BT Collaborates With Cisco To Deliver Online Video Platform

British Telecommunications Wholesale has announced it has chosen Cisco's Content Delivery System as the 'backbone' for its, open online video delivery network - Content Connect - designed to improve the experience of watching and listening to digital content on the web.

The Cisco Content Delivery System (CDS) using medianet technologies enables BT Wholesale to establish broadband as a TV platform. Content Connect will deliver digital content to any computer, TV or mobile device on behalf of UK internet service providers giving broadcasters access to a large end user base – irrespective of service provider or technology.

Media groups already use content delivery networks but in many cases these services only reach the edge of the ISP network, with the final stage delivered 'over the top' with no guarantees on the quality of service. The collaboration with Cisco helps ensure that BT's next generation Content Connect platform can cache content deep in the broadband network and so deliver it much closer to the end user – avoiding congested areas of the network. This, in turn, enables broadcasters to provide video content – and in the future live TV - with an assured level of service all the way to the viewer, providing uninterrupted access even at peak times. This provides broadcasters with the predictable user experience critical to supporting advertising or pay models.

Based on Cisco CDS, BT Wholesale's Content Connect service can offer a UK-wide service with quality of service (QoS) assurance and detailed reporting and analytics on how the customers' content is being consumed. CDS also enables customers using BT Wholesale's platform to monitor network status, and a broad array of details about the broadband user experience – all available on a single portal-based view. And, security concerns are reduced as content delivery will take place within a private network, avoiding the internet altogether.

BBC, ITV and BT working on technical standards for on-demand tv over broadband

The trio announced proposals today that to build a "standards based open environment for broadband connected digital television receivers". They invited other public service broadcasters (Channel 4 and Five), device firms and other ISPs to back the initiative.

The initiative, currently described only in the vaguest terms, will seek to extend the reach of the BBC iPlayer and the ITV player to mainstream living rooms.

Public broadcasters will be offered use of the iPlayer back end, the BBC said. It also seems likely the involvement of BT and other ISPs indicates plans for a shared content delivery network, to soften the impact on bandwidth charges.

No timescale was provided, but the announcement said plans for high definition on demand would be included. Like all new services, the BBC's involvment in the intiative is subject to approval by the BBC Trust. On demand via a new generation of Freeview boxes would carry no subscription fee.

BBC director-general Mark Thompson said: "We are building on a history of collaborating with and supporting the industry in research and development which includes NICAM stereo, Teletext and Freeview."

More info at The Register