Advanced Television

OTT

First Retail Deal for FetchTV,

IP Vision's FetchTV, the first Freeview+ IPTV service to offer its users access to video-on-demand (VOD) and catch up content direct to their TV screen with tied-in subscription model, has its first retail deal with John Lewis. The SmartBox provides free access to a growing range of web video services. Users are able to watch […]

July 18, 2009

Judge dismisses some EPL claims against You Tube

A U.S. judge dismissed some damages claims in a copyright infringement lawsuit against Google and YouTube.com but left open the possibility that non-U.S. based rights owners could seek damages for live broadcasts, if they prevail. A group of sports and music copyright holders, led by the UK Premier League, had argued that foreign works were […]

July 18, 2009

Early OTT market driven by 'supplementers'

According to The Diffusion Group, demand for Over-the-Top (OTT) broadband video services is comprised of distinct consumer segments driven by very different needs. “While Over-the-Top video delivery is widely discussed, it remains poorly understood,” notes Michael Greeson, author of TDG’s latest report. “The dominant understanding of OTT is based on a conceptual error, a category […]

July 18, 2009

Macrovision becomes Rovi Corporation

Macrovision Solutions Corporation announced the official change of its name to Rovi Corporation, and unveiled its new brand positioning and visual identity. The company will now officially operate under the banner of Rovi Corporation, and its common stock will trade under the stock symbol ROVI on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. "Over the past two […]

July 16, 2009

Kudelski committed to OpenTV

From Colin Mann in Geneva Senior executives from the Kudelski Group have reiterated the company's commitment to OpenTV, despite its failure to take control of convergent media solutions provider. Kudelski has made a non-binding proposal to acquire all of the Class A ordinary shares of OpenTV not currently owned by Kudelski or its affiliates, for […]

July 16, 2009

Blinx man joins Myvideorights

Myvideorights.com, the agency trying to distribute TV clips to video websites on TV companies' behalf, is hiring video index Blinkx's sales director Ian Samuel as its own UK sales director, as it starts to sell video advertising in to the clips. The company distributes clips for clients like Hat Trick, ESPN and All3Media to sites […]

July 16, 2009

Verizon opens Widget Bazaar on FiOS TV

US telco Verizon has launched the Widget Bazaar applications store as part of its ‘FiOS TV’ service – which includes a Facebook and Twitter widgets, and Internet Video on TV. The company also plans to offer an open development platform to permit developers to write interactive FiOS TV applications that will be available through the […]

July 15, 2009

Macrovision EPG for Canal+

Macrovision Solutions Corporation has announced that Canal+ Group, a leading pay-TV operator in France, has signed a multi-year licensing agreement for Macrovision's electronic program guide (EPG) patent portfolio. The multi-year agreement allows Canal+ Group to use Macrovision's licensed intellectual property in its EPGs deployed on its various platforms. ….

July 15, 2009

IIF now considering Internet-sourced content

The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) has announced that the mission of its IPTV Interoperability Forum (IIF) will be expanded to include the standardised delivery of Internet-sourced content over an IPTV network. Until this time, the IIF has concentrated on delivery of a TV service over a managed IP network. The IIF is a […]

July 15, 2009

Sky ditches DT

Sky Deutscheland has terminated its distribution contact with Deutsche Telekom for the its IPTV platform. The 'T-Entertainment' branded service will is no loner available through Sky, though both companies have acknowledged that the possibility of further talks remains. Premiere announced plans to rebrand as Sky Deutschland in April, which has since seen the two pay-TV […]

July 13, 2009