Anhui picks RealNetworks for multiscreen
June 18, 2014
In an exciting development for cable subscribers in China, Anhui Radio and Television Information Network Co., Ltd announces that it will offer set-top boxes (STBs) loaded with RealHome Media Portal for multi-screen viewing of TV, over-the-top (OTT) and user-generated content.
RealHome Media Portal, from RealNetworks, is a multimedia hub allowing users to easily categorize, search and access operator-provided premium content, OTT content and personal media on all of their devices, at home or on the go. The system supports numerous protocols, video formats and file containers, as well as a self-adaptive ability to identify devices, capabilities and supported protocols.
Anhui Radio and Television Information Network Co., Ltd is the province’s leading cable TV provider. The company has been conducting trials on RealHome Media Portal since April of this year and will begin commercial deployment in the second half of the year. Subscribers will benefit from RealHome Media Portal’s live broadcasting service which receives signals from cable network and streams content beyond the TV to smart phones and tablets. Viewers can also use the system’s Home Cloud Service to create a privately-owned website to backup and share personal videos and photos with family and friends anywhere.
Cable broadcasting plus OTT in one
RealHome Media Portal allows manufacturers and pay-TV operators to increase profitability and competiveness by delivering OTT video to any connected device without impact to existing broadcast systems. “RealHome Media Portal is an extremely attractive solution to help increase subscriber loyalty,” said Yishan Yang, Director of Engineering, Anhui Radio and Television Information Network Co., Ltd. “The technology allows us to expand into OTT which has become increasingly popular with our viewers. With RealHome Media Portal we can deliver traditional cable content plus streaming content using our existing infrastructure.”
First commercial deployment on Broadcom’s BCM7241 platform
Anhui Provincial Cable’s set-top boxes come equipped with the BCM7241 chipset platform from Broadcom, making this the first commercial deployment of live broadcasting transcoding software on this platform. Beijing Cycle Century Digital Technology Co., Ltd, a Beijing-based company, has partnered with RealNetworks on the design for software solutions on Broadcom’s chipset platform, “Working on this first-of-a-kind technology reflects RealNetworks’ long-standing tradition of streaming media innovations,” said Thierry Raymaekers, AVP RealPlayer Group China, RealNetworks. “We’re especially excited to partner with Cycle Century to bring this new technology to the Chinese market.”
About Anhui Radio and Television Information Network Co., Ltd
Anhui Radio and Television Information Network Co., Ltd (“ARTIN”), was founded as a joint-stock company with the approval by the former State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and the People’s Government of Anhui Province. With its total assets standing at 3.2 billion Yuan (approximately 500 million US dollars), ARTIN boasts of an excellent infrastructure: over 5,500 kilometers in provincial-level main optical fiber cable lines, more than 7,500 in city-level main optical fiber cable lines and 12,500 kilometers in county-and-township-level main optical fiber cable lines, covering as many as over 10 million subscribers from the administrative regions of all cities and counties of the province. Over the years, it has grown into a large state-owned high-tech enterprise developing and operating cable television networks across Anhui Province in eastern China. Find ARTIN corporate information at http://www.ahitv.com.
About Beijing Cycle Century Digital Technology Co., Ltd
Beijing Cycle Century Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (CCDT) is an innovative high tech enterprise, specializing in the development of digital televisions and new media. CCDT is endeavoring to provide various customers and companions in the field of digital TV and new Media with advanced, reliable and top-grade solutions through a professional and dedicated design and R&D team and efficient technical services. Find CCDT corporate information at http://www.cyclecentury.com.
About RealNetworks
RealNetworks creates innovative applications and services that make it easy for people to connect with and enjoy digital media. RealNetworks invented the streaming media category and continues to connect consumers with their digital media both directly and through partners, aiming to support every network, device, media type and social network. Find RealNetworks corporate information at http://www.realnetworks.com