Digital media services company Avail-TVN says it will provide MPEG-4 linear television transmission services, PPV Channels and VOD to NewWave Communications. The MSO will be the first multi-system cable company in the U.S. to sign on for Avail-TVN's full suite of services.
Landing NewWave, which serves more than 115,000 customers in Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina and Tennessee, is a big win for the company, Avail-TVN CMO Brian Matthews told FierceIPTV, as well as a proof-point for its merger. Avail Media and TVN Entertainment combined in 2009.
Avail-TVN will provide NewWave with a mix of HD linear networks, a comprehensive VOD offering, and PPV services. By combining the services under a comprehensive affiliation with Avail-TVN, NewWave is increasing efficiencies, improving quality of service and providing an optimized customer experience.
"Our focus on MSOs (as customers) predates the merger," Matthews said. "As operators face continuing bandwidth pressure, our MPEG-4 solution is a low-cost, fast-to-market alternative for them. From a competitive standpoint, they have a need for both HD and VOD to compete with satellite providers who are offering this to customers."
The HD linear channel service will be provided in MPEG-4 format, allowing NewWave to maximize bandwidth efficiency immediately, while providing a transition path to an all-MPEG-4 service in the future.
Avail-TVN also will provide NewWave with a full suite of managed services including licensing, marketing, royalty processing, transport, and live-to-VOD services for both linear and on demand content packages.
NewWave will have 24/7 access to Avail-TVN's online tracking and reporting tools including ADONISS and ViewTrak--which offers a customized online dashboard for tracking VOD usage, tools for linear and VOD advertising and dynamic menu management.
NewWave customers are in Kentucky, Illinois, southeast Missouri, northeast Arkansas and western Tennessee. The company provides cable TV, high-speed broadband and data services and telephone service specializing in smaller and mid-sized communities. It's headquartered in Sikeston, Missouri.
For more:
- see this release
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