Vubiquity Expands Linear Lineup

Multiscreen video specialist Vubiquity said it has expanded the channel lineup of its hosted LiveVU platform, adding a variety of new standard-definition and HD channels using MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 encoding.

Vubiquity said the multi-codec support of LiveVU helps pay-TV operators migrate from older MPEG-2 video gear to the more bandwidth-efficient MPEG-4 platform, which is also being used for multiscreen access.

Recent additions to LiveVU include

- SD and HD feeds of ESPN Longhorn Network;

-SD and HD feeds of ESPN SEC Network (national and local feeds);  

- HD versions of Ovation, World Fishing Network, Jewelry TV, Nick Jr. (East), and Nicktoons (East);

- Havoc (SD); and

- New SD and HD west coast feeds of HGTV, Food Network, Travel Channel, Discovery, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, and Oxygen.

With LiveVU, affiliates can take advantage of a broad range of services available from Vubiquity.  While many of Vubiquity’s affiliates are replacing legacy headends with Vubiquity’s MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 feeds, others are using a cap and grow” transition strategy by moving subscribers to MPEG-4, the company said.

“Our LiveVU solution can help deliver bandwidth and network capacity savings, mitigate the need for costly headend upgrades and STB replacement, and provide the springboard for future monetization services, for MSOs nationwide,” said Jim Riley, Vubiquity’s chief revenue officer, in a statement.

Vubiquity made the announcement in conjunction with The Independent Show, which kicked off Sunday (July 27) in Kansas City.  Here's a preview.