Karlsruhe-based video portal VideoWeb is expanding the functionalities of the Zattoo live streaming service to include HbbTV and red button access.
This will allow owners of the VideoWeb box to easily access the catch-up TV services from a number of broadcasters on their TV set, without the need of a cable or satellite subscription.
Zattoo is currently streaming some 60 channels in Germany and over 110 channels in Switzerland. With the software upgrade, any HbbTV service of these channels is accessible with any broadband connection with a minimum speed of 2Mbps.
Broadband TV Views. The combination of Zattoo, a VideoWeb set-top box, a TV set and a broadband connection offers consumers a new argument for cord cutting by offering the – at least for the moment – ultimate OTT solution.
Zattoo streams the main channels via IPTV to the TV screen including access to all services (teletext, HbbTV, red button) without the need to buy a cable or DTH subscription.
At the same time, the VideoWeb portal offers access to a wide choice of online video content – including premium content from Maxdome and others.
It remains to be seen if the channels will continue to agree on live streaming of their signals on services such as Zattoo. But in other territories – including the Netherlands – broadcasters are in active talks with CE manufacturers to stream their channels directly to smart TV sets.
