TV Everywhere

MultiscreenTV Everywhere

ACCESS Europe appoints Joop van Kammen to the new role of VP Global Sales TV Markets

Posted on by ACCESS Europe

We are pleased to share the great news that Joop has re-joined ACCESS to take up the new post of VP Global Sales TV Markets. He will draw on his impressive leadership and video expertise to enable further customer success by making the most of the broad ACCESS solution portfolio.

With more than 30 years of experience in sales working for many leading international organizations, Joop re-joins ACCESS, where he was previously responsible for SoC relationships and TV manufacturer customers with a focus on China and India. His most recent role was with the technology and transition firm Consyst BV, where he helped clients to excel by becoming better, faster and more efficient and cost-effective.

“It’s great to be re-joining ACCESS at this revolutionary time for TV operators with the convergence of broadcast and OTT services,” says Joop, “The combination of ACCESS’ video-centric browser solutions, smart TV App portals, media sharing and SoC pre-integration gives operators the opportunity to reduce costs and time to market, whilst expanding their customer’s viewing portfolio and brand engagement.”

Joop’s appointment comes at an exciting time for the video industry, as it continues to evolve rapidly while becoming more complex and competitive. As a result, operators must ensure they have the best technology solutions and partners to deliver their business goals and successfully navigate the challenging video and TV market, both now and into the future. Joop will be central in communicating and delivering the ACCESS vision to our customers and helping them deploy from our broad solution portfolio, from content sourcing and app stores through to video-centric device clients. Joop holds and an MBA and an MBI (Master of Business Informatics).

Discussing the appointment to this new post, Masahiro Aono, CEO, ACCESS Europe, said: “I’m pleased to welcome Joop back into the ACCESS family as VP Global Sales TV Markets to signify our commitment to the operator TV market.” says, “His extensive market experience alongside a proven business development and sales track record means we can more effectively help operators navigate today’s complex and diverging TV technology choices and make informed business decisions. Together, Joop and ACCESS will guide operators towards the right path for their business, whatever their current technology choices and future plans.”

If you’d like to get in touch with Joop his LinkedIn profile is: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joop-van-kammen-mba-mbi-1bb7a0/.

MultiscreenTV Everywhere

NetRange Portal gains upgraded Globoplay App to expand content reach to all connected devices throughout Brazil

Posted on by ACCESS Europe

São Paulo, Brazil and Hamburg, Germany, 14 November, 2022 – NetRange MMH GmbH (‘NetRange’), the global provider of white-labelled, turnkey Smart TV and OTT ecosystems, today announced that the NetRange Portal now has the upgraded Globoplay App to expand its content reach throughout Brazil on Smart TV and all connected devices.

“LATAM is an incredibly important content region for NetRange. The relationship with Globoplay is a win-win for both companies. By enabling Smart TVs and connected devices to access Globoplay’s leading content, we strengthen our relationships with the leading TV manufacturers for the region, which in turn enables Globoplay to maximize its reach in Brazil,” said Michi Uemetsu, CTO, ACCESS CO., LTD. “Globoplay shares our commitment to providing viewers with exceptional content combined with a premium user experience: with the latest NetRange Portal we enable Globoplay to provide smarter and better vídeo to TVs and all connected devices throughout Brazil.”

Globoplay, the largest Brazilian streaming platform, includes content from TV Globo, the largest Brazilian and Latin American TV network and also offers channels such as Globo News, Sportv 1 Sportv 2 and Sportv 3, Universal TV, Studio Universal, SYFY and Canal Brasil and Futura. Users can also enjoy popular series including ‘Desalma’ and ‘Departure’ and follow their favourite football teams in Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A and B.

NetRange Smart TV Portals and App Stores provide the simplest route for content creators, TV manufacturers and media and entertainment distributors to ride the connected and smart TV wave. NetRange provides portal and ecosystem solutions to CE device manufacturers, infrastructure providers (satellite, cable and telecommunications), OEMs/ODMs and retailers. The NetRange service portfolio covers all necessary process stages: business model, UI design and concept, backend development and construction, integration of the portal into the hardware, and finally, live operation. As part of the NetRange aim to provide portals with the simplest route to smart and connected TV, NetRange handles integration work with operators as well as all the certification and testing procedures with Smart TV manufacturers, SoC vendors and content brands. NetRange provides continuous portal development and maintenance as well as the expansion of its worldwide content portfolio. NetRange portals and ecosystems can be run as global solutions or designed for specific countries.

About NetRange
NetRange, an ACCESS CO., LTD. company (Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section Index, 4813), is a leading pioneer of Smart TV and a global provider of white labelled, turnkey Smart TV and OTT ecosystems and app stores.

NetRange operates an integrated, full-service solution which includes UI design, payment, billing and customer management, content aggregation, backend services including global CDN, second level support and app development for more than 100 global CE, TV, STB, retailer and operator brands, including Vodafone, Grundig, Arçelik, TCL, Skyworth, Sharp, Loewe, Changhong, IKEA, MSH, Thomson HD+. Its fully featured Smart TV Appstore includes local and global premium VoD stores, linear TV channels via IP, cloud games, live sports, music and lifestyle apps. It makes media content available for TV users in over 100 countries around the world.

In addition, NetRange also leverages its content relationships and broadcast technology expertise to provide ACCESS TwineTM for Car, a connected car infotainment platform and VISNOS, a client-based Smart TV OS that significantly reduces the BOM cost for TV manufacturers through enabling a full Smart TV through devices with low-powered CPUs.

About Globoplay
Globoplay is Brazil’s largest video streaming platform, offering free and exclusive content to subscribers. The service brings together Globo original content and Brazilian independent production companies, renowned international films and series, including exclusive productions available only for online streaming. The platform also includes the full offer of Globo’s linear channels through Globoplay + Live Channels, which bring together in one single place, besides TV Globo, cable channels like Multishow, Globonews, Sportv 1, Sportv 2, Sportv 3, GNT, Viva, Gloob, Gloobinho, Off, Bis, Modo Viagem, Megapix, Universal TV, Studio Universal, SYFY, Canal Brasil and Futura. An all-in-one platform, with the most complete and varied offer of content for the public to access on any device, at any time, wherever they are.

MultiscreenTV Everywhere

Skyworth Digital Technology Broadens its RDK Content Offering through the NetRange Smart TV Portal for RDK

Posted on by ACCESS Europe

Consumers can now access local and regional VOD content in addition to leading streaming platforms on Skyworth’s RDK devices

Hamburg, Germany, October 31, 2022 – NetRange MMH GmbH (‘NetRange’), an ACCESS company and a global provider of white-labelled, turnkey Smart TV and OTT ecosystems, and Skyworth Digital Technology, today announced that the NetRange Smart TV Portal for RDK and the NetFront™ Browser BE have been selected to provide global content services through Skyworth RDK set-top boxes. RDK is a powerful open source software platform for set-top boxes and smart TVs being adopted by many of the world’s largest TV operators.

“There are a number of reasons, such as advantages in customization, that are making our customers look very seriously at switching to RDK,” said Skyworth Digital Technology. “By partnering with NetRange we ensure that our RDK powered devices have all the live and VOD video services to meet today’s consumer needs. The NetRange Smart TV Portal for RDK offers consumers access to local and regional entertainment, sports, news and kids VoD and live TV, as well as games. NetRange gives us a true a one-stop shop that enables consumers to access a world of content through Skyworth’s RDK set-top boxes.”

“Skyworth is a true leader in the supply of set-top boxes to the largest TV operators, so we’re delighted to enable viewers with RDK powered boxes to enjoy the world of content that the NetRange Smart TV Portal for RDK delivers,” said Michi Uematsu, CTO, ACCESS. “By combining the portal with the NetFront Browser BE and DRM support we have made it as easy as we can for Skyworth to provide broad content and entertainment services. I’m looking forward to working with Skyworth to meet the growing demand from operators for RDK solutions capable of delivering the consumer wow factor, as well as the customization advantages that operators love.”

NetRange Smart TV Portals and App Stores provide the simplest route for broadcasters, operators, content creators, TV and set-top box manufacturers and media and entertainment distributors to ride the connected and smart TV wave. The NetRange service portfolio covers all necessary process stages: business model, UI design and concept, backend development and construction, integration of the portal with the Content Management System (CMS) and hardware, and finally, live operation. NetRange provides continuous portal development and maintenance as well as the expansion of its worldwide content portfolio. NetRange portals and ecosystems can be run as global solutions or designed for specific countries. The NetRange Smart TV Portal for RDK has been designed to bring a world of content to the powerful and highly customisable environment that many operators value so highly.

About NetRange
NetRange, an ACCESS CO., LTD. company (Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section Index, 4813), is a leading pioneer of Smart TV and a global provider of white labelled, turnkey Smart TV and OTT ecosystems and app stores.

NetRange operates an integrated, full-service solution which includes UI design, payment, billing and customer management, content aggregation, backend services including global CDN, second level support and app development for more than 100 global CE, TV, STB, retailer and operator brands, including Vodafone, Grundig, Arçelik, TCL, Skyworth, Sharp, Loewe, Changhong, IKEA, MSH, Thomson HD+. Its fully featured Smart TV Appstore includes local and global premium VoD stores, linear TV channels via IP, cloud games, live sports, music and lifestyle apps. It makes media content available for TV users in over 100 countries around the world.

In addition, NetRange also leverages its content relationships and broadcast technology expertise to provide ACCESS Twine™ for Car, a connected car infotainment platform and VISNOS, a client-based Smart TV OS that significantly reduces the BOM cost for TV manufacturers through enabling a full Smart TV through devices with low-powered CPUs.

About Shenzhen Skyworth Digital Technology Company Limited
Shenzhen Skyworth Digital Technology Co. Ltd. is the world’s leading provider of connected home products and solutions. Shenzhen Skyworth Digital Technology Company Limited is continually evolving product and service offerings to satisfy the ever-changing content consumption habits of a global customer base, by providing innovations in networking, digitalization, and solutions for the connected home. Today, Shenzhen Skyworth Digital Technology Company Limited is the world’s largest set-top box manufacturer and as well as one of the fastest growing manufacturers of broadband CPE and IoT products and solutions.

AutomotiveConnected carTV Everywhere

The TV Everywhere experience is hitting the road

Posted on by ACCESS Europe

It’s an absolutely fascinating time for the automotive industry. The global market is worth over $200 billion, and there’s now an amazing opportunity to provide cutting edge in-car entertainment experiences. Already, connected and autonomous cars and electric vehicles are joining traditional cars on the road. With greater connectivity and, in some cases, more free time for drivers, we believe that there is a need for more cutting edge entertainment experiences to be made available to road users.

We created our Twine for Car ™ solution to make our vision of the future a reality. It is an OEM white label solution which has the ability to combine the user’s own content library with an international content catalogue and adjust the experience to each journey and user. Twine for Car is a result of ACCESS’ extensive experience of being at the forefront of technological innovation in the connected entertainment world. To date, our technology has been deployed on 1.5 billion devices, including over 30 million cars worldwide.

Twine for Car is an end-to-end platform, which is a first for the automotive world, but it is a familiar delivery mechanism in the media and entertainment industry, which is where a lot of ACCESS’ experience comes from. We have a unique opportunity to provide not just a technology platform but also the content aggregation platform to provide that solution for the car companies. With Twine for Car, we’re providing a solution that helps offer a range of in-car entertainment applications and services.

We ensure that passengers can OEM’s entertainment platform and watch personalised entertainment that adjusts to the length of their journey via screens in the rear seats. This includes when parents take their children to school, and they want to keep them quiet in the back. With an in-car entertainment system, children can watch family-friendly cartoons in the backseat. The passenger in the front seat can also enjoy the same type of content via the dashboard.

These revolutionary in-vehicle infotainment experiences are a direct result of our partnerships with a number of pioneers in the automotive space. Faurecia, a leading automotive technology company, is one of our most recently announced collaborations. Our partnership will see Twine for Car integrated into Faurecia’s innovative cockpit intelligence platform, which is an intuitive and fully connected experience for road users. We held the very first joint demonstrations with Faurecia at Auto Shanghai 2019, and we look forward to continuing our work with them as consumer demand for next-generation in-car experiences continues to grow.

It goes without saying that cutting edge in-car entertainment systems benefit consumers, but they also provide OEMs and the content industry with a number of competitive advantages. OEMs can design a brand offering that is only available in their vehicles and both enhances and extends their relationship with their customers. This ensures that they can boost revenues through advertising and distribution agreements with media and entertainment companies. For the content industry, the car is a new revenue stream. It enables new advertising models and new consumer experiences so broadcasters and content suppliers incentivizing them to take their content onto the roads and become a part of a true TV Everywhere experience.

People are already watching entertainment in the car via 4G, and soon 5G, as well as via in-car WIFI. But soon consumers will be able to enjoy a hyper-personalized in-car entertainment experience that combines the lean-back experience of TV and car manufacturers will have deeper relationships with road users as they protect and enhance their brand.

AutomotiveConnected carTV Everywhere

TU-Automotive Detroit: collaboration in the driver’s seat

Posted on by Robert Guest

Last month, all of the car industry’s major players congregated at TU-Automotive Detroit, the world’s biggest conference and exhibition for autonomous and connected cars, to showcase the latest technological innovations and discuss where the industry is heading and how we can get there.

On the show floor, there were more than 150 booths offering live product demonstrations on everything from cybersecurity through to payments. Yet the one major trend that stood out at the show was the huge amount of collaboration between technology service providers, OEMs and Tier 1s. A good example is Hyundai’s partnership with Xevo, an automotive telematics provider. At the show, the two companies showed a new solution that enables payments to be made straight from the car’s screen, which opens the door to new services available in connected cars.

We have always strongly believed in collaboration and bringing the best solutions and expertise together – and it is absolutely crucial in infotainment service innovation.

Today’s consumers live in the multiscreen era and enjoy intuitive services that provide tailored recommendations that can be accessed at any time and from any device and location. As the multiscreen landscape continues to evolve, the vehicle will become part of the wider multiscreen ecosystem rather than an isolated environment. Consumers will be able to press play on one device with one particular type of content and continue that same experience within the car moments later.

However, in order for this to happen, it will require knowledge both of the consumer’s viewing habits, but also of the journey (taking the kids to school, going to work, being stuck in traffic or driving for hours for the holidays). This specialist skill set requires better collaboration between the automotive and content industries, which are slated to converge once driverless cars become commercially accessible to the public. For the content industry, the potential for monetisation is enormous: studios could offer exclusive content to passengers inside the car, while broadcasters and content distributors can strike deals with manufacturers to extend their pay TV services outside of the home and build a stronger relationship with their subscribers.

To bridge the gap between the content and automotive industries, we created ACCESS Twine™ for Car, our new solution that enables passengers to combine their own multimedia library with the manufacturer’s catalogue, and adjusts the experience to each journey and user, tailored to the specific demography and duration of the ride. With ACCESS Twine for Car, we are enabling drivers to enjoy specific audio centric content or news on demand, while passengers can watch videos, play games, listen to music or read eBooks from the comfort of their seat.

TU Automotive Detroit is always a great opportunity to meet with our partners, customers and industry friends to discuss the future of the car industry and which key trends are emerging. This year, we were pleased to see a greater focus on collaboration and we look forward to working with manufacturers and Tier 1s, as well as studios and content owners, to bring premium multimedia and entertainment services to the car.

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