Vidiom has worked extensively within the digital TV industry to create new platforms that allow cable, satellite and telco operators, technology suppliers, consumer electronics companies and content providers to develop standards based hardware and software that will be compatible with the systems of a wide range of operators across the world. Vidiom has worked directly with network operators providing products and engineering services to support the development of electronic program guides, application hosting environments, Digital TV applications and tools.
Many traditional Cable operators are moving towards IP solutions for the delivery of video over their networks. This is true for the largest MSOs but even more of an option for Tier 2-4 cable operators in need of increasing their bandwidth and reducing their costs. Vidiom Systems has developed an end-to-end solution to meet the requirements of the market with the ability to tailor the integration and deployments to the needs of specific operators and market demands. In the last five years, Vidiom has demonstrated is capacity to act as a solutions provider and deployed solutions for these markets around the world. One example is provided below.
MMP Success Story
Multimedia Polska S.A., with over 625,000 subscribers is the main cable operator and is one of the leading service providers in Poland—and among the most innovative. The company was the first Polish operator to launch digital television services for its broadband DSL subscribers (IPTV); the first to introduce high definition television (HDTV); and one of the first to offer triple play (cable television, voice over IP, and broadband Internet) in a single package. Multimedia is the only Polish cable operator providing the same portfolio of integrated services to its nationwide subscriber base using both cable and DSL networks. This unique, state of-the-art architecture provides greater reach, flexibility, and a competitive advantage in deploying advanced services.
Multimedia’s continuing success relies on expanding its service offerings to generate new revenue streams and successfully compete with other service providers. Those include Telekomunikacja Polska (TP), which offers IPTV to its over 10 million DSL subscribers, UPC Poland with 1 million subscribers, and direct-to-home broadcaster “N” which is providing push VOD.
Challenge
VOD would be a natural addition to Multimedia’s portfolio, providing a unique, value added service that would differentiate it in the marketplace. Offering free VOD content to digital subscribers would drive new subscribers to the premium service and generate added revenue. But deploying VOD posed significant challenges for Multimedia. Due to its diversified set of offerings and hybrid cable/IPTV infrastructure, Multimedia managed a complex ecosystem of vendors, which raised numerous interoperability concerns when adding VOD.
Further complicating the introduction of VOD was the operator’s large, widely distributed system covering many regional sites spread across Poland. Would the IP network infrastructure support the new offering? And finally, how would Multimedia dynamically manage its video assets to ensure optimal distribution to its subscribers?
Solution
MMP chose Harmonic, Latens and Vidiom to work together to realize a customized VOD solution and Harmonic provided their Streamliner video server solution and Armada their content delivery system coupled with the Vidiom Service Delivery Platform (SDP) on the head end side, with the corresponding VOD software on the client STB side.
Vidiom acting as the key System Integrator for this project, also created some additional applications to support different modes of buying VOD. For example, featuring an interactive VOD trailer channel, Vidiom software provides a direct link to any VOD asset without actually going through the standard VOD menus, thereby creating a new type of impulse purchase of VOD. This creates a solution for incremental revenue generation per subscriber.
Benefits
• Higher ARPU
• Increased customer satisfaction
• Stickier offerings boost loyalty
NAXOO SUCCESS STORY
Naxoo is the TV Cable pay operator in Geneva, Switzerland (approximately an half a million people with around 220,000 households). The network was built in the 80s and in 1999 they started to offer digital TV. Naxoo has more 50 percent market share, with more than 25,000 DTV subscribers with 230 TV and 110 radios channels.
Previously named Telegeneva, they changed their name in 2004 and started to brand numerous services as Naxoo. Through its partnership with Télédis and Sateldranse, Naxoo also offers its digital TV services in other Swiss markets. In 2006, the company launched two set top boxes - first the "Accessbox" and second the "Drivebox," with the ADB Group. Since March 2008, Télégenève – Naxoo, in collaboration with Cablecom, has offered triple play services to subscribers based in Geneva
The Success
In June 2008, the company decided to offer HD to their customers. Initially this was planned with 2 other TV players, but unfortunately they did not deliver. Due to the very good relationship between Naxoo and Vidiom and ADB, the company asked for help to come to market with an HD PVR box.
The ADB-5810CX is an advanced, interactive digital video recorder optimized for digital cable networks. The product supports high quality recording and playback and includes state-of-the-art hardware features such as a single-chip microprocessor, dual tuner and time shift mode for pausing and resuming live TV. Vidiom has integrated their MHP software solution with advanced applications such as the HD DVR navigator enabling time shift features provided in the box. ADB's unique operating software ensures enhanced system and product performance including fast channel decoding and swift rendering of on-screen graphics and applications.
Customer Satisfaction
"For Naxoo, the arrival of high definition television with ADB as our partner represents a big step for us in the digital TV world", commented Benjamin Weill, CMO of Naxoo. "We have always paid extreme attention to the expectations of our customers and by choosing ADB alongside Vidiom as our supplier of HD digital video recorders we can offer them a feature-rich product so that they can make the most of their TV viewing experience. This new agreement is an important strategic step for our company in the move to High Definition Television".
The CTO of Naxoo, Phong Pham adds "We are extremely impressed by the prompt reply and the quality of work provided by ADB and Vidiom in such short a lead time. It was a fantastic challenge to take on board and they really over achieved our expectations by delivering on such a tight schedule."
