Connected TV

Multiscreen is here to stay, but in which format? According to our discussions at IBC 2016, the road ahead is still unpaved – although we are seeing the first signs of maturity. However, IBC was a perfect opportunity to debunk some multiscreen myths:

The set-top box isn’t dead

Ever since the advent of Over-the-Top (OTT) services, players around the industry have claimed that the era of the set-top was coming to an end. What we have seen at IBC proves that once more, these comments are premature. The set-top is undergoing a revolution, with local features being reassigned to the cloud, but it remains the most controlled environment – and as such, the most reliable and secure one – for operators.
Secure keys are being integrated directly within smart TVs, making control easier, while search and recommendation features are being handled from the cloud. Yet, consumers still see content as personal and save a lot of content to their PVR for future access as it does not expire in the same way as catch up services. This means that operators looking to offer multiscreen still have to take into account the importance of the set-top box as the user’s primary storage space for their personal library and look for ways to add value by providing access from other devices in the home.

Apps are not going to rule our video consumption in the near future

While it is clear that apps are becoming more commonplace, they are not replacing traditional TV viewing. Instead, different devices drive different use cases.  According to audience measurement company Verto Analytics, consumers are mainly watching long-form video on smart TVs and games consoles, while smartphones and PCs are used to access short-form content. This means that, while operators need to have apps in place, such as YouTube on TV, there is no such thing as an app vs operator environment threat in a multiscreen world – instead, they should be viewed as complementary.
Now is the time for operators to look for ways to maximise consumer time spent in their environment, and the best way to do so is to ensure that all content sources can be accessed via a branded environment – be it YouTube, the consumer’s PVR library or any third party source. Consumers want to be able to easily access content; the shorter the journey, the more likely they are to use the operator’s platform. This is why HTML5 and responsive design, which can be leveraged via our NetFront™ Browser family, are now the industry’s standard; while HbbTV, WebKit and Chromium Blink are replacing custom solutions to facilitate integration with a wider range of devices.

High resolution content isn’t limited to large screens … but it needs to be secured

Ultra HD is rolling out and slowly becoming a mass-market proposition, and while it was expected that only large physically sized screens would be appropriate to render it, it is already becoming appropriate for smaller screens as well. Now, operators can look to include UHD within their multiscreen service offerings such as sports and other premium content, all delivered to any device at an appropriate bitrate and resolution.
Even though operators can now extend their offering across the users screens they still need to ensure that all content transported over their platform is fully secure to satisfy the content owners requirements. The adoption of solutions like Verimatrix’ Verspective, now integrated with ACCESS Twine™, can help address this issue by enabling operators to secure, monitor and analyse the security on their systems. This way, operators can ensure that they provide the required level of content protection for each device and network, in a completely transparent way for the consumer.

IBC 2016 confirmed our multiscreen beliefs. It is increasingly clear that operators need to bring their services together for ease of access by consumers and that seamless integration, most commonly enabled by HTML5 browser-based platforms is a key driver for mass adoption of multiscreen. We are now preparing for a future where consumers will be able to access all their content sources through a single, consistent application, watch content anywhere, at any time they like, and do this all securely.
To learn more about our solutions for multiscreen, please head to our website.

We are pleased that keen industry watchers have noticed the continued story of cooperation between ACCESS and Verimatrix. Our collaboration started back in 2013. It focused on the new Verimatrix Gateway product, which was launched at TV Connect 2013. At the time of this announcement, security was one of the biggest hurdles preventing the adoption of multiscreen sharing. In response to this, we worked together to ensure that Verimatrix Gateway provided operators with ‘studio confident’ security, enabling multiscreen sharing.

However, since the announcement of our partnership three years ago, the broadcast world has evolved and so has our partnership. Gartner forecasts that there will be 6.4 billion connected ‘Things’ in 2016, with a potential to increase the amount of data generated, which IDC evaluates as being 1.7MB every second per human being on the planet by 2020.  This ‘data’ delivered to mobile devices will primarily be video, as Cisco predicts that 70% of all mobile consumption will be video by 2021.

These staggering numbers lead to the significant challenge of delivering content to all of these devices seamlessly and securely. This is precisely the purpose of our partnership, which was extended in the run up to ANGA COM 2016.

The synergy between our products has increased since the launch of ACCESS’ multiscreen management platform ACCESS Twine™, which enables operators to understand how subscribers access their service, the content they watched and the devices used. The platform also enables them to easily create seamless multiscreen experiences and secure the delivery of content – two assets as development and test phases become shorter.
While ACCESS Twine enables enhanced data aggregation and seamless delivery of content to multiscreen, the Verimatrix VCAS™ and ViewRight® solutions secure revenue, which empowers operators to deliver content seamlessly and securely.

Verimatrix VCAS™ is a comprehensive architecture offering video service revenue security for the broadest range of networks and device types. The VCAS technology and IP-centric architecture provides solution profiles for broadcast, hybrid, OTT and multi-DRM deployments, offering a future-proof way to help video service providers secure and enhance their business.

Our partnership has evolved with the multiscreen world and enabled operators to retain a competitive edge despite new players entering the market. From multiple content media sources through to a plethora of devices, deploying the right content protection measures in the current media landscape is the primary challenge for operators. Our combined solution relieves these headaches for operators by enabling the sharing of content in the same home whilst simultaneously offering them tracking capabilities to better understand how subscribers use the service, which content they prefer to access and via which device.

At IBC, you will be able to see how our partnership has responded to market demand by facilitating the secure delivery of content across every device. To see the demo live, contact tv@access-company.com or head to stand #14.D14.

This year, IBC will demonstrate the latest innovations in technology that facilitate the next generation of multiscreen services. As ACCESS returns to IBC, we expect the discussions on the show floor to focus on the continuing evolution of multiscreen. In response, we will be demonstrating how operators can maximise the value of their relationships with consumers to monetise their multiscreen services further.

From providing granular data about the consumer’s habits through to delivering a seamless experience across a growing number of devices, operators already have a lot of challenges to tackle. On top of it, they now need to compete for subscriber attention as consumers move between platforms and content sources – from their personal media library to external services and premium content. To avoid losing subscribers to new players, operators need to ensure that consumers remain in their branded environment, which can be achieved by deploying the right technology.

Visitors to our stand at IBC will see our solutions portfolio in action and how it empowers operators to solve these three challenges at once to maximise the potential of their services.

Our product portfolio at IBC will include:

• ACCESS Twine™, our multiscreen management platform that enables data aggregation and facilitates the deployment of highly targeted content catalogues and personalised search and discovery options.
• The NetFront™ Browser family, enabling a seamless HTML5 powered experience across all screens – from smartphones and tablets through to the next generation TV screens. ACCESS’ solutions include WebKit-based NetFront™ Browser NX and Chromium-based NetFront™ Browser BE, both available as HbbTV editions.

Alongside product demonstrations, there will also be the opportunity to attend our session in the Content Everywhere Hub (Hall 14 on Friday, September 9th at 12:00 – 12:20), where visitors will be able to learn how to utilise data and browser-based user interfaces to offer services that adapt to consumers’ evolving habits.

We are also delighted to be working with a number of partners this year, who will also demonstrating their multiscreen services. Our partners include AirTies Wireless Networks (#5.C70), EKT (#5.B30), Innopia Technologies (5.B08), Opentech (#5.B11), Pixsan, Verimatrix (#5.A59), Vestel (#14.A20) and Zenterio (suite at Okura Hotel).