Simplestream powers H&C TV OTT delivery
December 9, 2013
By Colin Mann
Horse & Country TV, the specialist international equestrian sports and lifestyle network, has appointed Simplestream to power its new H&C TV Everywhere service.
H&C TV Everywhere uses Simplestream’s Media Manager to allow subscribers to watch H&C’s television channel, live and on-demand, across computers, mobiles and tablets. Media Manager is the only OTT platform specifically designed for live streaming and Catchup TV services.
Capabilities for live streaming include ingest, encoding and content protection, together with fully-integrated EPG management, blackouts, real-time analytics, advertising and secure multi-bitrate streaming to all devices. Simplestream’s Catchup TV technology allows for the automated creation of high-quality VoD assets from the live stream, including comprehensive rights management, metadata fields, syndication and monetisation tools. Multi-bitrate renditions of programmes are available within 60 seconds of the programme airing with the broadcast advertisements removed. The system is already in use by a wide range of music, sports, teleshopping and general entertainment broadcasters.
As part of its end-to-end, fully-managed service, Simplestream has also developed the H&C TV Everywhere website, together with mobile and tablet applications for both iOS and Android. The bespoke apps offer easy access to a range of free features, including H&C TV’s daily video clips, news and the on-air schedule. H&C’s live stream and seven-day Catchup TV service is available to subscribers for a small monthly charge. Users can also access H&C’s Facebook page and Twitter feed from the apps, set reminders for shows they want to watch, and share their favourites with their friends through social media. Subscriber management and entitlement is administered by Simplestream’s Customer’s module. H&C TV Everywhere will allow the registration of three devices per account, with two simultaneous streams. Payment processing is administered by H&C TV’s vendor, Sage Pay.
H&C TV CEO, Heather Killen, said that as an independent channel, H&C needed technology partners that help it monetise its audience and cost-effectively future-proof its operations, describing the Simplestream solution as “elegant and polyvalent”.
Simplestream CEO & Founder, Adam Smith, said that H&C would be able to operate a live streaming and catchup service with functionality similar to that of the Public Service Broadcasters, with no compromise on quality or user-experience.
H&C TV Everywhere will be available from December 16th for a monthly subscription of £4.99 and will run in parallel to the channel’s current offering on Sky. H&C TV Everywhere is launching with a special Christmas offer of a free DVD from its current collection.
H&C TV Managing Director, Richard Burdett, said the channel addressed a passionate community that was actively engaged in the equestrian lifestyle. “This initiative allows us to bring our channel to the many millions of TV households in the UK and Ireland that can’t currently view it, as well as to our existing Sky viewers who want the utility of being able to watch the channel on the go.”