Satellite operator Eutelsat is extending the range of its KabelKiosk headend in the sky with multiscreen services delivered over broadband. Eutelsat is using a Harmonic headend and the Tvinci platform to extend its KabelKiosk service to enable smaller providers in Germany to offer a multiscreen package under their own brand. The new service was announced at the ANGA show in Cologne and will be launched by the end of the year.
KabelKiosk is operated by Eutelsat Germany, a subsidiary of satellite operator Eutelsat. The aim is to offer a turnkey service to smaller internet service providers, enabling them to provide sophisticated linear and non-linear television services over the top of their networks without needing to implement their own headend systems.
The central headend provided by Harmonic will transform around 50 high-definition and 100 standard-definition channels into internet protocol streams, including a variety of adaptive bitrate profiles.
The Tvinci OTT 2.0 platform it will make video available to iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, personal computers and HbbTV set-top boxes.
Martina Rutenbeck, Managing Director of Eutelsat Germany, said at the ANGA trade show: “Our strategy with KabelKiosk is to assemble sophisticated video products that network operators can customise as much or as little as they want.”
“Consumers are looking for a more immersive TV experience — something more than just a straightforward multiscreen service,” she said. “We have selected best of breed vendors to build our infrastructure, and Tvinci was selected because it offers the richest OTT platform and the right international track record in OTT TV, enabling our affiliates to easily manage their content, business rules and device apps.”
Using Tvinci’s OTT 2.0 platform, Eutelsat KabelKiosk customers can provide linear, EPG, restartTV, VOD and catch-up TV to their end users. Each subscriber household will have multiple sub accounts so that each end user can enjoy a relevant social and personal TV experience.
“Our deployment for Eutelsat KabelKiosk is a great example of a global cable provider recognizing the opportunity that OTT TV offers to incumbent TV providers,” said Ofer Shayo, the chief executive of Tvinci.
Other partners involved in the deployment include Harmonic for ingest, Broadpeak for distribution, Playready and Marlin for digital rights management, and together with Rovi and PPS for video and demand and programme guide metadata. Farncombe served as systems integrator. The service is expected to roll out for customers later this year.