Service providers are scrambling to offer multi-screen services to subscribers, but consumers have also shown a desire to stream OTT content to larger displays, especially as the technology has matured.
To that end, Thomson Video Networks and middleware provider Netgem are partnering on a platform for IPTV and over-the-top services; it's a partnership the companies believe will allow operators to launch IPTV and OTT services efficiently and rapidly and deliver a state-of-the-art viewing experience to subscribers with a blend of broadcast, broadband and optimized Web content within a unified TV experience.
The French companies have completed a test and validation program for the interoperability of the Thomson ViBE VS7000 convergent video system and the Netgem N5000 and N8000 range of IPTV set-top boxes.
The Thomson ViBE VS7000 convergent video system uses adaptive bitrate encoding technology to stream to all viewing devices, smartphones, tablets and PCs. It includes Thomson's next-gen compression platform, with live, broadcast-quality encoding and faster-than-real-time file transcoding and a Workflow Builder that enables the creation of live, file-based and mixed workflows for any kind of network.
The ViBe VS7000 suports all major formats and codecs, including MPEG transport streams, Adobe Flash, Apple HTTP live streaming and Microsoft Smooth Streaming, with video resolution up to 1920x1080 in progressive and interlaced modes.
A pair of Netgem's set-top boxes are included in the play.
The N5000 Netbox is an Internet/TV adapter designed to offer service operators the flexibility to use it as a basic or hybrid IPTV client. As an OTT set-top box, it enables operators to reach outside their traditional footprint using progressive download and adaptive streaming technologies. As a secondary box, it opens access to remote PVR content. It's built on the NetgemTV open software platform, and is preloaded with a range of Web applications.
The N8000 Netbox is a hybrid set-top box and media center that also is based on Netgem TV. It comprises a double tuner, hard disk drive, UPnP media center HD and home network connectivity such as Wi-Fi 802.11n. The N8000 series blends content and services from broadcast channels, IPTV platforms, websites and home network devices in a fast and fluid interface.
For more:
- see this release
Related articles:
Sezmi taps Netgem for STB hardware, software in multi-screen play
Netgem's strong international STB sales spur Q3 revenue
Netgem rolls out multi-screen solution for pay-TV industry