EchoStar will shut down its ViP-TV service providing linear MPEG-4 video feeds to smaller telcos at the end of September.
The company, which announced its entry into the IPTV space in 2007, sent an e-mail to customers Wednesday informing them of the decision.
In 2009, EchoStar jumped on the announcement by SES Americom at the time to phase out its own IPTV video-transport service in July of that year.
The shoe is on the other foot now, as Avail-TVN similarly pounced on EchoStar's decision to dismantle ViP-TV. In a statement attributed to Avail-TVN chief operating officer Jon Romm, the company said, "Avail-TVN would like to reassure ViP-TV customers and the industry that Avail-TVN is here to support ViP customers during this transition."
Avail-TVN said it will host a webinar on Monday, Aug. 15, for customers to learn more about its services.
EchoStar previously had announced ViP-TV customers including Canby Telcom -- its first for the service -- as well as KPU Telecommunications, Citizens Cablevision, BTC Broadband, Duncan Cable TV, TCT West, CT Communications and North Penn Telephone Co.
