Germany’s head-end-in-the-sky service Eutelsat Kabelkiosk is combining DVB, IP and OTT in a single, hybrid offer for multiple screens.
The extended hybrid platform and new mulitscreen solution are designed to deliver linear pay-TV and non-linear TV services to cable network operators. It brings together a number of standards, including DVB, IP and HbbTV.
This is the first time a German operator brings together so many features in one single platform including offering a multiscreen TV Everywhere service.
“We know some of these features are available on other platforms,” said Martina Rutenbeck, managing director, Eutelsat visAvision GmbH, that operates the KabelKiosk. “but we tried to bring together as many features as possible to make a very attractuive oiffer to our customers.”
KabelKiosk will use the new platform to allow about 300 affiliate companies to provide a sophisticated second-generation internet-based TV service to more than 3.5 million German households. Using the KabelKiosk infrastructure and content, these affiliates can operate pay TV networks under their own brand.
Eutelsat KabelKiosk will make the content available on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, Hbb TV set-top boxes and on PCs and Macs. The platform also offers HbbTV and includes the Kasbelkiosk Choice VOD service.
Each K abelKiosk network operator partner will have the option to customize as much or as little of the service as they wish.
“Consumers are looking for a more immersive TV experience – something more than just a straightforward multi-screen service,” said Rutenbeck. “For our wholesale customers we offer a product that us very flexible.”
The partners involved in the deployment include TVinci (OTT 2.0 platform), Farncombe (consultancy and system integration), Harmonic (ingestion), Broadpeak (CDN), Microsoft Playready (DRM), Marlin (DRM), Netgem, ABox42 (set-top boxes, Rovi (VOD) and PPS EPG data).
The service is expected to roll out for customers later this year.
