German based connected TV firm VideoWeb has announced a new application which brings the Zattoo live videostreams to a regular TV set.
The VideoWeb set-top box allows viewers to stream web video services directly to (HD) flat screens using on-screen apps. The app is part of the VideoWeb 2.0 version.
With the addition of the new Zattoo app, the company creates a virtual IPTV service streaming the around 50 TV channels available on the online video portal.
In order to use the new service, people need to have a broadband internet access with a speed of at least 2 Mbps.
Niklas Brambring, COO of Zattoo, said: “With the smart TV upgrade solution of VideoWeb TV, we are now reaching a new category of users, our live-TV service will use in the living room on the big HD television screen. With VideoWeb we have another strategic partner to deliver linear TV on all relevant devices. In line with our vision of ‘Internet TV everywhere’ is the extension to HD TVs, which are developing into multimedia centres in the living room.”
“Live TV streaming over the internet and especially to the HD TV is the future. It has already begun at VideoWeb, as our cooperation with Zattoo makes clear,” added Matthias Greve, founder and CEO of VideoWeb, “with VideoWeb our customers are one step ahead and they will benefit from the partnership between Zattoo and VideoWeb. You are receiving this significant added value with a real live TV now easy, convenient and great prices, without the need for other auxiliary devices.”
Zattooo claims currently 9 million registered users. The service is live in six countries, including Germany, Switzerland, the UK and Spain.
In Germany, Zattoo offers around 50 channels including public broad casters ARD and ZDF, international news channels CNN and Bloomberg, as well as other private and public broadcasters such as Sport 1, D-Max, iMusic, Das Vierte, 3sat and Arte and all ‘third’ regional channels in Germany.
Last summer, Zattoo also announced live streaming to iPhones and iPads is available.
Broadband TV Views. The announcement by VideoWeb and Zattoo is very interesting development making the threat of cord cutting to go OTT even more real.
Connected TV set-tops and smart TV sets already have the possibility to stream live TV channels. CNBC, for instance, is available on Philips Net TV as a live streaming service.
HbbTV sets also have the ability to stream channels, as the recent launch of the Hindi Star channels In Germany shows.
With Zattoo, mainstream TV channels come to the connected set-top. The combination creates a de facto IPTV service that can be accessed through any broadband connection.
