance in cable and telecom operators’ quarterly earnings presentations, as they have strug- gled to differentiate their offerings on the basis of something other than Editor Stuart Thomson price and to drive up margins. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7017 5314 Ahead of the annual ANGA COM trade fair in Cologne, this issue of Email: [email protected] Digital TV Europe looks at some weapons in operator arsenals that could give them an advantage in the battle to win and retain subscribers at a Deputy Editor Jonathan Easton time when other ways to differentiate offerings are losing their edge. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7017 5390 Exclusive content is becoming prohibitively expensive for territory-specific service providers Email: jonathan [email protected] while the way content and other services are packaged is already being used to maximum ad- vantage and can easily be copied. Operators competing head on in the classic triple-play market therefore are tapping into the Contributing Editor Manori Ravindran potential differentiating power of the user experience, raw broadband speed and value-added broadband services to stay one step ahead of rivals. Contributors In this issue of Digital TV Europe, we first take a look at the user experience and, in particular, Kate Bulkley, Andy Fry, Adrian Pennington, at the rise of Android TV as the operating system of choice for a growing number of service Anna Tobin providers. Android TV‘s popularity has been enhanced by Google’s introduction of Android TV Opera- tor Tier, which gives operators much more scope to design the user interface and decide which Commercial Director Patricia Arescy content to surface at the top of search results. But Android TV’s popularity remains due, above Tel: +44 (0) 20 7017 5320 all, to the access it gives to the Google Play store. In the battle to win and keep subscribers, Email: [email protected] service providers know that they have to provide easy access to the expanding range of OTT TV services that consumer now use. Access to third-party apps via the set-top box is growing in Art Director Matthew Humberstone importance as the appeal of the big basic TV bundle declines. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7017 5336 Second, appropriately for our ANGA COM issue, we take a deep dive into how cable opera- Email: [email protected] tors can tap the latest innovations from CableLabs to deliver ever greater broadband speeds to their customers. In this issue we assess which technologies operators are prioritising for investment – such Marketing Executive Abigail Dede as CCAP, R-PHY, or Full Duplex DOCSIS – as they seek to maximise the use of their existing Tel: +44 (0) 20 7017 6018 hybrid fibre-coax infrastructure to stay ahead of telecom rivals that may find it necessary to lay Email: [email protected] fibre-to-the-home to remain competitive. Finally, we take a look at one of the new service categories that multi-play operators are look- ing to roll out to provide added value to their customers over and above a competitively-priced Printing Walstead Roche, Cornwall triple- or quad-play bundle. We examine how service providers can break into the market for smart home services, looking at the market, what makes sense for operators to focus on, and the pitfalls and challenges of expanding the range of offerings to encompass devices that are often sold at retail. l To subscribe to this magazine or our daily email newsletter please visit digitaltveurope.com/registerhere

© 2019 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved Stuart Thomson, Editor Reproduction without permission is prohibited [email protected]

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p02 Ed Note DTVE MayJun19v4stJE.indd 2 22/05/2019 18:35 Are you at cloud speed?

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AWS003-003pXX AWS DTVE Full MayJun19.indd page advert 090519v2.indd 1 1 09/05/201917/05/2019 15:2710:06 News > digest Digital TV Europe May/June 2019 News digest > Disney acquires Hulu > Vaunet slams Vodafone > Mediaset pivots to free as Premium goes OTT > SVOD impact on UK production ‘overstated’ claims COBA exec > Viacom plans major expansion following acquisition of Pluto TV Disney wraps up deal with Comcast to gain full control of Hulu

By Manori Ravindran > until late 202. The company has Iger: “Hulu represents the best also agreed to distribute Hulu of television.” Disney revealed on May 14 that on its Xfinity X1 platform. it will assume full operational NBCUniversal can terminate Guy Bisson, research director control of Handmaid’s Tale most of its content licence at Ampere said: “With full streamer Hulu, effective agreements with Hulu in operational control of Hulu, immediately, in return for three years, and in one year Disney’s streaming jigsaw Disney and Comcast entering NBCUniversal will be able to puzzle is complete. The into a “put/call” agreement take some of the content it concept of building a family of regarding NBCUniversal’s currently licenses to Hulu for its services to capture audience in 33% ownership stake in the own streaming platform. a fragmented and competitive platform. Hulu struck a deal with TV offerings. We are now able world is not new – it was first Under the deal, Disney can AT&T in April to take back a to completely integrate Hulu explored when digital TV came buy NBCUniversal’s interest in 9.5% minority stake from the into our direct-to-consumer along in the early 1990s – Hulu as early as January 2024. company for US$1.43 billion. business and leverage the full Disney now needs to update Effective now, NBCUniversal Comcast has reportedly been power of The Walt Disney that model for the 21st century has relinquished voting rights mulling a sale of its 30% stake Company’s brands and creative and Hulu is the key.” around Hulu. in Hulu for some time. In late engines to make the service During an earnings call in Hulu’s fair market value April, it was reported that the even more compelling and a November 2018, Iger said that in 2024 will be assessed by business was weighing the pros greater value for consumers,” Disney spoke on the company’s independent experts but Disney and cons of doing a deal now The deal is the latest step in ambitions for Hulu, hinting has guaranteed a sale price for rather than later. Disney’s efforts to capitalise at international expansion. He Comcast of at least US$27.5 Disney company CEO and on the rapidly growing said: “Given the success of Hulu billion ( 24.6 billion). chairman Bob Iger commented streaming space, following the so far in terms of subscriber In addition to the put/call on the acquisition, saying: announcement of Disney+. growth and the relative brand agreement, Comcast has agreed “Hulu represents the best of According to a report from strength and other things like to extend Hulu’s licensing of television, with its incredible from Ampere Analysis, buying demographics, we think there’s NBCUniversal content and the array of award-winning original Hulu will “allow Disney to an opportunity to increase Hulu Live carriage agreement content, rich library of popular reinvent the TV ‘channel family’ investment in Hulu notably on for NBCUniversal channels series and movies, and live for the streaming generation”. the programming side.”

The Deutsche Telekom subsidiary CAB> Telenet gets lift from Austria will market its services under Belgium fixed-mobile convergence the Magenta retail brand, while Liberty Global-backed Belgian CAB> T-Mobile and UPC to retaining the T logo as its corporate CAB> Proximus sees growth cable operator Telenet’s operation- become Magenta Telekom brand. The company plans to Belgian telecom operator Proximus al performance in the first quarter Service provider T-Mobile Austria begin phasing in its new brand saw growth in TV and fixed broad- was boosted by solid take up of its has merged its operations with communication immediately, and band customers in the first quarter, fixed-mobile convergence bundles, cable subsidiary UPC Austria, to gradually build up its use. The despite lower marketing, and saw although revenue and like-for-like formerly owned by Liberty Global, combined company’s official name its latest convergent offerings gain EBITDA were broadly flat year-on- to create an integrated service will be Magenta Telekom GmbH. traction. Proximus added 7,000 year. Revenue for the period was provider to be known as Magenta At a yet-to-be decided date in the new TV subscriptions to its base in €626.4 million, flat on a like-for-like Telekom after Deutsche Telekom future, that name will supplant the the first quarter, translating into an basis, as was adjusted EBITDA of Group’s flagship product brand. name T-Mobile Austria GmbH. uplift of 2.8% year-on-year. €320.3 million.

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p04-05,08-09,10,12 DTVE News Digest MayJun19 V6 st.indd 4 22/05/2019 18:14 Digital TV Europe News > digest May/June 2019

Croatia Denmark France Events

OTT> Hopster strikes partner- CAB> TDC looks to football OTT> Xavier Niel to the res- ANGA COM ship with A1 Hrvatska Danish cable and telecom operator cue at Molotov? Date: 4 - 6 June Kids digital service Hopster has TDC saw its TV base continue to Free founder Xavier Niel may step Venue: Köln Messe, Germany struck a distribution partnership decline in the first quarter, with the in if French OTT TV player Molotov’s W: angacom.de with Telekom Austria’s Croatian loss of 56,000 TV customers year- investors block the company’s unit, A1 Hrvatska, which pro- on-year to the end of March. planned sale to Altice France, NEM vides Hopster customers with The company had 1.225 million according to local reports. Accord- Date: 10 - 13 June convergent telecommunication TV revenue-generating units at ing to L’Opinion Niel, a long-time Venue: Hotel Dubrovnik Palace, solutions, including mobile, fixed the end of March, down 17,000 acquaintance of Molotov co-found- Dubrovnik, Croatia and TV services. The deal offers A1 on the previous quarter.TDC has er Jean-David Blanc, is prepared to W: neweumarket.com postpaid mobile subscribers who announced initiatives to stabilise take part in a new capital increase. are using the A1 Internet protection and return the TV business to Despite counting seven million us- TechXLR8 for children service a free Hopster growth following its move to create ers, Molotov has struggled to attract Date: 12 - 13 June subscription. Customers will be separate a separate customer-fac- paying subscribers and its financials Venue: ExCeL, London, UK able to access Hopster’s education- ing entity – Nuuday – alongside are believed to be precarious. W: tmt.knect365.com/techxlr8/ al shows, music, games and books an infrastructure arm. The group Altice Europe has been in exclusive via their mobile or tablet for free has struck a deal with Nordic negotiations to acquire Molotov, Variety TV Summit Europe from the App Store and Google Entertainment Group to carry but the talks have reportedly hit a Date: 13 June Play. The ad-free app also features English Premier League football significant stumbling block, with Venue: Royal Lancaster Hotel, a collection of ebooks, videobooks, overage. Half of the matches will be a number of Molotov’s investors London, UK audiobooks and nursery rhymes, available exclusively on Xee from unhappy with the move, according W: tmt.knect365.com/ and bedtime lullabies. August 2019. to financial daily Les Echos. variety-europe/

BroadcastAsia Vodafone-Liberty concessions ‘miss the point’ Date: 18 - 20 June Venue: Suntec, Singapore By Stuart Thomson > neutraility “must be self-evident”. W: broadcast-asia.com Vaunet maintains that a com- German commercial broadcaster bined Vodafone and Unitymedia LOVE Broadcasting Summit association Vaunet has slammed would enable the telecom opera- Date: 25 June Vodafone’s moves to secure tor to dictate commercial terms Venue: Waldorf Hilton Hotel, EC regulatory approval of its to pay and free TV providers re- London, UK acquisition of Liberty Global’s garding not only carriage fees but W: marketforcelive.com/ Unitymedia as missing the point. Vodafone submitted a reme- exclusive distribution windows love-broadcasting/ Vaunet managing director dy package comprising the ca- and DVB-C broadcast capacity. Harald Flemming said that ble wholesale agreement and a Flemming said that Vodafone’s IBC Vodafone’s moves “could only commitment to ensure sufficient proposed measures ignored the Date: 13 - 17 September astonish” observers as they capacity is available for OTT TV cable video market and brought Venue: RAI, Amsterdam, “mostly” met requirements un- distribution to the EC to secure nothing to improve OTT distri- W: show.ibc.org/ der existing German regulations approval of the deal with Liberty. bution. for open access to broadband The operator said that in He said that commitments Content Innovation Awards networks under non-discrim- combination, the wholesale that were relevant to the Dutch Date: 13 October inatory terms and the general agreement and OTT commit- market, where Vodafone and Lib- Venue: Hôtel Barrière Le principle of net neutrality. ment would enhance broadband erty Global combined their prop- Majestic, Cannes, France Vodafone has struck a deal competition in Germany to the ositions in the VodafoneZiggo JV, W: tmt.knect365.com/con- with Telefónica Deutschland to benefit of consumers and broad- were not importable to the Ger- tent-innovation-awards/ provide access to the latter to its casters. man market, where the situation broadband network in a move de- Flemming said that the open- of commercial broadcasters var- MIPCOM signed ensure that the EC gives ing up of broadband access was ies from state to state and where Date: 14 - 17 October approval to cable giant Liberty “already enshrined” in the coun- cable distribution, often bundled Venue: Hôtel Barrière Le Global’s sale of its German busi- try’s telecommunication law with housing rental agreements, Majestic, Cannes, France ness to the operator. while the maintenance of net represented a barrier to entry. W: mipcom.com

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p04-05,08-09,10,12 DTVE News Digest MayJun19 V6 st.indd 5 22/05/2019 18:14 Sponsored content

A smart approach to the cloud With TV operators still in wait and see mode on the migration of live media work ows to the cloud, Synamedia has championed a exible approach to helping them manage the shift.

igrating video delivery infrastructure to spin up temporary special event channels from the to the cloud and applying arti cial cloud quickly. They can also use the cloud for disaster intelligence to improve the video recovery applications, while keeping workow for core experience are topics that are currently operations on premises. Mexercising the minds of the industry’s top technologists, “Today we can show service providers that they can with broadcasters and service providers seeking operate in the cloud but they don’t necessarily have to to maximise exibility and responsiveness while do it today – we think that this is a really smart solution,” optimising their cost structure. he says. “There is a lot of interest in transitioning to the The key, he says, is to be ‘cloud ready’ without Julien Signes, SVP and cloud – every tier one operator is taking a look at that,” necessarily being obliged to take a leap into the general manager of video says Julien Signes, SVP and general manager of video unknown. Broadcasters and service providers want to processing at Synamedia processing at Synamedia. “But very few commercial ensure that their investment is future-proofed without operations actually run end to end in the cloud. The rst necessarily doing anything in the cloud today. reason is that the maturity of the cloud for broadcast In this context, he explains, cloud deployments can quality 24/7 is not quite there, and the second is that the be ‘hot’ or ‘cold’. cost of operating in the cloud remains pretty prohibitive, Hot in this context means that an operator sets especially in terms of bandwidth management. It is one up a duplicate headend in the cloud that is ‘always thing to process in the cloud but to ingest your content on’ meaning that it can migrate from on-premises and deliver it to the end user from the cloud is still too to cloud completely seamlessly and transparently. much for most operators.” The downside is the bandwidth cost associated with Synamedia has responded to the cautious approach always-on availability. taken by service providers by developing a exible, A ‘cold’ deployment means that the cloud container-based architecture that “enables you to infrastructure is not pre-provisioned for a seamless migrate to the cloud gracefully when you are ready”, transition – meaning in eect that that services can be says Signes. migrated with about 90 seconds’ delay. The upside is Signes believes that Synamedia’s approach is best that operators save costs associated with that always- suited to the needs of broadcasters and content on availability. service providers today, enabling them, for example Signes says that Synamedia can run cloud and on- premises based services on the same core architecture to give operators the exibility they need. “Today people want to experiment on the cloud and be cloud-ready,” he says. One further aspect of cloud delivery is migration to OTT TV delivery for certain services using adaptive bit-rate encoding. At the forthcoming ANGA COM trade show in Cologne, Synamedia is highlighting its ability to synchronise adaptive bit-rate streams with broadcast delivery, delivering a uni ed experience across streaming and broadcast delivery. “We are not a pure OTT TV player but we come from the broadcast business and we want to enable broadcasters to deliver the same quality of service for OTT content as they do for broadcast,” says Signes. “It’s about bridging the gap between broadcast and OTT TV, which has often involved a sub-par experience in the past. Coming from the broadcast side we think we have something special to oer by enabling service providers to deliver OTT at scale with the same experience as broadcast.”

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p06-07 Synamedia Advertorial DTVE MayJun19.indd 6 21/05/2019 14:44 Sponsored content

Arti cial Intelligence our automation you don’t need to make those manual adjustments and you can transition through pro les In this context the transition from traditional to cloud much faster.” infrastructure should be seamless not only to the The technology is designed to anticipate the service provider but to the consumer too. subjective perception of the human eye. Signes says To deliver the quality of broadcast to adaptive bit- that Smart Rate Control, based on Synamedia’s patent rate (ABR) video, Synamedia is tapping the power of AI for Streaming Video Quality, “is not a pure algorithm to bring its ‘Smart Rate Control’ technology, plus a new but collects metrics about the type of content being ingredient in the shape of automation of transitioning streamed over time. The longer it runs the more between ABR pro les, to the party. accurate it will be because it has more data.” “We are not unique in providing ABR but what makes Adding automation to the Smart Rate Control us unique is bringing in automation and smart rate technology can deliver signi cant operational cost technology based on our video quality metrics,” says Elke savings for service providers, says Signes. Hungenaert, the company’s VP of product management. At ANGA COM Synamedia will demonstrate its Synamedia maintains that the addition of new Smart Rate Control technology alongside statistical automation capability for its Virtual Digital Content representations that show how automation works Manager with Smart Rate Control will save operators in practice as part of Video Service Manager, the up to 50% in bandwidth and storage costs. company’s control and management solution. “Automation is the new element. Providing ABR “We have realised that keeping operational costs Find out more systems for 200 channels with eight pro les for under control is a big part of running a video service. https://www.synamedia. each channel adds up to a lot of pro les. You need Video Service Manager can deliver operational cost com/blog/what-makes- to set quality levels for every one of those, it is very savings and what we are trying to do is make this as us-the-leader-in-video- cumbersome to con gure and you have to make seamless as possible, with as much automation as processing-a-visual- manual adjustments over time,” says Hungenaert. “With possible,” says Signes. overview/

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p06-07 Synamedia Advertorial DTVE MayJun19.indd 7 21/05/2019 14:44 News > digest Digital TV Europe May/June 2019

through MX1 services and capacity in Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian Global Wrap Germany on SES’s Astra satellites. HGTV will along with a range of highlights and see MX1 deliver a fully managed analysis content. Qatar-based beIN Media has OTT> New OTT for Pantaflix playout, including advanced signed a deal to exclusively Pantaflix, the German vid- graphics, uplink, and distribution broadcast this year’s CONME- eo-on-demand (VOD) provider, services. The free-to-air SD channel Norway BOL Copa América football has announced that it is adding is distributed via SES’s Astra 1KR tournament in Australia and an advertising-financed free of satellite and reaches over 118 million CAB> Canal Digital continues New Zealand. BARC (India), charge (AVOD) service, along with homes across Europe. slow decline Médiamétrie (France), Numeris a subscription service (SVOD),The Telenor-owned pay TV service (Canada) and Video Research company said that the expansion Canal Digital continued its long (Japan) announced in a joint “gives the Group the opportunity to Latvia decline in subscriber numbers statement on May 15 that they tap additional sales potential”. in the quarter to March, losing will collaborate on future audi- CAB> All Media Baltics lands 16,000 customers over the period. ence measurement initiatives PROG> Discovery Premier League rights Over the year to March, the pay including the development of Deutschland adds HGTV All Media Baltics has secured the TV service lost a total of 46,000 common technical standards MX1 announced that Discovery exclusive media rights to English customers. Canal Digital’s losses led and operational processes. The Deutschland will use its managed Premier League football from 2019- Telenor’s Broadcast unit to a drop bodies have come together to media and distribution services to 22 in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. in revenues and EBITDA. Telenor form the Global Alliance for the deliver an eighth German channel, The broadcaster will show over 200 said that good sales performance Measurement of Media Audi- Home & Garden TV (HGTV), which matches per season across All Me- from digital-terrestrial transmission ences (GAMMA). TiVo is to split will be available to viewers from dia Baltics TV channels and stream- unit Norkring and Telenor Satellite into two separate companies, 6 June 2019. Discovery operates ing services in the region. It will also could not fully compensate for the the company confirmed on May seven of its German TV channels offer local language commentary effects of a lower customer base. 9. In a statement, the compa- ny, which became synonymous as a leader in the DVR space Mediaset pivots to free with premium OTT in the early-2000s, stated that the board has “decided By Stuart Thomson > more cards, we don’t have de- that separating its Product coders and we don’t have CRM and IP Licensing businesses is Mediaset is “transforming” with a call centre any more.” believed to be the best strategy rather than “shutting down” Giordani said that Mediaset is to maximise shareholder val- its Mediaset Premium pay TV now “clearly following a model” ue”. Sports streaming disruptor business after making the of- based on advertising and free- DAZN has launched in Brazil. fering an OTT-only service, ac- to-air content “with some pay This is the ninth market that cording to chief financial officer services’ the London-based DAZN has Marco Giordani. Giordani declined to com- cline in the Mediaset Premium entered since launching in Au- Speaking on an earnings call ment on Mediaset’s interest in base following the termination gust 2016 in Austria, Germany, after Mediaset posted reduced pan-European consolidation, of its Premium Calcio football Japan, and Switzerland. revenue and EBITDA but an but confirmed that the group offering. US broadcast group Sinclair improved net profit, Giordani was “working on a business Mediaset dropped Premium has confirmed the acquisition said that Mediaset was reorient- model” involving the potential Calcio from after losing control of 21 Regional Sports Networks ing the business to take account consolidation of Mediaset Es- of the exclusive rights to Serie (RSNs) and Fox College Sports of its lower subscriber base as a paña, which has been widely A Italian football and Champi- from Disney in a deal worth result of no longer having foot- seen as a first step towards a ons League football and pulled US$10.6 billion (€9.6 billion). ball rights. wider European play potential- Mediaset Premium from the Altice USA is to acquire “What we have closed is the ly involving other commercial country’s digital-terrestrial TV millennial-focused digital news traditional pay TV operation broadcasters. platform as part of a move to company Cheddar for US$200 with card-based subscription,” The contraction of its pay TV “digital transform” the group’s million pending regulatory ap- he said. arm’s base hit Mediaset’s reve- pay model. proval.. The US arm of Patrick “We are adopting a more dig- nues for the quarter to March. In Spain revenues were down Drahi’s international cable and ital and modern way of serving Mediaset Italy’s revenues in Q1 a more modest 1.5% to €226.1 telecom group said the deal and providing the service to our tumbled to €492.1 million from million, with advertising reve- would broaden its portfolio. of customer using OTT, which €609.6 million, which the nues more or less flat year-on- high-quality news businesses. means that we don’t have any company attributed to the de- year.

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p04-05,08-09,10,12 DTVE News Digest MayJun19 V6 st.indd 8 22/05/2019 18:14 Digital TV Europe News > digest May/June 2019

Fox Life subscribers as part of the Poland Portugal Orange TV Cine y Series package. Sweden

CAB> Cyfrowy Polsat boosted DTT> Altice renews RTP deal CAB> Growth for Telefónica IPTV> SVODs in demand in Pay TV operator Cyfrowy Polsat Altice Portugal and Rádio e Telefónica grew its convergent cus- Nordics, but Netfl ix is behind added 300,000 multiplay custom- Televisão de Portugal (RTP) have tomers base by 4% to 4.6 million, The Nordic markets have among ers in the fi rst quarter, with overall agreed to renew the distribution with 92% of the local TV base now the highest uptake of SVOD servic- contract sales up by 535,000 agreements of the public station signed up to convergent services, es in Europe, but Netfl ix is strug- year-on-year to 14.33 million. The channels until 2022 on its Meo compared with 89% of broadband gling, new research has revealed. operator’s base of bunded custom- platform. Altice said that the deal customer and 84% of mobile cus- According to industry expert Am- ers was up 18% year-on-year to “guarantees stability in the devel- tomers. Some 81% of customers pere Analysis, the average market 1.85 million, or 33% of its overall opment of the relationship between now take the group’s TV service, a share of Netfl ix in the region is just contract customer base. Polsat said both companies, and that it marks growth of 4% year-on-year. 49%, compared to an average of that its bundled revenue-generat- “opens space for collaboration and 71% in the rest of Western Europe. ing user base stood at 5.57 million innovation in a shared effort of com- CAB> Euskaltel sets targets Local players like Viaplay, TV2 Play, at the end of the quarter. Total pay mitment with the country”. Spanish regional cable operator C More and the regional version of TV customers were up by 93,000 Euskaltel expects to add 30,000 HBO account for most streaming to 5.1 million. Mobile customers subscribers and €10 million to service contracts in the region. In overall now number 7.5 million, Spain income this year. Euskaltel is every other Western European up 455,000, thanks in part to the expanding its service offering into market except Germany, Italy and multiplay strategy while broadband PROG> FOXNOW launches fi ve markets in regions outside Spain, Netfl ix claims the majority customers numbered 1.8 million. on Orange its core territory, using Orange’s of SVOD subscriptions. The report The quarter saw Cyfrowy Polsat Fox Networks Group has launched network to expand into Navarre, suggests that Netfl ix features a launch a range of new services, its FOXNOW service with Orange León, Cantabria, La Rioja and lack of ‘Nordic Noir’ crime drama including a new IPTV offering to TV in Spain. The service is available Catalonia, where it has partnered content that appeals to the tastes complement its satellite service. without additional cost for Fox and with automotive club RACC. local market.

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p04-05,08-09,10,12 DTVE News Digest MayJun19 V6 st.indd 9 22/05/2019 18:14 News > digest Digital TV Europe May/June 2019

DTT> EU Commission to that, under a unified operation, spite resistance from the company’s in the Swiss telco’s TV base took its investigate Telia-Bonnier deal these channels could be removed largest shareholder Freenet, which total to 1.52 million, with Swisscom Following the announcement of Telia from Telia’s rivals in the two Nordic has a 24.5% stake in the company, saying that the growth was driven Company’s proposed acquisition nations. It has been argued that this amid concerns about the price paid by its bundled offering. The annual of Bonnier Broadcasting in March, would put other operators at a to take over UPC Switzerland, which increase in TV subscribers was 2.1%. the the European Commission has significant disadvantage and create has struggled to retain subscribers Swisscom had a total of 2.48 opened an in-depth investigation. a monopoly. There is a deadline in a competitive market. Sunrise million inOne customers at the end In a statement, the Commission of September 19 for the deal to be shareholders will decide at an EGM of March, with the latest mobile said that it “is concerned that closed. whether to back a capital increase offering inOne alone registering the merged entity may shut out to finance the deal. Despite the deal over 250,000 customers in the competitors from the audio-visual having yet to be approved, Sunrise first five weeks after its launch. In sector in Finland and Sweden”. Switzerland said it had already started integra- the residential customers segment, Telia Company, a retail television tion planning and was confident that inOne accounts for 57% of mobile distributor, functions by licensing CAB> Sunrise optimistic on synergies could be realised. subscriptions and 60% of fixed-line channels from broadcasters such as Liberty Global deal broadband connections. At the Bonnier Broadcasting. The proposed Swiss service provider Sunrise says DTT> Swisscom TV sees same time, Swisscom lost 3,000 acquisition looks to create a vertical- it has been “broadly supported” upswing from bundles in broadband customers in the quarter, ly integrated audio-visual player in its acquisition of Liberty Global’s ‘saturated market’ taking its total down 0.1%to 2.03 Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Nor- Swiss unit by investors and expects Swisscom grew its TV base by million. Year-on-year, the broadband way. However, concerns have arisen the deal to be closed in the fourth 4,000 subscribers in Q1 in what the base increased by 0.2%. Overall in Sweden and Finland as Bonnier quarter following a final regulatory company said was a “saturated” Swisscom’s revenue dipped by 0.2% Broadcasting owns channels approval. Sunrise CEO Olaf Swantee market that was “driven strongly at constant currency to CHF2.86 that are considered essential for has already said he believed the deal by promotional offerings”. The million ( 2.54 million), with Swiss distributors. The authority believes could win shareholder approval de- 0.3% quarter-on-quarter increase revenue dipping by 1.9%.

SVOD significance ‘overstated’, claims CoBA executive

By Jonathan Easton > Minns: “The scale of SVODs has ciation for film, TV, animation, been exaggerated”. children’s and digital production The significance of SVODs has companies. It leads industry in- been “exaggerated” by the UK increases” in online advertis- itiatives, such as negotiating press and government, claimed ing. All of this evidence, Allen the Terms of Trade, a standard Adam Minns, executive director claimed, is in conflict with the contract for PSBs and produc- of the Commercial Broadcasting “rosy picture” painted by Minns tion companies. Indie Club was Association (CoBA), to Lords at and Law. recently founded and represents a parliamentary evidence ses- Minns argued that UK TV Both Minns and Law were, as the interests of production com- sion. production is in a period of expected, opposed to any sug- panies outside London. On May 14 the House of boom, and that he had “not seen gestion of regulation, but Minns During both sessions, topics Lords Communications Com- anything like it since Cool Bri- did concede that the shift away discussed included whether mittee continued its ongoing tannia”. from PSBs is a “slow burn”. there is there a shortage of pro- inquiry into the role of public However, several Lords took In agreement, Law argued duction staff and capacity in service broadcasters (PSB) in umbrage with what they per- that any levy or regulation would the UK, and what interventions the age of on demand video. ceived to be a ‘bullish’ assertion “just take away money from might be necessary to support Speaking alongside Ali Law, that PSBs had been unaffected original productions”. the production sector; wihether the UK and Ireland head of by the current climate. From the perspective of Sky, there has beenan inflation in policy for Sky, Minns pointed Lord Allen of Kensington Law said that “UK content is in production costs and in which out that SVODs like Netflix and claimed the evidence the com- a good position” and that linear areas; what PSBs could be do- Amazon Prime Video spent a mittee had received points to a and near-live viewing make up ing to encourage independent combined £150 million (€174 “series of headwinds” for PSBs, “almost 80%” of the platform’s production companies to work million) in 2018. such as a “6% decline in audi- viewership. with them; whether public This contributes to a total of ence in 2018 alone”, “significant In the second session of that service broadcasters doing a total £2.1 billion (€2.4 billion) increase in production costs, day, the Committee heardf rom enough to appeal to and repre- spent on original content, with and particularly in getting to PACT and Indie Club. PACT sent the regions and nations of SVODs making up just 7%. young people”, and “dramatic is the UK’s leading trade asso- the UK.

Visit us at www.digitaltveurope.com 10

p04-05,08-09,10,12 DTVE News Digest MayJun19 V6 st.indd 10 22/05/2019 18:14 Q&A: Nivedita Nouvel, Broadpeak

Nivedita Nouvel, Vice President of Marketing at Broadpeak talks about the challenges facing video content providers and how they can optimise the delivery of their services

What are the key challenges faced by video content providers in How can a multiCDN strategy help improve video streaming? delivering streaming video and how can they overcome these? The best CDN is not the always the same for every content. It can Today’s consumers expect exceptional video experiences across vary depending on end-user geographic location, end-user network all devices. To guarantee the best quality of experience for viewers, service provider, time of the day, and type of content (i.e., VOD or live). content providers need to deliver high video quality and low Using multiple CDNs, content providers can create rules to always latency for live content, with no service interruption or rebu ering. select the best one. It is also possible, through innovative technologies However, delivering high-quality video streaming experiences can like Broadpeak’s CDN Diversity™, to combine several CDNs to achieve be challenging when content providers do not control the delivery of even higher video quality and manage seamless fail-over. their content. There are a couple of strategies that content providers can take to gain What role can local caching play in optimising video delivery? back control over the delivery process and enhance QoE. One approach Local caching means streaming content from a location that is closer is to use more than one CDN service. Using multiple CDNs, content to end-users via the operator’s network. There is no impact of the providers can choose the best content delivery networks for streaming contention point that may exist between a CDN service provider or a their content, taking into account the user context. Another way to transit provider and the operator’s network; therefore, it improves startup improve QoE and reduce CDN costs is by deploying local caches in time, reduces rebu ering, and allows higher bitrates to be realised. operators’ networks. With local caches in the operator network, content Local caching technology also provides signicant savings for content is streamed from a location closer to end users, which reduces latency providers, as they no longer need to pay the CDN service provider for all and network congestion, resulting in higher video bitrates, faster start of the streams consumed by the network service providers’ subscribers. times, and uninterrupted viewing sessions. How important is monitoring the Quality of Experience of streamed How can network operators best serve their content provider partners video and what tools do content providers need to do this e ectively? and what needs to be done by both to optimise video delivery? Monitoring content consumption is key for content providers so that they Partnership is the key word. Operators control the access network, can make the appropriate decisions at all levels, from support to capacity including the last mile. They hold the power to boost the video quality. planning and marketing. There are several di erent levels of analytics that Several scenarios are possible for content providers and operators content providers can employ. They can use information from the video to partner. One option is for the operator to deploy a multi-tenant delivery system to determine what content has been consumed where, infrastructure that it can monetise with content providers. Another idea and understand the state of the servers. Only by utilising information is for content providers to place their own local caches in the operators’ from the players can content providers gain insights into QoE, such as network, similar to how Netix does. Content providers can cache startup time, latency, video quality, and number of rebu erings. content based on its popularity, setting up a threshold on the number It’s important to combine all of this information to get the real of times content is requested before caching it locally. It’s important picture of what is happening and nd the root causes of errors. Having to keep in mind that there’s a trade-o between local cache size and the ability to track specic sessions is also essential. Content providers cost of delivery. Content that is not cached will be delivered through a can monitor layer switches and rebuferrings to pinpoint when and traditional CDN service. why they happened, taking the right measures to resolve the issue.

pXX Broadpeak Q&A DTVE MayJun19.indd 1 20/05/2019 17:04 News > digest Digital TV Europe May/June 2019

cluding BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky, monetisation, target audience devel- Turkey UK have all seen their content pirated opment, digital-rights management by the network. and cross-promotion. In addition, PROG> FilmBox debuts Turk- SAT> MPs raise piracy con- ODMedia manages non-linear and ish Drama Channel in Kosovo cerns against beoutQ OTT> ODMedia launches linear channel playout for SVOD, Channel provider SPI International/ BeoutQ, the allegedly Saudi British business AVOD and TVOD. FilmBox has debuted its recently Arabia-backed pirate TV network, Dutch content services and pro- launched Turkish Drama Channel has been slammed by members of cessing company for on-demand CAB> Ofcom introduces ‘best (TDC) in Kosovo through a new the UK’s Digital, Culture, Media and media ODMedia has launched its deal’ rule distribution agreement with cable Sport (DCMS) Select Committee. UK business. The company had pre- Broadband, phone and pay TV firms operator Kujtesa. Subscribers will In a parliamentary session on viously opened offices in Belgium, must tell customers about their have 24/7 access to hundreds of May 10, Jeremy Wright QC, DCMS Scandinavia and Spain in the last best deals, Ofcom has announced. hours of Timeless Drama Channel secretary of state, responded to 12 months. A German business is According to a statement from the content broadcast in Albanian. a question from Giles Watling MP, planned for late 2019. Heading up regulator, broadband, TV, mobile and Kujtesa is the leading cable com- confirming that a number of UK the London-based company will be home phone companies will be re- pany in Kosovo, with a TV offering government departments are media consultancy Media Minds. quired to tell their customers when of over 180 channels and network “pursuing this matter” and that “the ODMedia UK is led by ex-Visual Data their contracts are close to expiry coverage of almost 98% of [UK] embassy in Riyadh is speaking executives Anita O’Donnell and and tell them about the best deals Albanian-speakers living in Kosovo. to the Saudis on this subject”. Yives Reed. ODMedia has a strong on offer, including those for new cus- The company’s digital platform BeoutQ has gained notoriety since relationship with OTT platforms tomers. Ofcom says that more than includes Kosovo channels, selected its launch in 2017 for pirating hun- across the world, and is a Netflix 20 million customers have passed channels from Albania and dreds of live sports events including Preferred Fulfilment Partner. The their initial contract period, and that Macedonia and selected internation- the NFL SuperBowl, and English company acts as an aggregator many of these could be paying more al channels. Premier League. UK networks, in- for major platforms, and provides than they need to.

Viacom to ‘lean into Pluto TV’ with international ambitions

By Stuart Thomson > represented “an opportunity to play was working, with Via- broaden our partnerships with com18’s Voot service in India Viacom is to exploit “a signifi- existing distributors”. He cited passing the 50 million monthly cant opportunity in leveraging Comcast’s recent inclusion of active users milestone with a tar- Viacom’s global operating foot- the service as part of its Xfinity get of 100 million next year. print to drive Pluto TV’s growth” Flex offering for internet-only Bakish said that the platform beginning with the launch of subscribers as proof of the valid- had helped Viacom expand the recently-acquired free OTT ity of the strategy, and said that a its reach to a “hard to reach” TV service in Switzerland and second deal was already signed younger demographic, helping tion with skinny bundles offer- an expansion of the service in “with another large distributor”. it achieve an audience of 80% of ings such as AT&T’ DirecTV the UK, Germany and Austria, Viacom has also expanded US 18-34 year-olds across linear, Now packs, as well as to OTT with a Latin American launch Pluto’s premium content line- digital and social products. TV providers such as Netflix and scheduled for later this year, up by adding 14 new channels Pluto TV had 16 million Hulu. according to Viacom CEO Bob to the platform with “more to monthly active users at the On the wholly-owned sub- Bakish. come”, according to Bakish. end of April, a 31% over the scription video-on-demand side Speaking on Viacom’s latest Viacom will launch a US three months since Viacom an- of things, Viacom expanded quarterly earnings call, Bakish Hispanic version of Pluto TV – nounced its acquisition of the its distribution in the US on said that Pluto would launch in Pluto Latino – in July, including OTT TV platform. the new Apple TV app and an- “additional territories” next year. a set of specialised Spanish lan- Bakish said that Viacom nounced its first Latin American He told analysts that Viacom guage offerings. expects its Advanced Market partnerships for Paramount+ would “lean into [Pluto TV] Pluto TV is now “an integral Solutions unit, which includes with Brazil’s Net and Claro. harder and invest some incre- and compelling part” of Via- Pluto TV, to almost double its Overall, Viacom’s fiscal Q2 mental money” to expand on its com’s upfront offering to adver- revenues in this financial year saw revenues slip by 4% at leadership position. tisers, according to the CEO. and to represent close to 20% of constant currency to US$2.96 Bakish said that the acqui- Bakish told analysts that the domestic ad revenues. billion, and adjusted operating sition of Pluto TV “was always company’s advertising-support- Bakish also hailed Viacom’s income dropped 1% to US$637 more than a D2C play”, and ed video-on-demand (AVOD) success in expanding distribu- million.

Visit us at www.digitaltveurope.com 12

p04-05,08-09,10,12 DTVE News Digest MayJun19 V6 st.indd 12 22/05/2019 18:14 World-class software solutions for connected TV devices

iWedia provides solutions and software components for TV devices to service operators and consumer electronics manufacturers

Software Components Comedia TV and STB middleware (ARIB, ATSC, DVB, ISDB) Teatro TV Browser (HbbTV) Teatro CI Host Software (HbbTV) Teatro TR-069 Client Teatro ABR Client Software (HLS, DASH) Custom Operator Tier Launcher

Complete STB Software Solutions Teatro-2.0 - Zapper Teatro-3.0 - Linux STB Teatro-3.5 - Android AOSP and Android TV STBs

Pre-integration with value-added services Voice control, home automation, IoT, targeted advertising, customer engagement, etc.

Android4TV Broadcast and multicast Pay TV extension to Android TV

Associated software services Integration, maintenance, LCM, QA, etc.

See us at Our mission is to bring our customers the software they ANGA COM need to adapt to the ever-changing requirements of the digital TV markets.

[email protected] www.iwedia.com

pXX iWedia MayJun19.indd 1 13/05/2019 11:11 Your benefits:

✓ TV Service is easy to implement, short time to market The Multiscreen TV No investment in hardware/ Service of 1&1 – one of ✓ Germany’s largest internet software as TV Service is service providers fully hosted & managed ✓ Vast experience since 2005 with several million unique users per month ✓ Guarantee of maximum operating stability of ZATTOO platform

No.1 UNICAST IPTV PLATFORM IN EUROPE

TV-AS-A-SERVICE FOR IPTV, TV EVERYWHERE, HYBRID TV & OTT

Thrill your customers with your individually branded and customized TV Entertainment Service across all devices! We provide you with a TV Service including Live TV, Time Shift and Catch-up TV, network PVR and Video on Demand. Our end-to-end platform covers applications for Big Screen devices such as Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV operator tier, Smart TVs and mobile devices (iOS / Android / Windows 10).

For more information, go to zattoo.com/solutions

pXX Zattoo DTVE MayJun19.indd 1 09/05/2019 10:28 Q&A: Gernot Jaeger, Zattoo

Gernot Jaeger, Chief Ocer of B2B at Zattoo, talks about the latest expansion of Zattoo’s end-to-end white label IPTV platform, which is now available as an Android TV solution for operators.

What are the main reasons for the overall growth in interest in that is fully customisable. It includes a very rich feature set and the Android TV? Android functionalities deeply integrated across the di erent devices. We can clearly see that more and more operators are turning towards One big advantage for network operators is the short time to market Android TV Operator Tier as an alternative to Linux based set-top and, of course, 4K Ultra HD is standard. boxes. Existing and announced large-scale deployments of TV services With Android TV Operator Tier, features and functionalities come to are deploying on Android TV supported set-top boxes. They also set the big screen that users already know from their small screens. For the course for medium-sized operators to follow. example, users have access to the Google Play store and also have We are proud to be an innovation leader in the industry, and now access to voice control via Google Assistant across their devices. also when it comes to Android TV for Operators. To meet the needs of this segment, we are now expanding our hosted and managed TV-as-a-Service platform and include white label applications for Android TV Operator Tier set-top boxes in our service scope. And last but not least, we are proud and delighted to announce that we will be launching Android TV for Operators for a European tier-1 network operator very soon.

What are the drivers pushing this development? We observe huge challenges that many network operators are facing when launching their next generation IPTV/OTT services. There is a clear trend towards more devices, an ever increasing complexity, stricter security requirements and growing user expectations. For example, users want to be able to cast content from their smartphones to the TV, or from the TV to another device. However, these challenges also present an opportunity for those who are successful in standing out in the market with great TV and entertainment services. Android TV, for example, enables that, and we provide the core foundations for it. Zattoo is also showcasing other innovations and enhancements of its What do you see as the key advantages of the Android TV Operator end-to-end TVaaS platform live at ANGA COM 2019. Examples include 4K/ Tier for operators? UHD and personalised TV / content discovery. Zattoo will be presenting its We provide the entire service to the network operator and in the case entire service scope with live demos throughout the ANGA COM show in of Operator Tier set-top boxes, it comes with a white label application Cologne (Hall 8, Stand R9).

pXX Zattoo Q&A DTVE MayJun19.indd 1 21/05/2019 12:00 Technology focus > Android TV Digital TV Europe May/June 2019

Onwards for Android

The rise of Android TV as the operating system of choice for an ever-growing range of service providers speaks to the realisation that aggregation of multiple app-based video services and a compelling user experience are the key competitive tools for operators. Stuart Thomson reports.

Android TV Operator Tier focused on marketing those multi-play services store with its plethora of content oerings. The platform has gained numerous while providing access to multiple OTT Other key features that appeal to service adherents among service providers over oerings to their customers via the set-top box. providers include the fact that the Google’s the past year or so, giving rise to a sense The Android TV Operator Tier matches market power and scale means that they can that Google’s TV operating system now has the needs of many operators because it takes tap advanced high-power set-tops that are unstoppable momentum. That at least is the much of the development work to create an cheaper because they are deployed at scale. case among telecom operators that primarily advanced TV service out of the operator’s It also gives them access to Google Assistant look at TV as an essential part of the multi- hands. Compared with the Android TV and voice-based search. play bundle and see the future of video as app- retail platform it gives operators additional For a growing number of service providers, based and open. exibility to create their own user interface Android TV matches their needs by enabling As streaming services have gained in and surface their own content rst in search them to provide, instantly, a broad range of on- popularity at the expense of traditional pay results. Above all, it works for operators demand apps within a user experience that is TV, multi-play operators have become more because it gives access to the Google Play recognisably their own.

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p16-18,20 Android TV DTVE MayJun19JEv4stJE.indd 16 22/05/2019 17:48 Digital TV Europe Technology focus > Android TV May/June 2019

something that Android really supports.” boxes and app-based TV is already part of User experience Andersson says that Tele2 aims to tap Android. With this type of box we can control Google’s voice search capability as soon as HDMI1 on the TV and become the aggregator Swedish cable operator Com Hem, now Google Assistant is available in Swedish, of entertainment services,” he says. owned by Tele2, has been live with Android TV something that is expected for Android Đurđević says that United Group installed for about a year across both its cable TV service TV soon, and to build its own UI to give its some 50,000 boxes in the rst three months and its Boxer-branded digital-terrestrial service. own content a privileged position in order to after launching the platform. The operator is The company initially targeted its premium promote speci c services and content. now moving on to the next stage of its Android subscribers along with those customers that story by developing devices to complement its used a conditional access module rather EON advanced hybrid set-tops. than a set-top and did not have access to Competitive markets “We have a very aggressive roadmap and advanced services. The initial focus was also we are developing new Android TV set-tops on subscribers that did not have a DVR service, For mid-sized operators in competitive and dongles and so on. Our idea is to develop although Tele2 is looking to introduce DVR as markets, Android TV makes perfect sense. more operator devices that support the EON- part of its Android TV offering in the future. South-East Europe-based United Group, based Android TV ecosystem, and then The operator launched with an advanced box owner of Serbian cable operator SBB and develop more services,” he says. capable of addressing its entire base. a number of networks across ex-Yugoslavia While the initial EON box is a hybrid device “We saw several advantages. Product-wise states including Slovenia and Bosnia- that allows the operator to provision it for IP it enabled us to own the UI and the UX,” says Herzegovina, deployed its Android-based or DVB reception or both remotely, United Jessica Andersson, head of TV product at Tele2, service last October using the Operator set- Group is now planning to launch ha pure who adds that adopting Android TV was cost top mode but with the Android TV native OTT box and a dongle that does the same job e‰cient, enabling the operator to avoid devoting launcher rather than a custom launcher. with an eye to a future that “is all IP-based”. resources to working on a TV platform itself as Srđan Đurđević, R&D director at United Đurđević says that United Group is also well as oering frequent updates. Group, says that the company opted to use the interested in the potential of delivering its “Having Operator Tier does require you to default Android TV native launcher to start services direct via smart TVs, but the business do more of your own development but having with in order to get its service up and running case for this is still to be worked out in a market your own UI and the ability to integrate other as quickly as possible. characterised by low average revenue per user. apps like Netix into that UI has been a huge “Our idea was to be fast to market and For the foreseeable future, however, these advantage,” she said. Andersson says that “owning the UI” and having customers land on its own branded area rather than being one “What we are seeing now is that the bigger of a number of apps was a major attraction, along with the ability to deliver a uni ed operators are starting to take an interest in customer experience across all platforms. Android TV.” Com Hem also oers its TV service on retail devices in the form of Com Hem Play, which is available on other devices such as Apple TV Kai Christian Borchers, 3 Screen Solutions as well as Android devices. Andersson says that the company will “go more and more in that’s why we used their native launcher,” all-IP devices are designed to complement that direction in the future and become less he says. Đurđević says that the group is rather than replace the hybrid model. dependent on set-tops and infrastructure”. mulling migrating to an Operator Tier “In the cable world DVB-C is an advantage “We are already preparing for that shift. We launcher that it could develop from its own for us compared with pure IP providers really see this as a bridge to a boxless world,” internal resources. However, he says the basic because we can connect any TV in the home she says. Nevertheless, this is not a shift that launcher has proved “good enough” to enable inexpensively and older people for sure will Com Hem will make in the near future, for a dierentiated service. “Our UX team did a need DVB,” says Đurđević. the same reasons as many other operators, nice job to connect their home page with our The exible combination of access to including the fact that older subscribers are home page with call to action buttons and a Google Play apps with over-the-air TV more comfortable with set-tops than with branded background,” he says. channels appeals both to established operators newfangled apps and the fact that the box One of the main attractions of the platform with legacy TV bases and to those seeking to servers as a point of aggregation of a range he says, was the scope it oered to layer break in as disrupters – examples of the latter of other services that carries the operator’s additional services on top, including the include Wind Hellas, the Greek telco that own brand. “I think it plays a role,” she says. Google Play Store, Google Cast, YouTube and launched an Android TV-based oering, in “Speci cally, it plays a role in aggregating gaming apps. this case with a custom launcher provided content and Android TV enables you to “The same is happening on TV as has by Zappware, and which was able to use its merge SVOD services as well as other content. happened in the mobile business where ability to deliver Netix as a key element in a Being able to deliver this to multiple devices is everything is app-based. Now we have smart highly successful marketing campaign

Visit us at www.digitaltveurope.com 17

p16-18,20 Android TV DTVE MayJun19JEv4stJE.indd 17 22/05/2019 17:48 Technology focus > Android TV Digital TV Europe May/June 2019

Tele2-owned cable operator Com Hem was an early adopter of Android TV.

agrees that Android TV of all avours has “momentum” and says that this is primarily because Google “listened to what operators wanted and created something more exible”. Verbesselt says that not all operators will want to be tied as closely to Google as the Android TV Operator Tier still requires and some of these may choose to adopt the AOSP. “They don’t get all the apps but they are in control of their own destiny,” he says. There are other advantages. Pre-integration of conditional access by the likes of Nagra means that operators can take advantage of o-the-shelf set-top boxes to deploy service in a much shorter time than is possible with Linux devices. now taking an interest. Flexibilty “Up to now the operators that were looking at Android TV in general were operators Challenges Android TV – both in its Operator Tier and that had somewhere below two million Google UI iterations – now oers a greater subscribers. What we are seeing now is that Many of the operators that adopt Android degree of exibility than was the case when the bigger operators are starting to take an TV will tap the services of a custom launch Google initially set its sites on the TV market. interest,” says Borchers. provider or do additional work in-house to Chris Thun, vice-president of product at Google recently revealed that there were develop a functioning user interface and other TV technology provider TiVo, which recently 140 Android TV projects of all avours up features that Google does not support, such as participated on a webinar on this topic and running or in the works this year, with 40 DVR. New features introduced with Google produced by Digital TV Europe, says that services now live. Assistant need to be matched with a front-end Android TV Operator Tier “really gives the Borchers says that the main pull of Android experience. operators a signi cant degree of control back TV Operator Tier is the Google Play Store. The “DVR is so highly proprietary and there are where they own the branding and the user older Android Open Source Project (AOSP), so many country-speci c rules that you have experience in return for building into their which he describes as “now technically a to follow – can you do local or network DVR, own experience a few of the things that are clone of Android TV” is, says Borchers, being how many parallel streams can you record, can really important to Google” such as Google seriously evaluated by some larger players that you record pay TV services? Also, what kind of Assistant and rules around surfacing the apps want to do more of the work of setting up a TV stream to do you want to record – DVB, IPTV, in the Google Play store. “Beyond Operator service in-house. OTT? This is something Google doesn’t want Tier the Android TV team has also made a Whereas in the early days of AOSP, to be bothered with,” says Borchers. lot of progress in security and clarifying the operators had to do most of the work of Borchers says that 3SS has a launcher that reality around data ownership,” he adds. building the TV service themselves, they now works with hybrid deployments – something “The real draw is the pay TV industry have a access to all of the technical features else that many operators want – whether that recognises the value of embracing a platform of Android TV but without the Google Play means OTT plus DVB or OTT plus multicast approach, especially with the world of pay TV Store, meaning that operators that go down IPTV. Pure OTT deployments, says Borchers, and OTT converging. It doesn’t make sense to this route will likely tap an app store provider typically are targeted to niche markets such as think about monolithic middleware as a path such as Metrological or Vewd to deploy a subscribers’ second homes or for multiroom to market. Android TV represents a really service. applications, or to deliver a skinny-bundle viable platform approach for the industry to Borchers says that operators choosing to service o-net. converge around,” says Thun. go down the Operator Tier route now nd Hybrid deployments seem likely to be the While the main initial appeal of Android that Google is increasingly working towards rule for most operators, whether they have TV Operator Tier has been to mid- and small- operators’ speci c requirements, such as launched a service already or not. sized operators, Kai Christian Borchers, CEO enabling them to give prominence to their Mikolaj Zapala, senior director, strategic of technology out t 3 Screen Solutions (3SS), own search results rather than those that accounts at TiVo says that his company has which has been heavily involved in getting Google turns up. also “seen a rise of interest” in hybrid platforms Android TV Operator Tier service providers Ivan Verbesselt, senior vice-president of in various combination, particularly among up and running, says that larger players are marketing at TV technology out t Nagra, operators that “have signi cant [numbers

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p16-18,20 Android TV DTVE MayJun19JEv4stJE.indd 18 22/05/2019 17:48 CONFERENCE | 13-17 SEPTEMBER 2019 EXHIBITION | 13-17 SEPTEMBER 2019 RAI AMSTERDAM

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p23 IBCorg DTVE MayJun19.indd 1 21/05/2019 13:15 Technology focus > Android TV Digital TV Europe May/June 2019

of] boxes in the eld”. The challenge facing beyond the point where Google is willing operating unit has adopted Android TV as operators with legacy deployments, he says, to upgrade them to the latest version of the part of its battle with larger players such as is how to transition to Android TV without platform. Telefónica and Vodafone. duplicating back-end infrastructure. While the commercial arrangements Not every operator is interested in jumping The question of how close operators between Google and operators are still “not on the Google Assistant bandwagon, or at can get to Google without starting to feel completely adapted to what we as operators least not yet. United Group’s Đurđević says uncomfortable is one that has been aired want to do”, Đurđević believes that “this that his company doesn’t currently see much frequently at industry conferences over the will probably come soon”, and Google has mileage in adopting the platform because of last couple of years. Operators that use Google instituted a carrier billing programme for the lack of local language support and because Assistant are opened up to the possibility that operators that want to add Google Play apps such technology is not currently “a must in Google could gather and use data from its to subscribers’ monthly payments. our region”. However, he says, as the market operator customer base, although it says it is Regarding the lack of support for DVR, he evolves and the group’s TV customer base not doing this. says that United Group is now wholly focused becomes familiar with this type of technology, Tor Helge Kristiansen, vice-president of on a cloud DVR model, but has yet to launch. United Group will introduce voice control as technology at Nagra, also points to what he a. matter of course. sees as a certain lack of clarity about how For many small to mid-sized operators in long Google will continue to support a given Evolution of TV particular, the integration of Google Assistant generation of set-top boxes with updates is also a huge bene t, particularly as Google before introducing updates that leave older While DVR can be seen as a legacy product, is willing to let operators privilege their own boxes behind. at least in its set-top box-based form, one of content in search results. It also gives them a For Tele2’s Andersson, from an operator the major attractions of Android TV is that key building block in a smart home play. perspective, “in the short term, the biggest Google is seen as a company that is helping “Part of the value of Google Assistant is that concern is about software stability and being de ne the future of consumer technology, you can control not only the TV but enable it as the control centre for the home,” says Nagra’s Kristiansen. “Keeping people on HDMI1 is beautifully Voice search via Google Assistant – and Android TV in general – is a part of what achieved with Android TV.” Nagra’s Verbesselt describes as the bigger picture of “client horizontalisation”, with Android boxes joining their place in a line- up of native IP devices that includes Roku, Ivan Verbesselt, Nagra Amazon Fire and Apple TV. ‘Client horizontalisation’ goes hand in able to transition when there are new updates” and that brand perception is important to its hand with ‘service virtualisation’, meaning rather than big questions about who controls service provider partners as well. migration of the service provider headend to data, “but on a long term basis it’s something It is no surprise then that operators that the cloud. In this telling, back-end platforms we keep a close eye on and also still have adopt Android TV have in general keen to of the type oered by Nagra under its OpenTV concerns over”. deploy Google Assistant. brand and multi-device security will unify an For TiVo’s Zapala, Google’s eorts to “clarify “Voice interaction has now entered the oering that is essentially device-agnostic. what it is collecting, what it is viewing and what mainstream,” says TiVo’s Thun, who adds that Local OTT TV providers will be encouraged it is and isn’t able to access” has gone a long “voice oers major opportunities to simplify to sign up with local service providers rather way to assuage operator concerns about data. the UX going beyond command and control, than to strike out on their own by porting their United Group’s Đurđević likewise is involving natural language understanding” service to various retail devices. unconcerned about control of data, and argues and points to a future of “highly personalised, Getting those OTT TV service on board is that Android TV is simply more bene cial for highly conversational interfaces”. the key goal. For infrastructure-based service the service provider than the cable operator There are some caveats. 3SS’s Borchers providers, this enables them to take ownership alternative of RDK. The latter requires that admits that the lack of language support is “a of the HDMI1 port on the main TV in the operators develop their own app store or use bit of an issue” in the way of operators in some living room – something that is emerging as that of a third party such as Metrological, territories signing up for Google Assistant. the new Holy Grail for TV operators – as well which lacks the universality of Google Play. Even in countries where there is language as servicing consumers’ requirements for Đurđević says that the main “challenge” support, some larger players such as Orange multiscreen viewing. facing his company is how to keep up with have their own smart home strategy and have “Keeping people on HDMI1 is beautifully updates in the Android TV operating system. developed their own voice-enabled assistant as achieved with Android TV,” says Verbesselt. Đurđević is less concerned about ongoing part of that drive, and in these cases signing up “You have all these pre-integrated apps and support for legacy set-tops, pointing out that with Google may be less attractive – although YouTube and that is a big upside. And you can operators will be able to continue to use boxes in the case of Orange, that company’s Spanish cajole local players to integrate.” l

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p16-18,20 Android TV DTVE MayJun19JEv4stJE.indd 20 22/05/2019 17:48 Digital TV Europe Industry focus > Zappware Strategy Summit May/June 2019

Taking on the cord-cutting threat Zappware’s inaugural Strategy Summit in Ghent saw a raft of industry participants discuss strategies for succeeding in pay TV and taking on the cord-cutting challenge.

there’s one question exercising the minds If of pay TV operators today it is how to differentiate their offer amidst unprecedented competition between service providers while battling OTT to prevent cord cutting. It’s a huge issue with many fast-moving parts but the news dominating the agenda at the Zappware Strategy Summit held in Ghent, Belgium in May is that there is a technical and a business solution. In a nutshell this requires: aggregating pay, free to air DTT and OTT app content by getting consumers to stay on HDMI1; creating a state-of-the-art UX; making content discovery frictionless for the end user and available across all screens and devices; and working with a partner to achieve efficiencies in resource, scale, investment and time to market survey that the content arms race is forcing Preventing cord cutting is not enough The day-long event drew senior executives industry executives to look beyond exclusive on its own. Service providers also need to from IPTV, telco and traditional pay TV content to differentiate digital TV strategies. make money and part of this equation is operators in Latin America, the Middle East That lesson wasn’t lost on Greek telco WIND changing the advertising proposition to one and all corners of Europe to participate in Hellas which launched its first TV service in based on transactions. Michel De Wachter, informal, in-depth discussion with ecosystem April 2018 facing incumbent competition. co-CEO at Belgium’s scale up of the year partners including Google, Amazon Web “Coming last to market with a zero Spott explained that his company has Services, Askey, XroadMedia, Spott and more. customer base, it was clear that going for developed a cloud solution allowing its users Zappware, which provides user interface exclusive content was not an option,” said to enrich large volumes of video content design and video back-office solutions and Hermann Riedl, chief business and digital with product placement data allowing a whose headquarters are in Belgium, hosted transformation officer. “For us, the UX was unique and (proven) better user experience the Summit, which was supported by DTVE. the only viable differentiator. The keys for us directly leading to a positive impact on new “Traditionally, operators would approach were openness and simplicity.” advertising models like a click to purchase vendors somewhat late in the development Based on an Android TV core and model, while Tom Dvorak, co-founder process but in such a fast changing partnered with Zappware in a turnkey and CCO, XroadMedia explained how his increasingly complex world this may no longer management role, WIND “built a leading company helps master the video content be fit for purpose,” said Patrick Vos, Zappware edge UX” on a proposition that united pay explosion through a personalised UX. CEO. “We believe that there are challenges on TV, DTT and catch-up channels aggregated The event also included presentations both sides which are best addressed together. on the HDMI1 port of a stylish new STB. from Lebanese broadband provider We want to push one step beyond and talk Amplia Communications is the largest Cedarcom on the challenges of entering a in terms of strategy which can then lead into fibre-optic network infrastructure provider piracy saturated market and from Google’s devOps and a joint solution to move forward.” in Trinidad & Tobago, and plans to capitalise strategic partnerships development Simon Frost, head of EMEA media on its IPTV linear service, which it created manager, Android TV, Jackie Barnham, on marketing, Amazon Web Services (AWS), with Zappware. deploying Android TV. agreed: “The opportunity for all those in “Since Zappware is a multi-tenant solution With the UX of pay TV companies Media is to drive engagement with audiences we are able to offer our IPTV platform to other perceived to be lagging behind while OTT and focus on how best to do that. Enabling operators in the Carribbean,” general manager, platforms take a lead on innovation, delegates innovation and addressing any friction that Lisa Agard told delegates. “They can leverage to the Summit took away the lesson that the limits being able to deliver end-user value is off our platform to get a quicker time to market. opportunity is there to take on the threat by essential.” Being able to offer them one platform is going placing the UX at the front and centre of It is clear from DTVE’s latest annual market to be a tremendous advantage.” their strategy. l

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p21 Zappware Event DTVE MayJun19.indd 19 22/05/2019 18:23 THE ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE

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Visit us at ANGA COM: Booth H19, Hall 7

pXX TiVo DTVE MayJun19.indd 1 17/05/2019 10:03 Sponsored content

#TiVoPerspectives

How can I predict churn? Patrick Byrden, Senior Director – Customer Solutions

easuring viewership – or the amount of time someone – alongside viewership, we were able to predict 30 days in advance the spends watching content – has long been a metric that customers who will churn, with 75% accuracy. We were also able to operators have used to identify if a customer is at risk of show that those people who used personalised content discovery to leaving their service. However, it has not proven to be nd content are three times less likely to churn, than those who found theM only reliable indicator and in fact, only allows you to predict churn content by traditional methods. with about 20% accuracy. At TiVo, we thought this could be improved and wanted to understand if a more personalised service helped to To nd out more come and see my International Keynote at 12.30pm reduce churn. By analysing engagement – or the amount of times on 5th June in Room 3 or visit TiVo at Hall 7, Stand H19 during ANGA someone nds content via personalised search and recommendation COM 2019.

The STB isn’t dead. It’s just transitioning again. Mikolaj Zapala, Senior Director – Strategic Accounts

e always hear stories that the end of the era of the market recently with operators. At TiVo we’re embracing Android Set-Top Box (STB) is coming yet so far this has not TV and our latest CubiTV™ Solutions help operators leverage happened. What is true is the role and type of STB the advantages of access to Google Play and Google Assistant has continued to transition to meet the needs of alongside TiVo’s expertise in deploying end-to-end Pay TV systems Wtoday’s consumer. The age of mass digitisation has happened, the around the globe. deployment of Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) rolls on but there is a move towards smaller, connected hybrid and IP-only boxes that To nd out how TiVo’s CubiTV Solutions can supercharge your next allow operators to move functionalities like recording to the cloud STB deployment come and visit us at Hall 7, Stand H19 during and bring new streaming services into the homes of their customers. ANGA COM 2019. One of the biggest areas of conversation in the industry is around the momentum that Android TV™ has gained in the Google, Google Play and Android TV are trademarks of Google LLC

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p21 TiVo Opinion DTVE MayJun19.indd 21 22/05/2019 18:28 Technology focus > Broadband cable Digital TV Europe May/June 2019

Speed merchants Broadband providers are engaged in an arms race to deliver ultra-fast services to subscribers. HFC cable network operators are making use of a fast-evolving range of tools to stay ahead of rivals, writes Adrian Pennington.

‘need for speed’ is dominating transformation,” says Sean Welch, VP and is a real accomplishment,” says Welch. The the cable operator market as GM at Cisco’s service provider business. “Understanding that there is more than one competitors jostle to deliver tomorrow’s Most operators have already embraced way to get there is important.” Gigabit services for consumer and CCAP and are deploying DOCSIS 3.1 cable The overall aim is “to make networks more commercial applications. modems to enable DOCSIS 3.1 in most efficient, offer premium bandwidth, and stay In order to deal with the expected rapid service areas. But DOCSIS 3.1 also opened up ahead of fibre-based competitors,” Dell’Oro growth in demand for bandwidth, operators the possibility for 10G / 4096-QAM services research director Jeff Heynen adds. are searching for new technologies and along with a migration from a centralised to architectures that can help them supply a Distributed Access Architecture (DDA). those speeds and new services, using an Each cable operator’s roadmap is unique of Priority investments efficient scalable design, with predictable and course, yet all need to begin with some form controllable cost of ownership. In doing so, of digital transformation in their access. Broadly, it appears that operators in Europe they may consider making changes to their Distributed, virtualised architectures are focusing their investment in three headend network, nodes and amplifiers, are expected to transform cable networks. high-priority areas. The first is low latency their service groups sizes, the modulation According to analyst group Dell’Oro, DOCSIS for improved gaming support, profile used on different areas of the plant investment in cable infrastructure will reach virtual and augmented reality support and and more. The challenge is to choose the US$2 billion ( 1.8 billion) globally by 2023 5G backhaul support. Second is augmented right mix of adjustments that can help them to prepare operators for multi-gigabit future upstream bandwidth capacity, which looks to optimise their network and supply their services using a combination of extended support higher bandwidth demands in the subscribers’ demand. spectrum DOCSIS, full duplex DOCSIS 3.1 upstream for video-based IoT devices. Lastly “The evolution of the headend and the (FDX) and fibre-to-the-home (FTTH). is augmented downstream capacity, with Converged Cable Access Platform (CCAP) “Transitioning from where we are today a focus on supporting higher service level is a major part of everyone’s roadmap for into a Distributed Access Architecture agreements for the future.

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p24-27 Cable Tech MayJun19vJEv4st.indd 24 22/05/2019 19:24 Digital TV Europe Technology focus > Broadband cable May/June 2019

increasing the capacity of the Hybrid Fibre- starting significantly by end of the year. Coaxial (HFC) network, starting by migrating This is something also tracked by Dell’Oro, to DOCSIS 3.1 and then utilising node splits which expects North American cable when necessary. operators – such as Comcast and Mediacom While still deploying and upgrading their – to move from lab and field trials of R-PHY heavy base of Integrated-CCAP systems, and R-MACPHY to general availability. many operators are also considering “Equipment vendors are ramping up transitions to DDAs where parts of the production of their node units to meet what traditional I-CCAP are moved to the node is expected to be a major year of deployments structure – closer to the subscriber. Remote in 2019,” the analyst states in a briefing PHY or Remote MACPHY are the key note. “We expect Comcast to use DDA to technologies. dramatically reduce service group sizes from “Based on our discussions with European an average of 300 to 400 homes to less than operators and ecosystem partners, it is clear 100. Other operators, including Cox and that scaling capacity – with DOCSIS 3.1 – Spectrum, will quickly follow suit.” in both the upstream and downstream is a Early deployments in Europe, at Com priority for 2019,” says Welch. “DAA, and Hem and Stofa, have enabled the rollout of in particular Remote PHY, is a 2019 initiative DOCSIS 3.1 services, while simultaneously driven by the need to modernise the analogue moving away from the operator’s traditional, optical network that connect hub sites to fibre I-CCAP platforms. “Both operators face nodes in the field. Further, deploying IP over significant competition from fibre providers, fibre in the aggregation network will unleash so they view R-PHY as a stepping stone to a compelling opportunity to converge all either FDX or FTTH,” suggests Dell’Oro. forms of access traffic – such as mobile, Managing churn and OPEX forms a cable, fibre and copper – and operators are focal challenge for operators. As acquiring excited about this business case.” new customers is potentially expensive, investments in providing high quality subscriber experience – including attractive DDA based on R-PHY service bundle and high capacity broadband – helps to leverage churn rate and improve Based on discussions with operators it is cost-effectivity in the longer run. working with, Finnish tech company Teleste “R-PHY offers operators real benefits in says DDA “seems to offer the next attractive terms of subscriber experience and it is an “Operators have many options available option to enable significantly higher data excellent option in areas where higher data to them as they plan for the evolution of transmission capacity, attractive quality transmission capacity is needed without their future networks,” says Tom Cloonan, of service for subscribers, as well as less long construction times,” argues Hanno formerly of Arris and now office of the operational expense”. Narjus, Teleste’s SVP, network products. “In CTO, CommScope. “This includes turning “Nearly all operators that we are working addition to factors such as increased service on more DOCSIS 3.1 Downstream OFDM with are at least investigating DAA reliability, more bandwidth and less latency, channels, plus beginning to turn on – and technologies,” says Jim Walsh, marketing the technology enables operators to reduce adding in additional – DOCSIS 3.1 Upstream manager at California-based network test, headend footprint and ensure the availability OFDMA channels.” measurement and assurance vendor Viavi of their legacy services.” Operators are also increasing the Solutions. “The current status varies from Distributed access is used when fibre average bandwidth capacity to each of their initial investigations to full implementation; transport to the nodes is at capacity, when subscribers by using combinations of at least in many cases, their deployment pace is distribution hubs are very far away from three techniques. These are: increasing the being dictated by the maturity of their nodes, and/or when distribution hubs are out spectral efficiency using the higher QAM selected solutions. Some operators see DAA of space. Further drivers include the desire to Modulation orders permitted by DOCSIS as a long-term enabler of node splits to bring fibre closer to the home – in order to 3.1; increasing channels per Service Group; address bandwidth needs while also enabling be better prepared for a FTTx architecture – and decreasing the number of subscribers virtualisation of their service provision and a desire to improve signal-to-noise ratios per service group by performing physical or infrastructure, while others see it as more of using Ethernet. virtual node splits. a short/medium term stopgap solution with “The use of Ethernet optics will also offer The Society of Cable Telecommunications FTTH as the inevitable long-term path.” other benefits, such as permitting operators Engineers & International Society of Early trials and limited deployments have to multiplex more wavelengths on a single Broadband Experts (SCTE, ISBE), agrees begun, with CommScope projecting growth fibre feed,” says Cloonan. “It will also that most upgrades in Europe are focused on in the penetration of these technologies help them to consolidate headends and to

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p24-27 Cable Tech MayJun19vJEv4st.indd 25 22/05/2019 19:24 Technology focus > Broadband cable Digital TV Europe May/June 2019

tie their HFC plants into virtualised data upgrades would require truck rolls.” Walsh. “The two are very often paired – if an centres, which would allow cloud computing Teleste’s Narjus also makes the point that operator is considering 1.2GHz downstream environments to more easily manage HFC “ecosystem-level thinking” and “industry- extensions and/or converting to 204MHz equipment. These transitions should help wide interoperability” between vendors is a upstream it often makes sense to align operators to future-proof their head-ends and must-have before the benefits can be realised. these activities with DAA deployments. The HFC plants.” “For both R-PHY and R-MACPHY same can be said for headend upgrades to Equipment providers have started to implementations to succeed in enabling DOCSIS 3.1, these are often coupled with offer Remote PHY products to operators robust multi-vendor field deployments, DAA transitions.” for deployment. However, some operators industry-wide interoperability is needed,” Cisco makes the case for Remote PHY with are choosing to wait for the technology says Narjus. “The question is how operators an IP-Ethernet network as the most capable to mature, or for a specific flavour of the can safely grasp the opportunities offered and economically scalable solution that exists. “While network capacity will always be important, the ability to dynamically scale “R-PHY offers operators real benefits in network operations by automating processes, machine learning, network insights, auto- terms of subscriber experience and it is an remediation, telemetry, etc will change how excellent option in areas where higher data we look at it,” says Welch. Observing that “nothing will ever be truly transmission capacity is needed.” future proof” he asserts that Cisco is the only Hanno Narjus, Teleste vendor currently with a FDX-ready Remote PHY node, “where operators can install and products to become available before they by the technology transformation while operate the node today and then turn-up begin deployment. avoiding vendor lock-in.” FDX when they are ready to in the future.” Many operators are currently using dense Interoperability of distributed access FDX contains within it the capacity to I-CCAPs which still have unused capacity. ecosystems has been proceeding slower ramp upstream and downstream speeds For those operators the need to upgrade the than anticipated. However, MSOs have to 10 Gigabit, speeds which – if companies network may be less pressing. Additionally, been actively driving implementation of like Intel are to be believed – will be needed an architectural upgrade such as the CableLabs’ R-PHY standard. to turbo charge the growing number of transition to DAA cannot be taken lightly. “CableLabs has also been providing devices, vast amounts of data and immersive A great deal of consideration must go into vendors an invaluable opportunity to test the experiences for home users, let alone which access architecture is the best fit, and technology in a multi-vendor environment business case scenarios. detailed planning in order to be prepared for for some time, and distinct demonstrations Yet the market itself seems to lag behind the transition from a network readiness, as of interoperability go on between several that of vendor urgency for symmetrical well as from an operational perspective. CCAP core and RPD vendors as well,” says bandwidth. Narjus. “It has been raised by some FTTH While there are cases of operators focused providers as a competitive differentiator Sluggish rollout on new fibre build-outs, DOCSIS 3.1 however, to-date, there does not appear to upgrades and DDA in some cases operators be significant consumer market demand,” “Most operators are slow-rolling DDA due are working on all three technology areas in says Ralph Brown, chief research and to the higher cost and the current rapid parallel. development officer at cable industry evolution of the technology,” says Dean “For greenfield opportunities, fibre is technology body CableLabs. Stoneback, senior director, engineering and generally the option of choice, but for “Competition continues to be based largely standards, SCTE, ISBE. expanding existing networks DAA and on download speeds. Symmetrical bandwidth “The technology of remote architectures is DOCSIS 3.1 are generally the focus,” says has been more important in serving business still in a rapid state of change as the flexible MAC architecture [FMA] specifications continue to evolve and as FDX equipment enters the market,” says Stoneback. “The uncertainty around the rapid change in technology is most likely slowing down the deployment of remote architectures. Early adoption of remote access equipment is not necessary ‘future-proofing’, as hardware

Teleste Luminato 4x4 modular headend: the company believes R-PHY offers real benefits.

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p24-27 Cable Tech MayJun19vJEv4st.indd 26 22/05/2019 19:24 Digital TV Europe Technology focus > Broadband cable May/June 2019

customers and cable operators use both operate up to 1.8GHz, in theory. Cisco acknowledges that fibre may have DOCSIS and fibre to serve these customers.” “Vendors and operators are working the advantage today, in terms of symmetrical Walsh agrees with this reading of the together to characterize the current HFC bandwidth, but notes that it is nowhere near situation: “Outside of a few isolated regional plant performance levels and to identify as extensively deployed as DOCSIS networks. regulatory requirements, demand for new equipment that can help augment “Should there be a race between achieving symmetrical offerings from cable operators current DOCSIS products,” says Cloonan. fibre network coverage parity and deploying is almost entirely driven by the need for a “It is expected that these activities could lead FDX, my money would be on FDX,” Welch competitive response to FTTH marketing. to a future Extended Spectrum DOCSIS says. “And I would not mind doubling down “It is expected that future applications environment.” on that. Fibre is going to remain being will emerge driving consumption closer CommScope predicts that downstream important, but the key takeaway here is that to symmetrical, but today it is still heavily weighted toward downstream.” Teleste’s Narjus comes to a similar conclusion: “At the moment are almost no “The evolution of the headend and the CCAP services for which fully symmetrical high is a major part of everyone’s roadmap for bandwidth is actually required and, even transformation.” today, the network bottleneck continues to be the downstream. However, in some areas FTTH operators have been marketing Sean Welch, Cisco symmetrical bandwidth to consumers quite intensively, causing a need for cable bandwidths may move to 1.2GHz in the DOCSIS networks continue to innovate. operators to upgrade their networks in order short-term, and then to potentially higher What is important here is keeping focus on to maintain competitiveness.” spectral widths (1.8GHz or 3.0GHz or the long-term vision. CableLabs set the goal The three main methods to achieve higher) in the more distant future. with 10G, and reaching that goal still requires symmetrical bandwidth are FTTP, FDX and “Upstream widths will likely move to mid- much innovation.” extended spectrum DOCSIS (ESD). split – 85MHz – or high-split – 204 MHz – Indeed, CableLabs’ latest initiative is a with some operators planning even higher ‘10G platform’ that will ramp up from the splits of up to 684MHz using FDX-capable 1 gigabit offerings of today to speeds of 10 Toward DOCSIS 4.0 technologies or other technologies, such as gigabits per second and beyond Soft-FDD [frequency division duplex],” says Comcast, Charter, Cox, Mediacom, While FDX is designed to enable 10G Cloonan. in the US plus Rogers, Shaw Vodafone, symmetrical speeds, proposals to extend the Detailed analysis of coaxial plant Telecom Argentina and Liberty Global are life of coaxial even further are in motion. characteristics, tap and drop line implementing the new 10G initiative, with DOCSIS 4.0 or Extended Spectrum DOCSIS characteristics, amplifier, node and consumer lab trials underway, and field trials beginning (ESD) would support symmetrical broadband premises equipment characteristics will be in 2020, according to CableLabs. speeds as high as 30G or even 60G by required to make this happen. Detailed work “While FDX is a fundamental element tapping into more of the cable HFC plant’s on power and thermal management is also of the platform, enabling the sharing of available RF spectrum. The concept would required for these next-gen systems. spectrum both upstream and downstream allow cable operators to basically triple the CableLabs and SCTE ISBE are working concurrently, other technologies will be 1.2GHz of plant spectrum that can currently together on proactive network maintenance needed to deliver the full 10G experience,” be leveraged for DOCSIS 3.1. At 3GHz the (PNM) tools and operational practices for explains Brown. “One such technology spectrum would trump the 1.8GHz of FDX DOCSIS 3.1 and FDX. is Full Duplex Coherent Optics, which with as much as 6GHz thought possible “Without PNM tools, it would be nearly will significantly increase the value of the (10GHz being the physical limit of coaxial). impossible to understand and manage currently-deployed fibre infrastructure, The technique would complement rather RF impairments and interference since boosting capacity to meet the growing than substitute FDX by using Full Duplex multiple devices will be transmitting RF demand of broadband customers.” DOCSIS hardware while keeping the signals in both directions on the cable at Consensus over the future of the DOCSIS upstream and downstream spectrum blocks the same frequencies simultaneously,” says standard will be required to guarantee separate. Stoneback. “These tools will be used by early smooth, industry-wide deployments and the Specifically, this involves using FDX adopters to gain experience and optimize future competitiveness of the technology. chipsets to raise the spectrum ceiling future deployments. Whether it will invest in Extended occupied by upstream traffic to 492MHz “In most cases, HFC operators are Spectrum, Full-Duplex DOCSIS or or 684MHz while keeping upstream and planning to use FDX or ESD to provide something in-between, the industry can downstream in separate blocks of spectrum. higher upstream rates to the majority of their already foresee innovations that could extend Downstream spectrum would be pushed customers, while utilising targeted FTTP the life-time of coaxial cable infrastructure above this level and the downstream would deployments for the highest tier customers.” for many years to come. l

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p24-27 Cable Tech MayJun19vJEv4st.indd 27 22/05/2019 19:24 Technology focus > Smart homes Digital TV Europe May/June 2019

Telcos get smart

Telecom operators are increasingly looking to smart home applications to deliver additional revenues, but partnerships are crucial to making this work, writes Anna Tobin.

providers are Telcos already know about the issues that “The solution is to have very effective and Service increasingly looking smart home technologies throw up because robust guidelines and companies such as beyond the triple or quad-play bundle. With their customer service providers are often BT, Comcast and Liberty Global have all been OTT streamed content now eating into their the fi rst point of call for complaints, even if contributing to creating this.” traditional pay TV subscriber revenues and the issue has nothing to do with them. Telco These guidelines will effectively ask competition in broadband access becoming subscribers who are streaming a live football customers to commit to only using equipment intense, cable and telecom providers see a match, for example, will often call their service provided by their telco – or their recognised need to tap new revenue streams. It is for this provider when they experience buffering or partners – as part of their home network. If they reason that so many of them want to be at the latency because they assume it’s their fault. use a service not covered by these guidelines, forefront of an Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled More often than not, it’s a separate issue that is consumers will likely invalidate their telco smart home revolution. nothing to do with the telco. service guarantee. Loyalty is the price they will Tunnelled right into the home, network But some shrewd operators sees these pay for cybersecurity and quality of service. operators are well placed to exploit the wrongly directed customer service calls as an “Anyone can buy a router from anywhere opportunities all these wonderful new internet- opportunity, not a waste of time. To leverage and add it to their home mix and suddenly enabled smart things offer. But while the telcos their position as the fi rst point of call, many are create problems. These guidelines are regarded want a chunk of the revenues, they don’t want to now looking to take ownership of the whole as the solution and they include not only an be associated with any glitches that are likely to home network. “They want to create a carrier- architecture proposal, but also end-to-end beset any emerging technology. Cybersecurity, branded solution that covers the infrastructure security,” says Tomas. “To protect operator in particular, has proven to be a big issue for that you put inside your home,” explains Bruno traffi c there must be a way on the end-to-end many IoT vendors. One wrong step and a Tomas, director of programme management at network to show you all of the components that telco’s reputation can be ruined overnight. the Wireless Broadband Alliance. are there. That is the premium that I believe

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p28-30 Smart Home DTVE MayJun19v4STJE.indd 28 22/05/2019 17:30 Digital TV Europe Technology focus > Smart homes May/June 2019

they are advocating to customers.” – e-commerce, football clubs, airlines – we over their networks they could do so. Telefónica announced the launch of its Aura are actively exploring more areas that are “There is a trend of more people working platform at Mobile World Congress (MWC) relevant to customers. We want to help the from home. This doesn’t always just require 2017. This is designed to “enable users to discovery of relevant services and deliver new Wi-Fi coverage. There are services that manage their digital experiences with the enriching experiences that are truly relevant to companies want to push in specific regions of company and control the data generated by customers. Finding the balance between this the world. For instance, if you need to access a using Telefónica’s products and services in a and monetisation is our challenge,” he says. virtual private network, you can do it over a set transparent and secure manner.” The need to make these additional services of service provisioning items. Partnering with Aura is not a smart-home proposition per-se, says Oscar Mancebo, head of Movistar Home at Telefónica, but it is a gateway for bringing “Home as a Computer’s mission is to open artificial intelligence into the home and it is continually evolving. “Telefónica’s chief data the Telefónica connected-home ecosystem to officer presented at MWC 2019 with new plans third parties.” to expand the use of its cognitive intelligence Aura in the home, developing the new vision of ‘Home as a Computer’ in collaboration with Oscar Mancebo, Telefónica Microsoft,” explains Mancebo. “Home as a Computer’s mission is to open monetisable is the main reason why telcos common enterprises that have this flexible the Telefónica connected-home ecosystem will largely position themselves as gateways model is another way for operators to up sell to third parties. The company will leverage into the home for third-party smart-home their services.” its position as number one provider of home service providers, rather than actually moving Another obvious segment for telcos to technology in multiple countries by connecting into smart home app provision themselves. develop partnerships with is television the devices and mobile apps with Aura and “We don’t see service providers offering these manufacturers. James Thomas, product allowing new digital experiences to be built devices themselves, because that takes a lot manager of home entertainment at on top,” he says. “These are the living apps, of know-how and expertise, but what they LG Electronics says that it makes sense for his relevant new services that may be first-party like are looking at is how they can onboard and company to help service operators to enter the Smart WiFi, Connected Car, Movistar Cloud manage these devices in a seamless way, so smart home space. or third-party like El Corte Ingles, Atletico de that it becomes say a Comcast-validated device “LG are leading providers of smart home Madrid and Air Europa.” or a Liberty-Global-validated device,” explains technology – from TVs to speakers to home Getting the key to this smart home gateway, Tomas at the Wireless Broadband Alliance. appliances – and an integrated-user experience however, isn’t easy. Any third-party looking “It avoids the operator becoming just the is at the heart of our product offering. Each to connect to the Aura platform must pass pipe and gives it the chance to up sell because it new TV line-up brings a bounty of new features Telefónica’s high privacy standards. has a common branding and common security. that are there to support and encourage I believe that there are also some interesting connectivity with telecoms services, such as in- things around the concept of creating in-home built Google Assistant, which connects to other Partnering with IoT players hybrid networks, where the operator will still smart appliances around the home,” he says. have control of the network, but, for instance, It is unlikely, however, that a main TV will If telcos are to keep control of the home if the user would like to enable specific services become the central control for the entire smart network, they must partner with the growing number of IoT companies that are now pushing their devices to consumers. Security cameras, geo-fencing solutions to track children and remote health monitors are just some of the devices people are now adding to their home networks. Mancebo says that Telefónica has narrowed down its smart home focus to “TV and entertainment, communications and management of home connectivity”. “The first steps are into thermostat control and lights, etc. and then third-party services reinvented with AI and a voice-user interface

Telefónica launched its Aura platform at Mobile World Congress earlier this year.

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home infrastructure. With smartphones, tablets, PCs and multiple TVs around the Talking smart homes home, it makes more sense for the smart home controls to be accessible from any connected Voice-activated devices are set to make the particularly interesting development agrees screen. smart home more user friendly, not just for Anthony Zuyderhoff, SVP at CommScope. “The TV is becoming one more device in actioning, but also for search. “The emergence of voice assistants is the home environment,” explains Tomas at the Netgem.tv MD Sylvain Thevenot believes opening exciting new opportunities for Wireless Broadband Alliance. “Multi-device is that voice control services will play an service providers in the video and broadband what the operators are focusing on and this is increasingly important role in smart homes. sectors,” he says. “In video, the ability to search why they realise it is important to harmonise “Netgem has been a pioneer of voice control for pieces of content without the occasionally all of the smart-home architecture. In any with TV and launched in 2017 the first cumbersome use of a remote control is but one household, you may have several devices per Alexa skills controlling a TV service (EETV), of many exciting use cases. Other broadband person, and everyone is using these OTT subsequently expanded to support Google use cases could be visualising and fixing your applications for video and to access service Wi-fi network, setting up parental controls, or provider applications that are mobile based. setting up a guest network, to name a few. It The TV is only one part of that equation.” Zuyderhoff: voice also allows service providers to think of new, Nevertheless, Anthony Zuyderhoff, assistants are exciting ways to reduce churn and improve senior vice president international CPE at opening exciting new ARPU, as they could be the central hub for CommScope, now incorporating Arris, opportunities for service more than ‘just’ video and basic data services.” believes that there is still scope for the TV to be providers. Voice control can be difficult in certain the go-to for some smart-home services. settings, points out Bruno Tomas at the “With the emergence of ‘voice-visual’ Wireless Broadband Alliance. He highlights assistants both for the home, as well as on Voice – and richer in features. Initially used for in an apartment setting where sensitive smartphones, there is a growing realisation ‘remote control shortcuts,’ our voice-control receivers can pick up speech from a that some voice interaction is better served by services now allow simple access to content neighbouring property, or where multiple adding a visual component as well,” he says. through ‘recommendations.” people are speaking simultaneously in a busy “Asking for the weather today in your town Integrating voice control with video, is a home. is relatively easy to ‘listen’ to, however, asking what the weather will be like for the entire week is more challenging without a visual aid. What are working with a host of software providers Amazon, which will allow service providers to better visual aid exists in most homes than the to deliver what they promise. “Telecom service offer more services to their customers with less TV screen? It is generally located in more than providers do not have the ability to innovate electronic ‘clutter’ by combining, for example, a one location in homes, and with the technology at the pace required to support smart home video device with a voice assistant or a gateway Arris is developing, we can leverage our new services,” says Sylvain Thevenot, managing with a speaker.” smart media devices to give people both audio director of Netgem.tv. “This is due to the fact One of the questions that still hasn’t been and visual interactivity,” says Zuyderhoff. that the standards are not established, new unanimously decided on is whether the home “This is a great way for people to search technologies arise very quickly, and that they network is better off being managed within the for their favourite video content, monitor the need to focus their capex investments on home or within the cloud. health of their home network, set thermostats important network developments – fibre and “There is this big discussion right now with or light their homes, and leverage a myriad 5G in particular.” many of the home broadband providers in of other voice-visual skills that are being Arris, now part of CommScope, is focusing terms of where in the home environment the developed around the world. There is also now on integrating all the different smart home operators would like to see the intelligence to a growing trend to add the most popular IoT devices as they come on stream. manage all of these devices. Whether it’s more services as a software download to a gateway “We have introduced a new segment of of a cloud-based approach or a more of a local or SMD. Smart home companies recognise SMDs, which combine the functionality of edge of the network approach,” says Tiago the importance of supporting the consumer some of the most important devices in the Rodrigues, general manager at the Wireless in having fewer home hub devices. They home – including the set-top, speakers, smart Broadband Alliance. are, therefore, working to add hub solutions assistant, IoT hub, and remote control,” “Do you have more intelligence inside the as software to the service providers’ existing explains Zuyderhoff. house with more gear that will somehow devices.” “This category intends to capitalise on the manage the multiple devices that are connected growing trend around premium sound, voice in the home environment or do you want to control and seamless integration of various push it to the core of the network with a cloud- Software solvers consumer services. We’re investing in concepts based approach?” around integrated sound bars, as well as more As the standards, technology and smart Because of the complex technologies involved in mainstream audio-enabled devices. We are home services develop, the answer to this creating a truly smart home, telecom operators also integrating technologies from Google and question will become apparent. l

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p28-30 Smart Home DTVE MayJun19v4STJE.indd 30 22/05/2019 17:30 VideoTech INNOVATION AWARDS 2019 Celebrating innovation in video services and technology VideoTech INNOVATION AWARDS 2019 3 December 2019, 116 Pall Mall, London

The VideoTech Innovation Awards from Digital TV Europe and sister publication TBI – Television Business International celebrate innovation in video services a nd the technologies that enable them. The awards honour the achievements of companies and individuals that bring video content to people worldwide.

The shortlist will be announced in September and the winners revealed at the gala dinner in London on 3 December.

Key dates Entry submission deadline: 21August Shortlist announced: 13 September Gala dinner: 3 December

For further information on entering and for sponsorship opportunities, contact Patricia Arescy Tel: +44 (0)20 7017 5320 • Email: [email protected]

www.videotechinnovationawards.com

pXX VIA19 ad A4 220519.indd 1 22/05/2019 18:09 Technology > in focus Digital TV Europe May/June 2019 Technology in focus Infrastructure equipment and product news for digital media distribution

In Brief Redesigned Play Store and ‘one-click’ subscriptions

YouTube confirms shift Google has revealed the latest slower updates, saying that it from pay to free iteration of Android TV, with a doesn’t “necessarily need to YouTube has confirmed that major overhaul of the Play Store be on the same timeline” as its its premium content will be being front and centre. mobile counterpart. available for free as the business At its I/O developer event, An- During the presentation, shifts to an ad-supported model war Haneef, product lead, Android GovilPai also boasted Android for originals. The Google-owned TV Ecosystem & Integrations, TV’s success, stating that the platform used its NewFront unveiled a ‘complete refresh’ of logins through on-screen key- operating system is being used by presentation in New York on the Play Store on Android TV. boards and lengthy subscription six of the top ten smart TV OEMs May 2 to reveal that originals This refresh gives the interface a forms. and over 140 pay tv operators such as Cobra Kai will remain on cleaner look that catches up with “This will further streamline worldwide. She also said that this the platform, but will move in the Oreo redesign of Android TV. the purchasing process on An- momentum extends to develop- front of the paywall. All originals, In practical terms, the new look droid TV and make it much easier ers with over 1,000 streaming which were previously available comes with a focus on improving without the need for a password,” content providers and over 5,000 to watch as part of a US$12 the downloading of apps and said Haneef. “Purchases on An- Android TV apps on Google Play. (€11.99) monthly subscription, subscribing to services. droid TV will be smoother, faster The presentation also showed will be ad-supported by 2020. This is achieved by allowing and more seamless.” a brief glimpse of the long-await- publishers to combine the instal- The updated Play Store will ed Prime Video app. In April. Apple TV to Samsung sets lation of an app with signup and be released separately from the Amazon and Google announced All 2019 Samsung Smart TVs login processes, with purchasing next Android TV full update. In a truce that will see YouTube on and select 2018 TV models with being made more convenient an interview with Variety, Shalini Amazon Fire devices, and Prime a firmware update will feature through the use of PIN codes. This GovilPai, director of Android TV, Video app for Chromecast and the all-new Apple TV app in removes the need for awkward justified Android TV’s historically Android TV. more than 100 countries and offer AirPlay 2 support in 176 countries. The news followed TiVo launches legal case against Comcast an announcement at CES that Apple would offer iTunes movies TV technology specialist TiVo has, since the relationship ended, but ployed its increasingly obsolete and TV shows on Samsung TVs. through owner Rovi, launched Comcast says the tech it now patent portfolio in an unsuccess- a legal action in the US against uses was built in-house. ful litigation campaign seeking Global TV Roku app Comcast, alleging that the global “We believe Comcast’s Xfinity to charge Comcast and our Canadian broadcaster Global cable-to-content giant is infring- X1 continues to infringe Rovi’s customers for technology Rovi TV’s shows are now available on ing six of its technology patents cloud and multi-room DVR pat- did not invent. Rovi launched Roku devices in the country. with its X1 video recording hard- ents – a vital component of home this campaign in April 2016 by Global TV is Canada’s first ware and software. entertainment,” said Arvin Patel, asserting infringement of 15 broadcaster to launch on The claims are the latest in EVP and chief intellectual proper- patents – 14 of which have been Roku. Global’s customers a long battle between the two ty officer at Rovi, in a statement. held to be invalid and/or not will be able to watch shows companies that started in 2016 “Litigation is always a last resort infringed by Comcast, or have including Survivor, New when a licensing agreement came but we will continue to take every been withdrawn by Rovi. Amsterdam, Saturday Night to an end. Prior to that, TiVo is necessary legal action to ensure “While we haven’t had an Live, Chicago Fire, Big Brother reckoned to have secured around that Comcast fairly compensates opportunity to review Rovi’s Canada, 9-1-1, Saturday Night $250 million (224 million) in Rovi for its use of our patented latest complaint, we will continue Live, and The Late Show with revenues from Comcast over a innovations.” to defend ourselves against Stephen Colbert. 12-year period. TiVo says Comcast In response, Comcast said: allegations we determine to be has been infringing its patents “Rovi has in recent years de- meritless.”

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p32-36 DTVE Tech MayJun19v4stJE.indd 32 22/05/2019 19:03 Digital TV Europe Technology > in focus May/June 2019

Apple TV app launches in 100 countries In Brief

Apple has launched its redesigned There will be some limitations, ple said its TV app is, for example, TV app, making it possible for however. Netflix has said it will not the first and only place where HBO 3SS and Media Distillery consumers to subscribe in one be included in Apple’s channels, subscribers can download Game tie up AI TV deal place to channels such as HBO, which means programming on Of Thrones for offline viewing. 3 Screen Solutions (3SS), and Showtime, Starz, Smithsonian Netflix will appear in search results Users can also share their AI specialist Media Distillery, Channel and EPIX. but viewers will need to exit the subscription with up to five other have teamed up to launch The update, which was first Apple TV app. family members at a time. and co-commercialise a new announced at an Apple event in The redesign is available on It is Apple’s first big push into pre-integrated AI-based end- March, is now available in over iPhones, iPads, Apple TV and se- making money from TV content to-end platform. The solution 100 countries. Apple said more lect Samsung smart TVs. It will be outside of sales through the comprises a combination of channels would be added over available on Macs this autumn. iTunes store. machine learning methodologies time around the world. The Apple TV app’s new look is Apple hasn’t said what its cut to recognise visual and audial Users can subscribe to the similar to other streaming servic- of revenue from subscribers who elements of video, including channels directly from the Apple es, and includes content carousels, sign up to services through Apple faces, speech, topics, logos and TV app, and all content can be tabs and recommendations. Channels will be, but CNBC has text to enable user searches watched from inside the applica- The app offers personalised reported that the company was that yield more accurate results. tion. This means that they don’t recommendations of shows and pushing for 30%. have to juggle multiple different films from more than 150 video Some reports suggest Apple Swiss Sunrise launches 4K apps to watch content. apps and streaming services as gets 15% of revenues from sub- OTT service The Apple TV app is where the well as a new Kids section. scribers who sign up for services Sunrise, the Swiss network Apple TV+ service, with Apple’s Subscribers to the channels can such as HBO Now, Netflix and operator, has launched a new original programming, will be found watch and download shows and other streaming apps through the multiscreen TV platform as when it launches this autumn. movies both online and offline. Ap- App Store. an OTT service. The service, named Sunrise TV neo, is available as an app for Apple BBC launches Doctor Who VR experience TV, smartphones and tablets, and PC. Sunrise TV neo consists The BBC has released a new Doctor of more than 230 TV channels, Who virtual reality experience with over 110 in HD quality, and that allows fans to step inside the becomes the first OTT TV app in TARDIS. Switzerland to support UHD/4K. Launched on May 16, Doctor This will include the Insight TV Who: The Runaway is a free short UHD channel, among others, at that is available on a range of VR launch. headsets. Thirteenth Doctor Jodie Whitaker VO and b<>com partner reprises her role, and the experience Content security and TV features new original music from technology outfit Viaccess-Orca series composer Segun Akinola. It is partnering with b<>com to has been produced by the BBC’s Doctor Who: The Runaway announced in March had sold over advance the development in digital drama team, BBC VR Hub is available for UK audiences to 4 million units worldwide. piracy tracking watermarking, and Passion Animation Studios. download for free in two versions. Jo Pearce, creative director for specifically in streaming. In Zillah Watson, head of BBC VR The immersive interactive version the BBC’s digital drama team, says: an effort to curb streaming Hub, said: “This is the most ambi- is available from the Oculus Store “Fans will find themselves at the piracy, the teams at b<>com tious project yet from our team in and Vive Port for use on Oculus centre of this wonderfully animated and Viaccess-Orca are working the BBC VR Hub, and the result is Rift and HTC Vive with a runtime of story, helped by the natural charm in tandem with the goal of a magical adventure that Doctor 13 minutes. The 360 degree video and humour of Jodie Whittaker, in developing a watermarking Who fans everywhere will simply version is available to download an adventure that really captures solution that addresses the love. It also shows the enormous from the BBC VR App for the Oculus the magic of Doctor Who. Viewers various piracy threats that potential that virtual reality has Go and GearVR with a runtime of 11 truly are in for a treat – for those broadcasters face and make it for creating new kinds of experi- minutes. who ever dreamed of helping to possible to identify its source, ences that appeal to mainstream The experience is not available pilot the Tardis, this is your oppor- the pair said. audiences.” on PlayStation VR, which Sony tunity!”

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p32-36 DTVE Tech MayJun19v4stJE.indd 33 22/05/2019 19:03 Technology > in focus Digital TV Europe May/June 2019

In Brief Sony Europe to launch first 8K TVs

Sony Europe is to begin selling its EE launches UK’s first 5G first 8K TVs The company says service that the ZG9 8K HDR Full Array BT-owned EE is launching LED TV offers 16 times the resolu- the UK’s first commercial 5G tion of Full HD. mobile service at the end of Sony’s 98” and 85” models May in six cities across the are slated to become available at country: London, Birmingham, select retailers from June. Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh Sony’s Master Series TVs also and Belfast. The first phase feature Netflix calibrated mode of the launch will tap 4G and and IMAX Enhanced mode. 5G networks to deliver higher The Master Series ZG9 8K bandwidth ahead of a second HDR Full Array LED TVs feature phase in three years time that the latest generation Picture from their mouths and not from a Google Play, including YouTube, will see the introduction of a full Processor X1 Ultimate, with what speaker elsewhere. Netflix, Prime Video and more. 5G core network. Sony describes as an algorithm Sony says that its large 8K The ZG9 TVs have Google that is specially developed for 8K screens provide four times the Assistant built-in. Additionally, Netflix and Cellcom that can intelligently detect and pixels of 4K or 16 times the reso- they have built-in microphones to collaborate analyse each object in the picture lution of Full HD. enable viewers to talk to the TV Netflix is continuing its to provide detail and contrast for Sony also says that its Picture using Google Assistant, and the expansion into Israel with the a more realistic picture. The ZG9 Processor X1 Ultimate has been TVs also work with smart speak- announcement of a distribution models include Sony’s new Sound- optimised to upscale any content ers such as Sony’s own LF-S50G deal with Cellcom. Cellcom, from-Picture Reality feature to closer to true 8K picture quality and SRS-XB501G, Google Home Israel’s largest cellular provider reproduce the intended position of using a new, dedicated 8K data- or Amazon Echo devices. with over 2.5 million subscribers, the sound on the screen so when base. The TVs will also be compat- will serve as a distributor of actors are speaking, the sound The TVs feature Sony Android ible with Apple AirPlay 2 and Netflix in Israel, including appears to be coming directly TV which supports apps from HomeKit. providing direct access to the service from the Cellcom TV platform. Cablenet launches Plume in Cyprus

Redbox partners with You.i Cypriot quad play provider Cablen- “We are driven to deliver the Plume co-founder and CEO TV for Roku app et has announced the availability most innovative experiences for Fahri Diner said: “Plume is delight- US video rental service Redbox of Ultra WiFi, Powered by Plume. all our customers,” said Nicolas ed to support Cablenet’s initiative has selected You.i TV to develop Plume is the creator of the Shiacolas CEO of Cablenet. to strengthen its smart home offer a new Redbox On Demand world’s first cognitive services “As the smart home continues through the addition of our cogni- service for Roku. This new app platform for the smart home. Its to rapidly evolve, we must gear-up tive in-home service bundle. This will be the first developed for open and hardware independent to provide the best in-home expe- unprecedented proposition means Roku using the React Native solution enables the curation, de- riences. That means providing fast the fastest internet possible for development framework. The livery, management, optimisation, and reliable whole home adaptive everyone everywhere, higher qual- company promises that this and support of new services and WiFi, advanced security, person- ity homework time for children, will deliver better viewing applications quickly at scale. alisation and control. Ultra WiFi, and peace of mind for parents. experiences by offering “a more This new service builds on Ca- Powered by Plume fuses all these We’re honoured to be partnering compelling user experience blenet’s fiber power speed internet important elements.” with Cablenet to change the game.” and more consistency across proposition. Ultra WiFi, Powered platforms”. It also promises by Plume includes the full Plume that the combination of React services bundle accessed through Native’s open source, JavaScript the highly-rated Plume App, two application framework and high-performance WiFi access the You.i TV SDK will result in points called SuperPods, and “faster time to market” and unparalleled customer support, “more efficient development”. from just €5.90 a month, with a 24-month contract.

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p32-36 DTVE Tech MayJun19v4stJE.indd 34 22/05/2019 19:03 Digital TV Europe Technology > in focus May/June 2019

Amazon launches new Fire tablet for kids In Brief

Amazon has launched a new Fire Telefónica showcases AR tablet specifi cally for kids bun- Amazon Fire 7 Kids comes with Spanish telco Telefónica has dled with a year’s free Amazon a year of FreeTime Unlimited. teamed up with the city of FreeTime Unlimited subscription Segovia. Natoural Digital and a doubling of the amount Solutions and Samsung to of Spanish-language content Parents can choose to enable showcase a virtual tourism available for kids. Spanish only content, English experience based on 5G and The Amazon Fire 7 Kids only content, or a combination augmented and mixed reality edition, which will cost US$99.99 of both, and can customise the technology. The presentation in (€89) in the US, will come with a settings for each individual child Segovia, part of the Ciudades year of Amazon FreeTime Unlim- profi le. FreeTime comes with Tecnológicas 5G project, taps ited, the tech giant’s subscription The subscription will include parental tools including age into augmented and mixed offering for the 3-12 year-old kids access to titles such as Toy fi lters, the ability to set educa- reality to offer a virtual tourism market. After the fi rst year, cus- Story: Smash It! and Fantastic tional content quotas, limitations experience that places the tomers can continue their sub- Beasts and Where to Find Them on screen time by category visitor in scenes of centuries scription from US$2.99 (2.63) from the likes of Disney, PBS and and total screen time, bedtime past and real-life present per month for Prime members Nickelodeon as well as books, shutdown and the ability to add scenarios, according to the telco. and US$4.99 per month for new audio books, educational apps or remove content and enable or customers. and games. disable the web browser. ShemarooMe on Apple TV The FreeTime Unlimited Amazon has doubled the The device comes with a ShemarooMe, the OTT service subscription can be used on amount of Spanish language 7-inch display, and 16 GB of from Indian Shemaroo compatible devices including Fire programming on the service in-built storage with up to 512 Entertainment, has launched tablets, Echo devices, iOS devic- compared with a year ago, with GB of expandable storage via a an Apple TV app. ShemarooMe es, and Android devices. over 2,000 titles available. microSD card slot. offers an a la carte service. Introductory pricing for individual category plans cost Bouygues Telecom taps AirTies for WiFi INR49 (€0.63) per month or INF499 (€6.43) per year. The all- French service provider selected AirTies as our strategic access plans cost INR129 (€1.66) Bouygues Telecom has tapped supplier because of the proven a month or INR999 (€12.87) a technology outfi t AirTies to performance of their end-to-end year. The ShemarooMe OTT app provide its WiFi software and portfolio of Smart WiFi software is available from Google Play, Mesh extenders to its broadband and products,” said Jean-Chris- iOS App store or online. subscribers. tophe Reversat, director of prod- Bouygues Telecom will inte- ucts and services development SES video down grate AirTies Smart WiFi soft- at Bouygues Telecom. Satellite operator SES’s ware with subscribers’ existing “Bouygues Telecom is wide- video business continued to Bbox gateways. ly-recognized for their innovative deteriorate in the fi rst quarter, Bouygues Telecom will also services today and their vision with analysts at Berenberg offer AirTies’ Air 4830 Mesh of tomorrow. The combination of commenting that the long- extenders, powered by Quanten- AirTies’ elegant extenders and Tier custom launcher to its BBox term picture was worrying, na, to provide high-speed WiFi Smart WiFi software will enable Android TV Operator Tier set-top despite the impact of a one-off throughout subscribers’ homes. them to deliver an enhanced box. Demonstrating the strong loss in the quarter from the “At Bouygues Telecom, we’re home WiFi experience for cus- market trend around Android end of a wholesale leasing dedicated to providing our mil- tomers throughout France. We TV for pay TV operators, the agreement with Echostar. SES lions of customers with the best are extremely proud they chose partnership will see Bouygues posted revenues of €480.6 possible technology and services to deploy AirTies across their customers get the updated user million, down 2.3% at constant to enhance their digital lives. In- existing and next-gen gateways,” interface. iFeelSmart provides currency. Video revenue was home WiFi is more essential than said Philippe Alcaras, CEO of applications for operators, down 7.3%, while networks ever, and we’re excited about AirTies. service providers and content revenues were up 5.4%. SES bringing next-generation WiFi to Bouygues Telecom is sep- distributors with more than 2.5 posted Q1 EBITDA of €290.1 our subscribers across France. arately bringing iFeelSmart’s million customers. million, down 7%. After an extensive review, we Centaurus Android TV Operator

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p32-36 DTVE Tech MayJun19v4stJE.indd 35 22/05/2019 19:04 Technology > in focus Digital TV Europe May/June 2019

In Brief Russia postpones digital switchover in 21 regions

Bitmax blockchain move The Russian government has switchover had been pushed to be used to purchase equipment. Digital media management postponed digital switchover in 21 back because people needed Volin said it would also be easier and licensing company Bitmax regions of the country, according more time to install equipment to handle problems if the switcho- has partnered with blockchain- to local reports. The government at their summer houses, adding ver was phased. Under the original based digital media rights and has postponed switchover in the that during the summer season plan’s description, all 57 remain- content management company relevant regions until October. many families were not at their ing regions were analogue TV is MTonomy to license and provide All remaining Russian regions main place of residence. He also still available would have been new release content to the latter. with analogue TV transmissions said that the government wanted switched off at the same time. Through this partnership, were originallly due to make the to avoid causing disruption to the Volin said that despite the delay, cryptocurrency users around change on June 3. tourist industry. all regions would be required to the world will be able to Transport and communications Additionally, said Volin, the bulk complete preparatory work for buy and rent Bitmax’s video ministry spokesman Alexey Volin of funds allocated to help poorer switchover ahead of the original content, including movies, informed Russia press that digital Russians make the change had yet June deadline. documentaries, TV series and digital shorts, directly in cryptocurrency on MTonomy. Chile postpones analogue TV switch off com. Cryptocurrency users will make payments in Ether, the Chile has postponed the television in the country over the association, the Asociación native cryptocurrency of the switch to digital TV to 2024, next four years. Nacional de Televisión de Ethereum blockchain, using the country’s government It is expected that this plan will Chile (ANATEL) requested cryptocurrency wallets such as announced on May 15. see 80% of Chileans receive a a postponement of the Metamask, Coinbase Wallet and The announcement came digital television signal by 2022. original cut off date from Cipher. as part of a revised plan for This update comes after regulator Subsecretaría de the implementation of digital Chile’s national television Telecomunicaciones (SUBTEL). Ex-Roku execs unveil Tetra Former Roku executives Steven Shannon and Jim Lombard have Mediapro acquires VR specialist Visyon unveiled Tetra TV, a new smart TV advertising startup that Catalonian producer and broad- claims to offer the industry’s caster Mediapro has acquired first connected TV-focused local VR specialist Visyon. advertising network. Tetra TV’s Visyon was founded in 2012 platform pools ad inventory and has been working on from more than 100 streaming immersive technology solutions video content channels to including virtual, augmented and deliver targeted campaigns at mixed reality. The company cur- scale for advertisers, who will be rently employs 70 full-time staff, able to purchase inventory and mostly at the main Barcelona dynamically insert ads across headquarters, and has offices in of a football competition, for the live broadcasting of the 2019 platforms including Apple TV, Madrid, London, Dubai, as well as Arabian Gulf League. Goya Awards ceremony, and has Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, a presence in Milan, Eindhoven, The two companies are now filmed and post-produced several Roku, Sony PlayStation, Xbox San Francisco and New York. working together on the develop- classical theatre plays for RTVE’s and smart TVs from Samsung, The company has worked on ment of new business models for VR app, such as The Misanthrope Vizio, Sony, and LG. Shannon 400 projects since its creation the broadcasting of immersive by Molière, The Kitchen by most recently ran content and across sports, entertainment, sports and entertainment and Arnold Wesker and Cyrano de advertising at Roku as the business solutions, retail, educa- the evolution of the eSports Bergerac by Rostand, within the SVP of content and services. tion and healthcare. industry and exploring multiple framework of the International Lombard, who launched the Mediapro and Visyon have formats and use cases tapping Classical Theatre Festival of Roku video advertising sales been working together since the potential of 5G connectivity, Almagro. offering in 2013 and directed ad 2014, developing content for according to Mediapro. Other Visyon clients include sales at Roku, is serving as Tetra major sports and entertainment Separately, pubcaster RTVE Nike, The World Bank, Samsung, TV’s chief revenue officer. clients, such as the production of tapped the Barcelona-based SEAT, Iberdrola, Google, Red Bull the world’s first live VR telecast company for the 360° and VR and Damm.

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p37 ConnecTechAsia DTVE MayJun19.indd 1 21/05/2019 14:24 People > Places Digital TV Europe May/June 2019

On the move

Nordic Nickelodeon; including broadcast, Barra described on Twitter as the All 4 head Entertainment online and marketing output completion of Facebook’s “first-gen Richard Group (NENT across the UK, Northern and VR lineup”, with the latest product Davidson- Group) has Eastern Europe. Cordrey’s remit – the Quest all-in-one headset – Houston is to appointed will primarily be across Channel 5, launching May 21. Tseng has been leave Channel 4 Jonas working with programme makers with Facebook since 2010. after 12 years. Gustafsson and the editorial team to represent Davidson- as senior vice president and CEO the channel from a content legal French Houston oversaw the of Viasat Consumer, a new NENT perspective. She will be responsible technology transformation from the largely Group operating unit. Viasat for recommending strategy, outfit and catch-up focused 4oD into All 4 in is one of the most recognised policy, process and best practice service provider 2015. During that time, All 4 saw a entertainment brands in the Nordic in relation to regulatory and legal Netgem has period of record growth in digital region and the new organisation programme compliance. Cordrey appointed viewing and digital revenues. comprises Viasat’s satellite and will report into Marcus Lee, VP Mathias All 4 is now available on more than broadband TV consumer offerings. for General Counsel, VIMN, UK, Hautefort as CEO, replacing 20 platforms in the UK and has Jonas Gustafsson’s appointment Northern & Eastern Europe. Joseph Haddad, who remains over 20 million registered users, is effective from June 1 and he chairman of the company. including over two-thirds of all 16- will be part of the group executive Telecom Italia (TIM) has named Hautefort will assume his new 34 year olds in the UK management team reporting Giovanni Ronca as chief financial position on July 1 and will remain Davidson-Houston joined Channel to NENT Group president and officer reporting directly to CEO president of Vitis, the unit that 4 in 2007, being appointed head CEO Anders Jensen. Jonas Luigi Gubitosi. After a transition holds Netgem’s Videofutur service of Channel 4 Online in 2010. Prior Gustafsson joined NENT Group period Ronca will become CFO as provider arm. Netgem is in the to his time at Channel 4, Davidson- in 2015 and is currently acting of June 17, replacing Piergiorgio midst of transitioning to a service- Houston worked as an internet CEO of NENT Group Sweden, Peluso. Peluso, as of that date, led business and the move came as business consultant and a founder a role in which he will continue will report to Gubitosi, managing the company posted Q1 numbers before joining Microsoft in 2002. until Filippa Wallestam, CEO of the Group’s strategic projects that saw revenues slide by 40% NENT Group Sweden, returns and extraordinary operations. year-on-year to €6.6 million. While György Zsembery, the CEO of from parental leave in August Ronca was co-head of UniCredit consolidated net revenues were Ukraine’s leading cable operator 2019. Also at NENT Group, Sahar commercial bank network in Italy down by 32% to €3.6 million on a Volia is to step down. Hungarian Kupersmidt has been appointed and member of the executive like for like basis, non-consolidated national Zsembery, who is to as senior vice president and head committee of the bank until March. revenues from Videofutur, owned take up a new position outside of of people and culture. The newly From 2014 to 2016 he was based jointly with Caisse des Dépôts Ukraine, will continue to contribute created role of head of people and in New York as head of UniCredit and Océinde, were up 42% to €3 to Volia in the role of vice-chairman culture will be part of the Group’s activities for North and South million. More than 50% of the of the board. He will be replaced executive management team. America. group’s net revenues now come as CEO by Anton Dzyubenko, It will encompass NENT Group’s from services. who was previously the chief human resources departments Hugo Barra, the executive of advertising-supported and will be responsible for talent vice president WarnerMedia Entertainment video-on-demand service TV Play attraction and retention, as well of Oculus VR exec and industry veteran Baltics, part of Providence Equity- as competence and leadership at Facebook, Kevin Reilly is to remain at the owned media group All Media development. is leaving his company for at least four more Baltics, where he was responsible role to focus years in an expanded role, the for operations and management Current ITN deputy head of on building a company has announced. Reilly’s of the group’s activities across compliance, Rowena Cordrey, is “global AR/VR partner ecosystem” role will expand to include all Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Prior to join Viacom International Media at the company. Barra, who joined WarnerMedia Entertainment basic to joining All Media Baltics in 2017, Networks as vice-president, head of Facebook from Chinese electronics cable networks as president of Dzyubenko was chief commercial content, legal and compliance. company Xiaomi in January 2017, TBS, TNT and truTV, in addition to officer and member of the board In this role, Cordrey will oversee the will be succeeded in the position by chief content officer, WarnerMedia at Volia. l legal and regulatory compliance of Erick Tseng, Facebook’s current Direct-to-Consumer. As part of this Viacom’s content across Channel product management director. reorganisation, truTV president Please email contributions to: 5, MTV, Comedy Central and This reshuffle coincides with what Chris Linn has left the company. [email protected]

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p38 People DTVE MayJun19 V5 JE MH.indd 38 22/05/2019 18:17 p39 NEM DTVE MayJun19.indd 1 21/05/2019 14:21 Final analysis > Kate Bulkley Digital TV Europe May/June 2019

“The rise of Netflix has accelerated change not only in commissioning and budgets but also about when and where the resulting content is first and best distributed.”

Game of streams

the final season of Game of Thrones distribution platforms is work in progress. certainly help build scale against rivals like As concluded, fans may have had mixed Pay TV companies face a dilemma – how do Netflix. Disney told investors in April that it feelings about how the story line ended, but their own SVOD and catch-up TV services expects Disney+ to attract 60 to 90 million for HBO the dilemma is how to replace its fit together with the new streaming services subscribers by 2024. Hulu should reach as blockbuster hit. being launched by their traditional partners? many as 60 million by that date and sports With the finale drawing a record 19.3 As Netflix and other streamers continue service ESPN+ could reach up to 12 million. million viewers, what to replace it with is to poach pay TV subscribers from cable and Part of the allure of Disney+ will be the also important for any pay TV platform that satellite companies in the US – some three Netflix-busting price of US$7 a month, but distributes HBO programming, including million paying subs were lost in 2018 alone, Netflix continues to ramp up its original Sky. Game of Thrones is one of the shows that according to a recent report by Leichtman content spend and its subscriber count. The makes customers renew their subscriptions. Research Group – the landscape is changing. streamer added 9.6 million subscribers The distribution chain of which Sky is a This trend of pay TV attrition looks set to in the first three months of this year alone, part is now in flux. The rise of Netflix has continue, at least for the big bundle channel giving Netflix 149 million global subscribers. accelerated change not only in commissioning offers, because they are no longer the Not all the services out there will survive and budgets but also about when and favoured services of younger consumers but the betting is pretty good on the likes where the resulting content is first and best particularly. As a result, pay TV platforms of Disney and WarnerMedia figuring it out. distributed. The streaming battle has an have signed deals with Netflix and Amazon However, the streaming future is not all impact on everything from the cost of content Prime to distribute their services on their about SVOD. Advertising supported VOD and talent to platform economics. As in platforms because the operators were quite is gathering pace, as shown by Viacom’s Game of Thrones’ Westeros, where various rightly concerned about the SVOD players US$340 million purchase of ad-supported dynasties are all vying for the Iron Throne, in hijacking their customers. streaming platform Pluto TV and its plans to media Disney, Apple and AT&T, which owns Last month Disney unveiled details of its ramp it up internationally. HBO, are all looking to take on Netflix with own plans to spend billions to try to take on The question of how traditional pay TV rival services set to launch later this year. Netflix. The company has spent US$71.3 players find a space alongside the streaming Later this year HBO’s SVOD service will be billion ( 63.9 billion) to acquire most of plans of the big media players is still being folded into a broader WarnerMedia streaming 21st Century Fox including super brands worked out. Different solutions will be tried, offer. WarnerMedia owner AT&T is betting The Simpsons and X-Men which will join including a greater emphasis on creating big on streaming. The still-unnamed service Marvel, Pixar, LucasFilm and other studios original productions. Vertical integration will carry episodes of new shows from and franchises in its portfolio. In mid-April meanwhile seems to be back on the table for channel brands including HBO, TNT and Disney shares soared after the company pay TV and broadband provider Altice, which CNN that could air on the streaming service unveiled the particulars of its direct to recently paid US$200 million to acquire first before they play out on linear free TV consumer “suite of streaming services” led Cheddar, the ad-supported youth targeted and pay TV platforms. AT&T CEO Randall by Disney+. Shares got another boost on news network which is on both pay TV and Stephenson told investors that he considered Disney’s announcement that it would take internet bundles. If you know the allegorical pay TV platforms to be important “business operational control of US OTT service Hulu. story Who Moved my Cheese, you’ll know that partners” going forward even as he said the Taking control of Hulu means that the Mouse those who don’t try to adapt to the new reality company is pushing “digital distribution on House can “completely integrate Hulu” into risk becoming extinct. l top of that as well”. its direct-to-consumer business, Disney CEO As the launch nears, WarnerMedia’s Bob Iger said on announcing the deal. Adding Kate Bulkley is a journalist specialising evolving relationship with traditional Hulu’s 28 million subscribers to Disney+ will in media and telecommunications.

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