Advanced Television

TV is a tech innovation driver

June 24, 2014

By Colin Mann

According to organisers of the ‘TV Meets Tech’ – part of London Technology week – held recently at iBurbia Studios in Chiswick, West London, the event, intended to be a sampler of the kind of innovation that the TV industry is inspiring, demonstrated that the TV industry is putting a stake in the ground around tech innovation. “It is claiming a place as a primary driver of innovation particularly around video and data. This event just highlights the industry’s central role,” said Chair of TV Triangle Nigel Walley.

TV Triangle – the TV and Media Networking group – hosted the event to allow a combination of small, medium and large companies to show off the new thinking about the future of TV.

Exhibitors on the day included:
· Freesat Freetime – the team from Freesat behind the creation of the new HTML5 ‘Freetime’ ecosystem demoed the new software on STBs, tablets and (thanks to Panasonic) on a 65″ Smart TV.

· Grabyo – new tech start-up Grabyo has created a system to share instant sports replays, live TV moments, breaking news clips on Twitter, Facebook, web and mobile apps.

· Streamhub – a London-based media technology venture providing real-time big data analytics for video audiences by integrating online video data from clients` own services and YouTube, social media metrics such as Twitter/Facebook, and traffic metrics from Google Analytics to disclose key factors that drive stickiness.

· LG WebOS – The LG team demonstrated its new Smart TV Web OS operating system (based on the PalmOS) and its links into smart TV and the connected home.

· Arqiva/ConnectTV/ Capablue – The Arqiva team demonstrated the range of IP-streamed channels, Red Button interactivity and web/broadcast integrations that its recent acquisitions of ConnectTV and Capablue have allowed to be streamed into the new generation of Freeview boxes and screens.

· SimpleStream – The Simplestream team demonstrated its TV Player service, which offers a combination of catch-up content from different UK broadcasters and a new cloud-hosted PVR concept linked to STBs and tablet apps.

·  EaselTV – TV app developer Easel demonstrated its client work building apps and web interactivity for clients such as Curzon and HTC into both the Virgin TiVo box and the Freesat Freetime systems.

Other exhibitors included a group of tech start-ups from the BBC Worldwide incubator programme BBCWLabs. Programme Manager of the BBCWLabs programme Hannah Blake said: “We were delighted to attend the TV Meets Tech event as it gave us a chance to showcase to media professionals, the start-ups who we believe are disrupting the TV and media industry.”

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