Motive and Granite agree Broadcast Cloud JV
February 15, 2012
Granite Broadcasting and Motive Television are forming a joint venture, Broadcast Cloud JV (BCJV), that will pursue the development, implementation, and use of existing broadcast spectrum to provide live television, customised linear TV channels, VoD, and catch-up television directly to portable devices such as iPads, Android tablets and smart phones.
In addition, Granite and Motive will soon begin a separate test of Motive’s Internet-based Television Anywhere technology at KOFY-TV, Granite’s television station serving the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, market in California.
The BCJV will utilise Motive’s patented and proprietary technology that has been in commercial use in Europe since 2009, and extend its reach to portable devices in the United States. Once completed, this will enable Granite and other broadcasters to use their existing ATSC spectrum assets to make their current broadcast signal directly available to devices beyond the television. This will provide consumers with free access to broadcasting content everywhere they are and on the device of their choice, while allowing broadcasters to broaden their audience and deepen their relationship with viewers.
Motive will provide BCJV with an exclusive licence to use the underlying Motive technology and Motive’s know-how in the development of the BCJV technology. Motive will provide engineering expertise and also oversee the day-to-day management of BCJV, including sales and marketing of the BCJV Technology and licensing to third party broadcasters, content owners and other potential partners.