The Czech public broadcaster Ceska Televize (CT) will launch a new generation of its iVysilani online video platform on December 6.
In the first phase, it will offer a clearer catalogue of programmes, greater user comfort and, for the first time, exclusive content – creation intended for purely internet distribution. The website will be newly accessible to viewers with various types of sensory impairment. The first phase will be followed next year by applications for smart devices and HbbTV, and the extensive reconstruction will then be completed by new user account options.
Commenting on the development, CT’s CEO Petr Dvorak said: “The first version of iVysleni was launched by CT at the turn of the millennium, at a time when YouTube and Facebook did not yet exist in the Czech Republic, and Netflix provided films only on DVD. In 21 years, we have managed to build an archive of 95,000 hours of programmes, which is unique in the domestic environment not only in its scope but also in its thematic and historical scope.
“Over time iVysilani has accumulated a number of impediments that have hampered the development of the website. Internet distribution of TV content is a trend that requires a modern and flexible approach. Therefore, already in 2017, I wrote in my candidate project about the need to build a completely new platform. One that will adequately respond to the changing needs and expectations of the audience. For us, the implementation of this step meant a number of analyses, research, tests and invisible technological changes, which will manifest themselves in the user environment gradually, from December this year until the end of next year. I am glad that we can offer the first results to viewers now, before Christmas, and thus offer them a quality alternative to our TV programme”.
In additional comments, Marek Dolezal, executive director of new media, said: “With the launch of the new generation of iVysilani, we will move away from the original technological monolith to a new complex architecture consisting of an ecosystem of dozens of different micro-services that will effectively address specific smaller tasks. In the future, we will be able to face higher traffic peaks more efficiently and video processing will be more reliable”.
