Here’s another snapshot of produce and service news coming way of IBC, getting underway this week in Amsterdam.
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-Arris has introduced HomeAssure, a whole-home WiFi system for service providers that includes configurable extenders and gateways. Arris said the new system proactively optimizes WiFi by intelligently steering devices across access points on the home network for the best connection. Customers, meanwhile, will have the ability to control of their own home network and manage set-up and fix problems via a web portal or mobile app.
-Harmonic said it is helping to simplify OTT delivery by expanding media processing and workflow capabilities for its VOS platform. New workflow orchestration and delivery functionalities, including streamlined content capture, UHD support, personalized ad insertion, and multi-cloud support, have been added to its VOS Cloud media processing software and VOS 360 managed services.
-Roku said Econet Media, an African media company, has inked a Roku Powered license for the launch of a streaming TV service called Kwesé Play. Econet Media is a subsidiary of Econet Global, owner of a large fiber backbone in Sub-Saharan Africa, with and operations in more than a dozen countries.
-Opera TV has introduced a new electronic program guide for smart TV partners. The new platform supports catch-up TV, noting that it’s supporting Freeview Play, the UK-based service that combines live and catch-up content. The Freeview Play profile of the new EPG was developed in technical collaboration with Digital UK, a company closely tied to Freeview Play.
-Accedo is using the show to tout VR capabilities of its Accedo One platform, in partnership with Nokia and its OZO system, including the OZO Player SDK. Accedo said the combo will help pay TV operators, broadcasters and brands create, manage and publish video and VR experiences across multiple devices.
-Celeno Communications said its software will help power Telenet’s “Flow” WiFi management system, which self-optimizes wireless connectivity across multiple WiFi access points, extenders and gateways.
-Ericsson has signed a content services deal with DNA, a major pay TV operator and telecom operator in Finland. Under the deal, Ericsson will provide editorial services and metadata for more than 150 TV channels delivered in Finnish, English and Swedish, including content discovery on DNA’s new 4K-enabled box, the TV-hubi, which also features Chromecast built-in and integration with Google Play.
-Synaptics Inc. has launched the VideoSmart BG5CT, a 4K/HDR video processor for the set-top box market. The sixth-gen video processor stems from a product portfolio that Synaptics recently acquired from Marvell.
-Quantenna Communications said Technicolor has adopted its QV860 chip in a dual-band extender, called the OWA0130, that will be built into WiFi gateways for service providers. The combo aims to extend WiFi coverage and produce speeds that improve over existing WiFi mesh products.
-Irdeto said its Cloaked CA (conditional access) solution has completed a review by Cartesian against the “stringent usage rules” for 4K/Ultra HD premium content. The audit focuses on content security requirements, aligned with MovieLabs’ Enhanced Content Protection (ECP) requirements and industry best practices, Irdeto said.
-Nagra has booted up OpenTV Signature Edition, a new turnkey, cloud-based and multi-tenant product set that combines the OS, experience/interface and player alongside pre-integrated set-top box hardware, including a 4K-ready box from SmarDTV, and support for third-party apps such as Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video.
-France’s Molotov.TV, an OTT subscription service, is using AWS Elemental’s Live encoders and Elemental Conductor software to power a new TV app for smartphones, PC, tablets, connected TVs as well as Apple TV and Android TV devices, and smart TVs from LG and Samsung. Molotov.TV offers a free version with 35 channels, and a paid offering with more than 70 channels that sells for less than €10 per month.
-Security specialist Nagra and Canal+, the France-based provider of pay TV services and content distribution, have renewed and expanded their content protection partnership. Under the deal, in France, Poland, Caribbean, Africa, Vietnam, Madagascar and Mauritius, Nagra will provide Canal+ with conditional access systems (smartcard-based, cardless and hybrid CAS/DRM) for multiple types of video devices, alongside a new range of anti-piracy services.
