The defintion and likely impact of Over the Top TV

This white paper provides a clear defintion of Over the Top TV and explores the impact for existing stakeholders as well as opportunities for new entrants.

Is OTT TV ‘open’?

Recent months have seen several announcements on the availability of ‘Internet ready’ TVs. The offer, on the surface, is quite tempting; no set top box, no hooking up the laptop to the TV - just easy access to over the top TV services. We have all grown accustomed to the hardwired link between the consumer (subscriber) and the Operator. The net effect is that the consumer only gets to see what the Operator makes available. A sceptical view is that the relationship is about locking in the consumer and locking out all other options.

Over the top TV promises so much for the consumer as it has the potential not only to supply so much more content on demand but to break the dependency on a single source of content - the traditional Operator. What we have seen from the early offerings from the CE vendors with an Internet ready TV is another locked down system. Clearly some controls will need to be in place but it seems that these new offers are based on the old model of lock in / lock out. CE vendors have adopted an Operator model. When you buy a PC it doesn’t limit what applications you can install or websites you visit?

Canvas, and perhaps HBBTV, holds the potential to bring forth solutions that are open (but with controls) where content sources and applications can be added relatively simply through an app store, like iTunes. The Canvas partners have the opportunity to raise the bar and bring a truly open and compelling offer to consumers and not a closed/vertical model being offered at this time.

BCi is a Consultancy and Systems Integrator with considerable experience in the deployment of VoD and IPTV platforms. Our extensive lab facilities allows us to provide a staging environment for proof of concepts and/or off site integration for Over the Top TV solutions.

Over the Top Television

Over the Top Television services (also known as Internet TV or TV over Broadband) are soon to become common place in the home. Over the Top TV is the next natural evolution of the personalisation of how we consume audio visual content in the home.

Whilst traditional linear TV will still continue to provide the backbone of home viewing for some time, it is likely to be increasingly demoted in the home in favour of Over the Top TV services as the primary means to watch your favourite content. Over the Top Television represents a fundamental shift in TV consumption and whilst it brings many opportunities it will also carry many challenges.

So what is Over the Top Television ?

Over the top Television allows you to view content that is available over the internet. It is delivered via your broadband connection and so bypasses the traditional providers of TV services - hence the term over the top television.

Examples of current over the top TV services include video hosting services like YouTube, blockbuster films direct from the studios or even niche content from micro-operators. Viewing this content will be achieved either via a PC (which is what you can do now) or through a more integrated approach via an Over the Top TV enabled Set Top Box or Television.

Who are the Over the Top Television Stakeholders?

The main Over the Top TV stakeholders are likely to be:

• Network Operators without their own content

• Network Operators with their own content

• CE (Consumer Electronics) vendors with their own content (E.G. – Sony)

• CE (Consumer Electronics) vendors without their own content (E.G. – Samsung)

• Super Aggregators – eBay, Google, Amazon, etc

• Microsites and/or strategic partners (there will be huge potential for these Stakeholders)

What is BCi doing in Over the Top TV ?

BCi provides System Integration and Consultancy services for all aspects of IPTV and VoD technology including Over the Top TV. BCi have been responsible for many on demand platform deployments for Tier 1 providers across Europe and we remain a leader in the on demand TV field.

BCi have co-authored a white paper which explores Over the Top TV in detail and provides our view of the potential opportunities and likely issues associated with this medium. You can download the BCi OTT TV white paper, free of charge simply by clicking on the PDF icon below:

If you want to find out more about how BCi can help you take advantage of Over the Top TV then contact Mark Hooper at mark.hooper@bci.eu.com

PRESS RELEASE - IPTV Systems Integrator BCi announces partnership with Flomatik

BCi, Europe’s leading IPTV systems integrator, has today announced it is to partner with next generation networks specialist Flomatik.

BCi has unrivalled expertise in IPTV systems integration having undertaken some of Europe’s largest VoD and IPTV Systems integrations for telecoms operators, cable tv companies, internet service providers and broadcasters across Europe, since the company was formed in 1997.

Flomatik specialise in helping IT, telecoms, broadcast and broadband operators exploit their next generation networks through a broad range of professional services including technical consulting, project delivery and outsourcing.

The partnership will see the resources of a niche IPTV systems integrator combined with a next generation networks specialist and will allow the partnership to offer Europe’s operators and broadcasters a wide range of cost effective solutions that encompass both the operator’s network and the integration of the complex systems that deliver content over those networks.

BCi’s Director of Operations, Mark Hooper commented:

“Flomatik and BCi operate in the same industry sectors and geographies both in the UK and across Northern Europe and our expertise and skills are complementary.

BCi’s track record in VoD and IPTV systems integrations and Flomatik’s expertise in next generation network solutions will allow us to offer operators and broadcasters a broad range of solutions delivered by industry experts at cost effective prices. This will give operators and broadcasters a real viable alternative to using the big systems integrators and consultancies - very important in these cash strapped times.

Flomatik and BCi will be able to offer operators solutions across their next generation networks and into the complex systems integrations required to deliver digital content over those networks”

BCi is a privately owned, vendor independent VoD and IPTV systems integrator based in Southampton, England.  Established in 1997, BCi’s customers include Sky Digital, Microsoft, Tandberg, Telenet, Siemens Business Services, Red Bee Media and the BBC.

Flomatik is a vendor independent professional services company specialising in next generation networks.  Flomatik is a wholly owned subsidiary of Finish broadband network equipment manufacturer Teleste and their customers include Virgin Media, Arqiva, Unity Media, Com Hem and Kabel Duetschland.

BCi Limited
Southampton, United Kingdom
3rd June 2009

{Press Release ends}

For more information please contact:

Mark Hooper
Director of Operations
BCi Limited
+44 (0) 2380 988606
www.bci.eu.com
mark.hooper@bci.eu.com