MIPTV 2009 – CANNES. Connected television is all around at this year’s MIPTV, with a number of proprietary solutions to make it happen.
Zillion TV is the most visible one, with the backing of five major Hollywood studios to deliver VOD services to US households. CEO Mitch Berman is looking to partner with ISPs to roll out the service, which will initially only be available in the US. Although Zillion TV needs a set-top box, Berman hopes that CE manufacturers will include the technology in their TV sets. The backing of Disney, Warner, NBC-U, Fox, Sony and others make for a very strong content offering.
Yahoo is showing its widgets on Samsung television sets, which are now rolling out both in Europe and the US; the company has also signed Sony and LG for the North American market. With Sony, the widgets will sit along Sony’s own proprietary Bravia internet Link service. The company not only makes websites such as eBay and YouTube available on the TV set, but in the US is also partnering with broadcasters such as CBS.
FilmOn is a software based service that runs on the PC, but which can also be connected to a TV screen. Much like Zattoo, the service will stream a number of broadcast channels, but in addition it will also offer on-demand movies and other programming.
In the UK this include all the major terrestrial broadcasters. A total of 13,000 titles are available, according to founder Alki David.
Content will be available for free, paid for by advertising, or by subscription. FilmOn has already signed a deal with ART for worldwide distribution premium channels. Viewers first need to download the HDI player. A windows version is now available, and a Mac version is in the works.
Read more about these and other connected TV projects in the next edition of our premium newsletter New Television Insider as part of our ongoing coverage of this subject.
