Accedo Broadband working with Telstra to develop Live TV Apps for Connected TV

Accedo Broadband, the leading provider of app stores and applications for IPTV and Connected TV is working with Telstra to develop BigPond TV applications for multiple TV and blu-ray platforms.

The applications launched in January and are delivering seven Telstra BigPond TV channels to LG and Samsung Connected TV sets and blu-ray players across Australia.

The channels include several designed for sporting fans including football, rugby league, racing, supercars, and a sports news channel. It also includes a news channel and a music channel.

The channels are being streamed using Google’s Widevine adaptive streaming technology, meaning a seamless and truly immersive experience for consumers.

Accedo and Telstra are working on a number of application projects and has previously developed an innovative Game Analyser for TV devices, which is a first of its kind on demand sporting experience. It combines full match replays with intricate game statistics of all NRL rugby matches.

Google Acquires Two Companies, Voice Synthesis And Video Optimization

Google has agreed to acquire acquire Cambridge, England-based Phonetic Arts, and video software maker Widevine Technologies. Financial terms were not disclosed for either.

While Phonetic Arts will help Google support speech synthesis to support natural computer speech from recorded voices, Widevine will allow the Mountain View, Calif. company to stream videos to consumers supported by optimization software and a digital rights management (DRM) platform.

Google will maintain Widevine's agreements with customers and provide support for existing and future clients such as AT&T, Best Buy and Netflix. There are plans to build Widevine's technology into Google's to enhance both sets of products, which should improve lagging video content available through devices such as Google TV.

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Connected TVs in the managed video realm - announcements from Widevine and ADB today

There were a couple of announcements today that point to an expanded role for connected TVs beyond "over-the-top" video. Instead, the connected TV can also serve as a gateway for managed video services. Companies such as Verimatrix, Clearleap, thePlatform, Cisco, Motorola, ActiveVideo Networks, Alcatel-Lucent, Nokia Siemens, and Ericsson have all made recent announcements in this area.

Now, ADB has joined the fray, offering a solution called the Virtual Gateway. This sofware solution distributes multimedia capabilities throughout the home. Some use cases that ADB highlights are a user's ability to enjoy pay-TV, music and videos from wherever they are in the home: subscribers can use their gaming consoles to tune to a pay-TV channel or watch recorded programs, or access music tracks and videos stored on their DVR and play them on their smart phones.

Also, Widevine continues to make announcements regarding its adaptive streaming solution. The company announced that it has signed a global agreement with LG Electronics (LG) to distribute Widevine’s live and on-demand adaptive streaming, virtual DVD controls and digital rights management (DRM) on LG connected products. Widevine’s DRM and adaptive streaming software are already included in 2009 models of LG Blu-ray players and home theaters shipped in the United States. This agreement enables LG to expand distribution to more devices, on a worldwide basis.

Widevine’s video optimization and DRM platform will now be included on a wide variety of additional LG products, including connected TVs. Widevine’s video optimization technology ensures that consumers using LG products receive an excellent quality of viewing experience for both live and on-demand content. Widevine’s DRM keeps premium content secure, regardless of the LG device to which it is delivered .

Parks Associates presents new consumer research on video services and set-tops at CONNECTIONS™ Europe

Ericsson, Widevine, Bestv, Veveo, Zeitera, and IP Vision will participate in an executive session discussing interactive TV services and other value-added services at CONNECTIONS™ Europe, November 15-16, Amsterdam.

The session “Next-Gen Video Services: Personalization and Flexibility” is one of multiple sessions at CONNECTIONS™ Europe, hosted by Parks Associates, featuring consumer data and insights about new business strategies to differentiate TV offerings.

The interactive session includes the following participants:

-- Eddie Abrams, CEO, IP Vision
-- Giuseppe Flores d'Arcais, CEO and Founder, Bestv
-- Dan Eakins, CEO, Zeitera
-- Daren Gill, Vice President, Product, Veveo
-- Erik Kruse, Strategic Marketing Manager, Senior Expert Consumer Behavior, Ericsson AB
-- Doug Light, Senior VP of Business Development and Sales, Widevine

Consumers want services such as video-on-demand through their existing set-top boxes. Blending broadcast with IP and value-added services such as 3D, widgets, interactive advertising, video mail, caller ID, and interactive gaming is a key strategy for providers to maintain revenues in an increasingly competitive market.

For information or to register, visit http://www.connectionseurope.com.

Widevine Named a Preferred Provider of Adaptive Streaming and DRM for Samsung Devices

Widevine, a provider of digital entertainment solutions, announced that it has signed a global agreement with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. to distribute Widevine's live and on-demand adaptive streaming, virtual DVD-like "trick play" and digital rights management (DRM) on Samsung connected devices. These technologies from Widevine will enable Samsung to support TV Everywhere and over-the-top delivery initiatives from Internet content providers and large cable, satellite and telecommunication companies.

As one of Samsung's preferred partners, the Widevine client will be shipped on millions of Samsung devices in 2010. Widevine's DRM and adaptive streaming software is already included in 2009 models of Samsung connected TVs and Blu-ray players shipped in the United States. This agreement enables Samsung to expand distribution on a worldwide basis.

Consumers can connect to the Internet and access thousands of hours of video content, from the latest blockbuster movies to the most popular television shows, using their TV, Blu-ray player or mobile phone, among other devices. Widevine's video optimization and DRM technology will ensure consumers using Samsung devices will receive the ultimate viewing experience for both live and on-demand content. Samsung will include Widevine's adaptive streaming, virtual DVD-like controls and DRM on many of its most popular connected devices.

Widevine's video optimization and DRM technologies are utilized by major Internet content services and large cable, satellite and telecommunication companies launching TV Everywhere strategies. The company's software platform optimizes the entertainment experience for live and on-demand content delivered over any network to any device. The solution is natively supported in nearly all types of network connected consumer electronics including televisions, Blu-ray players, mobile devices, gaming systems and more. For more information, click here.