Technology > Interactive TV
Digital TV Europe
April 2010
Interactive TV focus
Digital interactive content and technology news
Telecom Italia believed to be Amino’s Intel box customer
The western Tier 1 telco that recently ordered Amino’s new Intel-based Freedom DVB-T hybrid media centre, which combines the reception of DTT channels with over-the-top broadband delivery of interactive content, is understood to be Telecom Italia, Digital TV Europehas learned. The UK-based set-top provider
revealed that an un-named Western European Tier 1 operator had placed a substantial contract for the Freedom media centre, which is the first device in the market to be based on the Intel Atom CE4100 processor (formerly known as ‘Sodaville’), which sup- ports internet and broadcast appli- cations on a single chip. Amino’s Freedom media centre, which is designed to enable the
convergence of internet and con- nected TV services with digital-ter- restrial broadcast TV, includes DVB-T2 and S2 tuner options to support HD as well as SD services delivered over the air. An integrat- ed hard disk enables the time-shift recording of multiple channels, pause live TV and push video-on- demand services. The device also supports all major internet video formats, including Adobe Flash and Microsoft Silverlight, MPEG-2
Google tests TV search with Dish
Google launched its Google TV
Google is understood to be test- ing TV search capability with US pay-TV operator Dish Network, allowing Dish subscribers to find particular shows on the broad- cast service as well as video from websites including Google’s YouTube, using Google software installed on Dish set-top boxes. According to a report in the
Wall Street Journal, the test,
which began last year, is current- ly limited to a small number of company employees and their families. The Journal, citing sources close to the matter, reported that Google hopes to link the search service up with its TV advertising software business.
Ads venture about two years ago. The company offers an auc- tion-based system to advertisers, where companies can search for programmes that fit the profile of the product they are selling, and Google can retrieve informa- tion from set-top boxes about how many viewers tuned into the ad and for how long. Advertisers pay only for those households that have viewed an ad. Dish Network has been a partner with Google in commercialising the service, along with a number of cable channels. However, the product has made relatively little impact to date.
and MPEG-4, as well as DLNA functionality that allows the TV to seamlessly play media stored else- where on the home network. If Telecom Italia is confirmed to be the customer, the Italian opera- tor’s Cubovision service will be the first from a growing number of tel- cos that appear to be ready to embrace over-the-top video servic- es to the TV as a way of comple- menting or enhancing walled-gar- den IPTV services. Telecom Italia unveiled
Cubovision, a hybrid broadband device that allows users to access digital-terrestrial broadcast signals as well as internet-delivered video services, in December. Telecom Italia declined to con- firm whether Amino was the sup- plier at the time of going to press.
CBS for Five VOD
UK broadcaster Five has signed a deal with US broadcaster CBS to make its content available on the latter’s online video site
TV.com. The deal builds on Five’s existing programming relationship with CBS, which produces a number of the channel’s flagship US shows including CSI. Five will make pro- grammes available on its Demand Five catch-up service, including soaps Neighboursand
Home and Away, available on
TV.com. Programmes will be free of charge and available only in the UK. CBS’s rivals Fox and NBC have
yet to break into the UK with their Hulu service.
In Brief
Eurosport iPhone launch
The British Eurosport and British Eurosport 2 channels can now be viewed on the iPhone following the launch of a new app. iPhone and iPod touch users can download the Eurosport Player app for free but the service costs £2.39 (€2.71) per month or £23.99 per year for access to both channels. The app will initially be available to iPhone and iPod Touch users in the UK and Republic of Ireland only, but Eurosport plans other geo- graphic roll-outs soon.
BBC to close websites
The BBC will close about 200 websites as part of its commit- ment to scale back its activi- ties and make more room for commercial competitors, according to new media chief Erik Huggers. Huggers said the BBC had made a mistake in allowing its web presence to sprawl and said that the corpo- ration had to focus on what it did best. He said the BBC would cut 25% off its online budget by 2013.
Accedo app supports SVG
Interactive TV applications developer Accedo has announced that its app store solution for IPTV operators is now compatible with SVG and Flash. Accedo said the app store user interface can be modified and re-branded to suit customers’ requirements.
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