Less than six million U.S. households would consider canceling pay-TV service in favor of online video

Despite the growing amount of video available online, less than 8% of U.S. broadband households are considering canceling their pay-TV services in favor of online video, according to Parks Associates’ All Eyes on Video.

All Eyes on Video found approximately 5.5 million homes would be open to canceling pay TV due in part to the availability of online video. At the same time, one-half of these households are also considering a switch to a new pay-TV provider, indicating the primary threats to companies such as Verizon, Comcast, DirecTV, and Cablevision are still their traditional competitors.

The households likely to switch or cancel their services watch a whopping 10 hours of online video each week, much higher than typical video consumers. They express strong interest in having online access to pay-TV channels (e.g., TV Everywhere), which highlights an opportunity for traditional pay-TV providers to solidify their base through the deployment of such features. Offline video consumption is also higher. Their median number of DVD rentals from the last six months is 18, compared to two rentals among other households.

Telcordia Helps Mexico Accelerate Mobile Data Adoption

Telcordia, a global leader in the development of fixed, mobile and broadband communications software and services, announced a contract with the Number Portability Technical Committee and Comision Federal de Telecomunicaciones (COFETEL), Mexico's telecommunications regulator, to provide the distribution and query service of number portability in the country for SMS and content providers and other emerging players in the mobile content ecosystem, effectively helping to accelerate the use and adoption of advanced services in Mexico.

Content providers and operators are looking to extend their reach to subscribers with the introduction of MMS, location-based content and other personalized data services. With new opportunities come additional challenges when providers try to interconnect networks and services. As the provider of data exchange services, Telcordia enables operators and Web-based providers to deliver next-generation applications and services across partner networks by providing accurate and authoritative subscriber routing information.

As the center point connecting users, operators and content providers in a market of this size, Telcordia will serve as an authoritative and trusted source for number portability data exchange services and is at the forefront of delivering this service and establishing relationships with the key service and content providers in Mexico.

Samsung keynote at CONNECTIONS™ explores future of LCD technology and 3D TV

Parks Associates announced Scott Birnbaum, Vice President, Samsung LCD Group, will deliver the morning keynote, “TV Technology in the New Age of Consumer Buying,” at CONNECTIONS™ on June 9, 2010.

CONNECTIONS™: The Digital Living Conference and Showcase, in its 14th year, will take place June 8-10, 2010, at the Santa Clara Convention Center. CONNECTIONS™ is the premier event for research and analysis of connected home technologies and digital living solutions, with over 600 executives attending each year.

Mr. Birnbaum will speak at 10:00 a.m., June 9, on the future of LCD technology, the accelerated movement toward a 16:9 aspect ratio, and the prognosis for 3D in the home. He will explore the implications for TV design and manufacturing as consumers demand thin, energy-efficient form factors that provide crystal-clear, movie-like experiences.

He will also discuss the need for easy-to-understand data so consumers can understand and make informed choices about thinness, backlighting, energy consumption, contrast and aspect ratios, and refresh rates.

CONNECTIONS™ features multiple sessions on next-generation video services and the growing demand for interactive entertainment, including 3D and connected TV, personalization of applications, Internet video, and mobile applications. Sessions include industry-leading consumer research and executive analysis to highlight the next opportunities and future business strategies for video technologies and platforms, multiscreen experiences, and value-added services.

CONNECTIONS Europe addresses new solutions to control content delivery to connected CE

“Bringing the Content,” the first interactive panel session at the executive summit CONNECTIONS™ Europe, will tackle the new content challenges that come with the proliferation of connected devices, which will exceed 100 million units worldwide in 2010.

The session takes place April 27 at 10:15 a.m. and will address the question of who will control the display and distribution of content as the adoption of connected game consoles, set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, and media servers opens new opportunities for service providers, CE manufacturers, online video providers, and broadcasters.

“Bringing the Content” session speakers:

-- Ronald Brockmann, Managing Director, Europe, ActiveVideo Networks
-- Tim Hadley, Director, Corporate Communications, Omnifone
-- Klaus Illgner-Fehns, Managing Director, HbbTV
-- Rolf Uwe Placzek, CEO, Acetrax

CONNECTIONS™ Europe Advisory Sponsors are ActiveVideo Networks, Advanced Digital Broadcast (ADB), Latens, and PacketVideo.

Latens sponsors CONNECTIONS Europe

Parks Associates welcome Latens as the newest Advisory Sponsor for the upcoming CONNECTIONS Europe Summit in Amsterdam on April 27th.

Latens is leading the way in IPTV and fully DVB® compliant software Conditional Access and Middleware, enabling operators of broadcast and broadband Pay-TV networks around the world to securely deliver next generation entertainment services to set-top boxes, PCs, mobile devices and home networks. With offices in the US, UK and India Latens’ customer base stretches globally. Latens continued success has been recognised with the recent inclusion in the top 500 Fast Deloitte companies for the EMEA region.

For more information about Latens please visit www.latens.com.