Freesat, SeaChange début Connected TV platform
September 12, 2014
Colin Mann @ IBC
UK subscription-free hybrid satellite TV service Freesat and multi-screen video services solutions specialist SeaChange International have partnered to put service providers on a fast track to introducing connected TV services. The pair are taking the opportunity to demonstrate a new platform that integrates Freesat’s next-generation Freetime electronic programme guide (EPG) with the SeaChange Adrenalin multi-screen television platform at IBC in Amsterdam.
The jointly-developed platform empowers service providers (including IPTV, satellite, cable and terrestrial operators) rapidly to customise and deploy a complete connected TV service for subscribers on set-top boxes and smart TVs, including an advanced TV guide with catch-up and recommendations services. To ensure rapid roll-out and optimal performance, the platform offers the concept-through-commercialisation capabilities of SeaChange Professional Services for customer integration, deployment and post-launch service monitoring and management.
Matthew Huntington, Freesat’s Chief Technology Officer, noted that Freesat’s connected TV Guide, Freetime, had been extremely successful since its launch in September 2012, with Freetime boxes now accounting for over 45 per cent of all Freesat set-top box sales. “Freetime is also a key driver of the growth of Freesat in the UK with consumers choosing to purchase Freetime enabled-boxes and Smart TVs to access the superior experience this delivers. Freetime is based on open web technologies such as html, making it a compelling proposition for service providers. This partnership with SeaChange means we can now take an end-to-end TV platform to the market that offers the comprehensive features set and customer benefits that Freetime provides,” he advised.
Andrei Noppe, Senior Vice President and General Manager EMEA and APAC, SeaChange said the Freetime guide had been proven to drive significant subscriber attraction and stickiness. “By offering this powerful guide in concert with SeaChange’s software and services, Freesat and SeaChange are helping service providers to reinforce their value and grow revenues with a fully-managed platform for advanced television capabilities.”