EKT (Eagle Kingdom Technologies), a company specialised in the design and manufacturing of set-top box solutions and DOCSIS modems is launching a range of smart TVs for operators “that will completely change the TV landscape.”
“It has long been a wish of some operators to bring consumers their complete content offering on the big screen without the need of a separate set-top box,” according to the company, “However, a standard retail smartTV, with its open platform, can make the TV set a direct competitor to the operator as it offers competing content. EKT has now developed, in cooperation with one of Europe’s leading TV manufacturers, an operator version of the Smart TV, which combines the STB and the TV together. This unique combination allows an operator, at an affordable price point, to deliver an integrated TV experience to the consumer’s home.”
“By offering a TV instead of a set-top box, with all of today’s and tomorrow’s features, the operator now has the chance to have a true long term customer relationship. “Owning” the TV set and all of its features, channel list, applications and push advertising possibilities, in the customer’s premises, provides a unique way to reduce churn and return the revenue control back to the operator,” explained Richard Smith, CEO of EKT.
“With screens becoming a commodity, it is now the time to shake up the market and combine the Set Top Box technology with its controlled user experience with a quality TV set. EKT believes that nothing is sacred in our industry and by challenging our customers with new concepts and ideas we create new opportunities to let the consumer enjoy the best content at their leisure.”
EKT will bring to market a variety of panel sizes with a range of silicon and middleware options, allowing for a broad consumer penetration.
The first range of operator TVs will be driven by EKT’s proprietary solidTV HbbTV and HTML5 compliant middleware platform, supporting Operator specific UI and applications, with TR-069, DRM, DIAL, Multicast and Unicast support.
The second range of operator TVs will offer RDK 2.x support with multiple CAS and DRM options on the latest HEVC and UHD hardware.
The third range offers the latest HbbTV 2.0 middleware, supporting all UK, Australia and New Zealand catch up apps, dual multi-format tuners and selectable Freeview and Freesat support.
EKT will be demonstrating its range of SmartTV for Operator solutions at the IBC 2016 – Stand 5.B30.
