IBC 2011 – AMSTERDAM. KIT digital has announced agreements with LG Electronics for its smart TV platform and with Liberty Global for its planned Horizon online service.
KIT digital said it will provide IP video platform technology, content and professional services to LG’s Home entertainment division for its smart TV platform. Under the terms of the agreement, KIT digital and LG will work together to develop and deploy a joint multiscreen over-the-top video (OTT) solution to provide viewers with anytime access to live and on-demand premium 2D and 3D content on LG smart TVs globally.
This will include LG’s 3D Zone service as well as offering content owners the opportunity to operate their premium content services on LG Smart TVs.
“As LG enters the domain of content portals and app stores, we require partners such as KIT digital to assist us in multiscreen, IP-based video production, management and delivery,” said Young-jae Seo, VP in charge of LG’s smart TV team.
Liberty Global has selected KIT digital to design, build and host the platform driving its new IP-based video-on-demand and live streaming Horizon online service.
The Horizon online service will see the creation of an ecosystem that provides a single and flexible, multi-lingual, multi-tenant, and multi-currency platform that can be rolled out across all of Liberty Global’s worldwide subsidiaries.
Scheduled to go live later this year, the service will initially be available to subscribers in the Netherlands and then rolled out to other countries in Liberty Global’s footprint. The service provides subscribers with the flexibility to access video content on multiple devices anywhere there is a broadband connection.
The solution provides an open platform that allows for integration to the multiple operating countries’ existing operations support system (OSS)/business support system (BSS) platforms, as well as the flexibility to create a customised user experience based on local country requirements and devices.
“We are developing this new service to meet the needs of tomorrow’s consumer,” said Ryc Brownrigg, VP of digital technology for Liberty Global. “We have built this platform to scale easily over time, encompassing new devices and trends as they occur in order to provide our customers with a cutting-edge service that surpasses the competition.”