Liberty Global’s Dutch operator Ziggo is to offer linear channels via an app on the Horizon media box.
The cabler is currently working on introducing an app which will give access to eight French language linear channels, including French public broadcaster France 2. Ziggo is also looking to offer more niche and other foreign language channels, such as Italian, via apps.
This way, the operator can circumvent capacity issues on the network by making a number of channels only available on an on-demand basis via an app.
The French language channels app is due tio be released soon and will be available free of charge to viewers during a trail period. At the moment, Ziggo only offers one French language channel, TV5.
The cable is also in negotiations with NBC Universal about carriage of 13TH Street, Syfy and E! on it entire network. At the moment the NBCUni channels are only available on the former Ziggo network, not on the former UPC net.