Advanced Television

Middleware

Roku OS 9.3 enhances voice & customisation options

Roku has announced Roku OS 9.3 will start rolling out to Roku devices in the coming weeks. The free, automatic software update focuses on helping consumers get to content quickly via Roku Voice enhancements, improving overall performance, new customisation options and more. “The Roku OS continues to get better with a specific focus on delivering […]

April 1, 2020

Study: Netflix best VoD UX

With its European-wide launch set for March 24th, the Disney+ SVoD platform has a user experience equal to that of Amazon Prime Video, but still clearly lags behind industry leader Netflix, according to a large-scale user experience study conducted by digital-TV product agency TeraVolt. In the survey, which analysed the user experience of various streaming […]

March 19, 2020

TiVo: Patent win, merger halt?

TiVo has won another battle to protect its patents. An appeal before the US Court of Appeals has backed a decision issued by the US International Trade Commission. While the patents under discussion have in themselves expired, the verdict is likely to help further decisions pending of a similar nature. The next argument with Comcast […]

March 6, 2020By Chris Forrester

Netflix rolls out ‘Top 10’ feature

Recognising that top 10 lists are a frequent way to find out what’s popular, Netflix is rolling out a new Top 10 feature. In addition to the overall top 10 list, users will also be able to see the top 10 most popular series and top 10 films when they click on the movies and […]

February 25, 2020By Colin Mann

Spain: Movistar adds Apple TV+, boosts UHD

Movistar Plus is upgrading its pay-TV platform adding new functionalities including a voice-controlled remote and double-screen option to watch two different channels at the simultaneously. It is also adding new services including Apple TV+. The platform is boosting its UHD content with more football matches and original TV series. Movistar says that around 30 per […]

February 13, 2020From David Del Valle in Madrid

Survey: 52% smart speakers used to control TV

Some 75 million people in the US are now using a smart speaker, and more than half of them – 39 million – are using it to control their smart TV, video streamer or other TV device at least weekly. This finding comes from Strategy Analytics’ report, 2019 Smart Speaker User Survey – US Results, […]

January 28, 2020

Swisscom TV extends Netflix partnership

Multiplay telco Swisscom says it is continuing to break down the barriers between television and streaming with the introduction, from January 27th, of  ‘Swisscom TV X’, which it claims will make the best Swisscom TV and the most popular streaming service Netflix available at a discounted price, with hundreds of channels, 1,200 hours of recording, […]

January 23, 2020

Tech4home voice remote for RDK and Metrological STBs

Tech4home, a provider of innovative wireless remote control solutions for the home environment, has launched the first Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) voice remote control solutions for RDK and Metrological enabled set-top boxes. Operators opting for the RDK platform will now be able to choose from Tech4home’s wide range of remote control units and benefit from […]

January 14, 2020

Amazon Fire TV surpasses 40m+ users; expands features

Amazon has revealed that its Fire TV service now has over 40 million active users globally, with customers having access to tens of thousands of channels, apps, Alexa skills and more. Meanwhole, Amazon has announced that by year end a new Fire TV Edition that’s capable of powering soundbars and being integrated into vehicles, plus […]

January 7, 2020

Gracenote global on-demand OTT guide

In a move designed to help global and regional streaming services create next generation user experiences and bridge OTT and broadcast content for seamless viewing, Gracenote, a Nielsen company, is leveraging its expertise powering linear broadcast Electronic Programme Guides (EPGs) to help on-demand video streaming services, Smart TV makers and traditional cable and satellite operators […]

January 2, 2020