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September 18, 2007
This weekly e-mail newsletter covers everything related to Telco-IP Television.
Top StoryVerizon to ‘Enhance’ CableCard for IP Video
Verizon Communications has initiated a development project--under the aegis of a telecommunications-industry association--to build hooks for Internet Protocol video on top of CableCard technology. The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions, at Verizon’s behest, formed a working group in June to “fast-track” the creation of two solutions for IP-based separable security. The project was disclosed in an FCC filing last month. The goal is to let Verizon’s FiOS TV service comply with the Federal Communications Commission’s ban on set-tops with integrated security functions. In June, the telco won a reprieve from the FCC until Dec. 31, 2009, on low-end set-top models, but the FCC gave Verizon only until July 2008 to bring set-tops with high-definition and digital video recorder features into compliance.
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RegulatoryFCC Extends Program-Access Rules
Cable operators that own satellite-delivered cable networks will be forced to sell them to pay-TV distribution rivals for five more years, under the terms of a unanimous Federal Communications Commission ruling last week that gave continued life to program access rules created by the 1992 Cable Act. The FCC ruling means that, for example, Time Warner will need to sell CNN and Comcast the Golf Channel to their pay-TV competitors -- including Verizon Communications, AT&T, direct-broadcast satellite operators like DirecTV, and other cable operators that may or may not be direct competitors. The five-year extension wasn’t a surprise, since the National Cable & Telecommunications Association didn’t put up much resistance this year, just like in 2002 when the FCC tacked on five more years. Had the FCC not acted, the so-called cable programming exclusivity ban was to expire on Oct. 5.
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BriefFiOS TV OK’d for Two N.Y. Towns, Pulled From Another
Verizon Communications said it won video franchises in two more New York communities -- bringing the telephone company’s local franchise tally to 61 -- while the company was forced to disconnect 30 customers on Long Island because it had not obtained the necessary approvals. The city of Peekskill in Westchester County and the village of East Williston on Long Island this week granted video franchises to Verizon. The company noted that, as with all local franchise approvals in New York, the agreements are subject to review by the New York State Public Service Commission. Meanwhile, in the Long Island town of Great Neck, Verizon had to disconnect about 30 subscribers who had ordered FiOS TV and Internet service because it doesn’t yet have franchise approvals in place. Verizon has been in negotiations for a franchise for Great Neck, a village of 9,538 on Long Island, for more than two years.
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BriefVerizon Lights 24 More New Jersey Towns
Verizon Communications expanded FiOS TV into parts of 24 more New Jersey communities, continuing to roll into areas served by Cablevision Systems and Comcast. Verizon now offers the service in 220 New Jersey communities. It first launched FiOS TV in the state in January. Outside of New Jersey, Verizon also offers FiOS TV in parts of 11 states: California, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia.
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BriefSun to Deliver Microsoft-Based Servers
Sun Microsystems signed on as a Windows Server original equipment manufacturer and said it will collaborate with Microsoft to further enable deployment of Windows on Sun’s Intel-architecture servers. As part of the agreement, Sun and Microsoft said they will continue to collaborate to advance Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV and multimedia platform on Sun servers and storage systems. AT&T uses Sun systems for U-verse TV, which Microsoft says is one of world's largest deployments of Mediaroom.
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BriefSeaChange Launches TV Platform Developer Program
SeaChange International announced the TV Platform Developer Program, which lets partners write applications based on the vendor’s TV Navigator middleware. SeaChange also announced five TV Platform Development Partners: Freethinking, Integra5, Snap TV, TwoWay TV and Verimatrix. The SeaChange TV Platform is an IPTV solution that includes IMS-compliant modular client/set-top TV Navigator software, as well as back-office software for launching and billing for video content and services.
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BriefAvail Media Acquires VOD Distributor ViewNow
Avail Media, a provider of IPTV and media services, acquired ViewNow, a supplier of video-on-demand programming. The acquisition includes ViewNow's agreements with major studios, including Buena Vista/Disney, Dream Works, Lions Gate Films, NBC Universal, New Line Cinema, Paramount, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. The deal also includes ViewNow's ViewTrak tracking system, which according to Avail Media will allow it to develop VOD and combined linear/VOD services. Earlier this year, Avail Media raised $17 million in venture financing in a round led by Novak Biddle Venture Partners and Columbia Capital.
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• India’s Bharti Airtel, a telecommunications service provider with more than 46 million customers, will deploy UTStarcom’s RollingStream solution to offer an IPTV service consisting of live broadcast television, time-shifted TV and video-on-demand bundled with the operator’s existing broadband and voice services.
• Verizon Communications named Michael Mason, currently in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch, to be its new chief security officer effective January 2008.
• Antenna Technology Communications, a provider of commercial satellite communications systems, teamed up with IPTV solution provider Digisoft to provide an end-to-end IPTV solution for IP network operators.
• Raketu Communications will offer 3DD Entertainment’s 3DD Music Channel via Raketu.com and Raketu.tv. The channel will feature live concerts from Sheryl Crow, David Bowie, Moby and others.
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Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.
All rights reserved.
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