Video

Intel Points to Motion-Sensitive Remote Control

Chip Maker Licenses Hillcrest Labs' Freespace Technology for IP Set-Tops, Gateways
By: Todd Spangler Mar 19 2013 - 1:45am
Chip Maker Licenses Hillcrest Labs' Freespace Technology for IP Set-Tops, Gateways

Intel is adding a point-and-click, motion-sensitive remote control option to its IP set-top and gateway platform for pay TV operators, through a licensing deal with Hillcrest Labs.

Intel’s new Media Server Reference Design, aimed at equipment makers developing set-top boxes and media servers based on the Intel Atom processor CE5300, will include the Hillcrest Freespace Motion Engine software. That will let MSRD devices use motion controls for navigating on-screen interfaces.

Virgin Rolls 'TV Everywhere' Delivery In-House

U.K. Operator Shifts From Third-Party CDN to Its Own Based on Concurrent Servers
By: Todd Spangler Mar 18 2013 - 8:21am
U.K. Operator Shifts From Third-Party CDN to Its Own Based on Concurrent Servers

British operator Virgin Media has decided to build its own content delivery network for TV Everywhere, a move that exemplifies how MSOs worldwide are wrestling with the costs of delivering multiscreen video.

Hulu: No. 2 on Videos Served Behind YouTube

But Internet TV Site Ranks 13th in Total Audience, According to ComScore
By: Todd Spangler Mar 15 2013 - 5:53pm
But Internet TV Site Ranks 13th in Total Audience, According to ComScore

As Hulu CEO Jason Kilar heads out the door and with its future in limbo, the Internet TV site continues to perform well on videos views and ad metrics -- although its total audience put it in 13th place behind other video properties for the month of February, according to research firm comScore.

BT Hops on Comcast's thePlatform After Junking Microsoft IPTV

U.K. Telco to Use MPX System for BT Vision and YouView Services
By: Todd Spangler Mar 14 2013 - 3:07pm
U.K. Telco to Use MPX System for BT Vision and YouView Services

BT has deployed the video publishing system from Comcast subsidiary thePlatform as the central nervous system for its IPTV services, after the U.K. telco wound down the Microsoft Mediaroom system last year.

The telco is using thePlatform’s MPX cloud-based video publishing system to power both BT Vision, originally launched in December 2006 on the Mediaroom IPTV platform, and the newer YouView from BT, which it introduced last fall.

Netflix Finally Pals Up Facebook in the States

Video Service Enables Social Sharing After Congress Updated Privacy Law
By: Todd Spangler Mar 13 2013 - 10:26am
Video Service Enables Social Sharing After Congress Updated Privacy Law

In a bid to ratchet up video viewing hours, Netflix is now letting U.S. subscribers share their favorite TV shows and movies with friends on Facebook, after Congress earlier this year amended a 1980s-era video privacy law.

ThinkAnalytics Taps Pohl, Pingitore to Expand U.S. Push

U.K. Search and Recommendations Tech Provider Adds Two Execs to Sales, Marketing Team
By: MCN Staff Mar 13 2013 - 3:24am
U.K. Search and Recommendations Tech Provider Adds Two Execs to Sales, Marketing Team

ThinkAnalytics, a U.K.-based provider of multiplatform TV search and recommendations technology, has hired cable-tech veteran Michael Pohl as strategic director for marketing and business development -- and also named him to its board of directors -- and hired Tennis Channel's Nancy Pingitore as vice president of sales for the U.S.

Pohl will focus on marketing and business development activities in The Americas and provide strategic direction for the company’s expansion into new markets, ThinkAnalytics said.

Upfronts 2013: Disney Channel Launching New Mickey Mouse Shorts

Cartoons Debut June 28 on TV, Disney.com
By: Andrea Morabito (Broadcasting & Cable) Mar 12 2013 - 3:36pm
Cartoons Debut June 28 on TV, Disney.com

 

Disney Channel is launching a new short-form series of 2D comedy cartoons featuring its iconic Mickey Mouse character, the network announced in advance of its upfront presentation on Tuesday.

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USPTO Officially Rejects Verizon's Patent on 'Spy' Set-Top

Telco Application Described System for Serving Targeted Ads Based on User Activities
By: Todd Spangler Mar 12 2013 - 10:52am
Telco Application Described System for Serving Targeted Ads Based on User Activities

Verizon Communications’ patent application for a camera-enabled set-top that would serve ads based on which TV viewers were in the room -- and what they were saying or doing -- was officially rejected on March 7.

According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office’s Patent Application Information Retrieval system, Verizon’s application for “Methods and Systems for Presenting an Advertisement Associated with an Ambient Action of a User” received a final rejection last Thursday. The agency cited prior patents in the field for the rejection.

Broadcom Adds IP Video Streaming to HD DTA Chip

System-on-a-Chip Also Integrates Full-Spectrum Capture and Enables Faster Channel Change
By: Todd Spangler Mar 11 2013 - 4:57pm
System-on-a-Chip Also Integrates Full-Spectrum Capture and Enables Faster Channel Change

Broadcom has released its fifth-generation chip for cable digital transport adapters (DTAs), with its latest system-on-a-chip including support for IP video streaming and integrated full-spectrum capture.

The company’s BCM7576 SoC can deliver up to four simultaneous HD programs by directly digitizing the entire 1 GHz cable spectrum, replacing multiple tuners with a single Full-Band Capture digital tuner.

An integrated “IP mini server” on the chip converts linear content to IP and streams it with DLNA over a home network.

Netflix Nails Up Dedicated Site for ISP Rankings

Video Company Launches Speed Index with Monthly Performance Metrics
By: Todd Spangler Mar 11 2013 - 4:37pm
Video Company Launches Speed Index with Monthly Performance Metrics

Netflix is wielding a new tool to try to persuade Internet service providers to join its content-delivery network program, with the launch Monday of a dedicated “ISP Speed Index” website.

The website, at http://ISPSpeedIndex.Netflix.com, replaces Netflix’s previous monthly blog posts with the same data ranking broadband providers based on the average bandwidth they deliver to the company’s streaming members.

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