CableLabs has licensed software from This Technology LLC to promote the transition to its second-generation video-on-demand metadata specification.
The cable consortium will use This Technology's MetaMore software platform to be a reference implementation demonstrating interoperability among systems that use the CableLabs VOD Metadata 1.1 and 2.0 specifications. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
CableLabs's VOD Metadata project defines business data about VOD distribution, presentation and multiplatform streaming. The VOD Metadata 2.0 specification enables extensible metadata for multiple platforms and applications, including IP-based distribution, VOD playlists and advanced advertising.
"The adoption of VOD 2.0 has been slow due to the lack of a transition tool," CableLabs chief technology officer Ralph Brown said in a statement. "CableLabs licensed this software platform for use in its Metadata project because it translates between legacy VOD 1.1 Metadata assets and the new VOD 2.0 Metadata specification. This core translation service provides the seamless and critical link the industry has needed in order to move forward towards VOD 2.0."
Using This Technology's software platform, cable operators, content providers and other advertising-rights holders can identify and control their supply of content and advertising opportunities.
MetaMore, a real-time metadata management solution, conforms to CableLabs VOD Metadata 1.1, 2.0 specifications as well as SCTE-130, which defines how advertising-placement servers communicate with video-delivery equipment.
