ANGA CABLE 2011 – COLOGNE Tele Columbus is launching a new HbbTV service. The German cable operator is using a platform supplied by Alcatel Lucent, but the surprising twist is that it will run on the NDS MediaHighway middleware.
The new HbbTV service will provide Tele Columbus with the opportunity to add additional content for its subscribers that will include video streaming and regional programming. The content will be delivered over broadband to hybrid IP receivers.
The intention is that the cablenet will work with content owners, publishers, web portals and regional companies to develop applications that will be created on a specially designed template.
Dietmar Schickel, chief commercial officer at Tele Columbus commented: “The new HbbTV service will complement our linear and interactive TV product world as one of the most advanced offerings in the German market. We have prepared this step carefully through the launch of a new hybrid receiver at the beginning of 2010. With NDS and Alcatel Lucent, we have found the right partners for the further strategic and technological development of our digital TV platform and hardware base.”
Tele Columbus already uses an end-to-end technology solution from NDS, including NDS MediaHighway set-top box software, NDS VideoGuard content protection technology and the NDS XTV DVR solution.
The service is slated to launch before the end of 2011.
