ActiveVideo Gets More Game

ActiveVideo Networks has struck a deal with TransGaming that will enable ActiveVideo to offer a slate of on-demand games via its cloud-based platform to pay-TV partners worldwide.

Under the deal, ActiveVideo use its CloudTV software platform to offer GameTree TV and its set of premium games to set-top boxes and IP-connected devices. ActiveVideo claims that its CloudTV platform has already delivered more than 500 million game sessions, with engagement times in the neighborhood of 30 minutes per session.

Transgaming claims that GameTree TV already has a total addressable market of more than 60 million homes worldwide, as it’s already available through existing partnerships with Dish Network and DirecTV, FREE, Air Tel and Reliance.

The agreement with ActiveVideo should help Transgaming expand that pie. ActiveVideo said it expects operator deployments to start in early 2015, noting that its existing customers represent more than 15 million set-top boxes and connected devices. ActiveVideo’s customers include Cablevision Systems, Liberty Global, Deutsche Telekom, Charter Communications, Grande Communications and Time Warner Cable. Comcast has been working with ActiveVideo on a VOD interface trial for QAM-only boxes.

 “This strategic partnership with ActiveVideo is an important milestone in the broad scale delivery of video games through TransGaming’s GameTree TV platform since it immediately brings us many major operator opportunities,” said Vikas Gupta, CEO & President, TransGaming, in a statement.

 “With rapid evolutions in device ecosystems, fragmentation in new or existing set-tops has historically prevented pay-TV operators from monetizing gaming opportunities at scale,” added Murali Nemani, CMO, ActiveVideo. “CloudTV introduces a new paradigm that unlocks the global potential of rich HTML5 casual gaming libraries on any STB or connected device, regardless of local device resources.”