Freesat, the free-to-air digital satellite TV provider, will partner with ARRIS, a global player in networking technology, to produce Freesat’s new Generation 3 (G3) set-top box.

The new box, to be launched in 2019, will allow Freesat to offer ultra-HD content, and provide users with the latest on-demand services. Using the KreaTV software platform from ARRIS, Freesat leverages the OTT framework for services including Netflix, Amazon, YouTube and many more. The new line-up will feature four devices with 500GB, 1TB and 2TB hard drive options for DVR, plus one option without a hard drive.

‘This is a very significant move for us,’ says Alistair Thom, Managing Director of Freesat, ‘because for the first time we will control the entire supply chain for our set-top box. It will be a great product, allowing us to offer customers ultra-high-definition viewing while continuing to provide viewers with access to the TV they want, when they want and in the format that they prefer.’

The partnership also has plans to offer end-to-end TV solutions to expand into further international markets across Europe. The combination of Metaphor full stack, and ARRIS KreaTV middleware provides a platform for growth that can evolve to keep pace with the changing nature of modern TV provision and consumption.

Anthony Zuyderhoff, ARRIS SVP and GM of International CPE agrees: ‘We’re thrilled to be working with Freesat and entering the dynamic retail space in the UK. Looking ahead, the combination of Metaphor and KreaTV has great potential. It will allow us to deploy cutting-edge television to global customers through a hybrid platform that is quick, flexible and cost-effective to install, delighting viewers and advertisers alike.’

Categories: Articles, Equipment, In Home, PVR, STB, UHD