YouTube targets IPTV
February 26, 2014
YouTube is piloting making its channels available via IPTV operator EPGs as part of partner-led initiatives to extend its’ channels reach.
Global director of mobile and platform partnerships Francisco Varela told Mobile World Congress that the video site is working with operators to offer a seamless experience. “On IPTV we started some initiatives where YouTube is part of the EPG guide. If you’re a subscriber to a channel on YouTube, why shouldn’t it just show up as channel 206 on your TV guide? We’re seeing some very exciting initiatives being partner-led, and that’s where I think we’re going to continue to thrive as a platform.”
He said YouTube will offering UI and playlist tools to operator partners for bespoking: “What’s going to lead a Telenor user is going to be very different than what leads in a Vodafone user in Germany. We’re giving our partners the ability to curate for themselves.”
In terms of content delivery, Varela said that the Google-developed VP9 video compression codec will help make its data more efficient on bandwidth – “whether it be Comcast in the US or BT in the UK.”