Cablemedia | Page 15

alticast_1 27/02/2015 16:13 Page 2 tablets and cellphones. HDMI plug-in devices open the opportunity for travellers to use their subscribed accounts in a lean-back TV environment. This is particularly desired in Europe, where borders are easily crossed and travellers would like to watch content in their native language while in other countries. This also bumps into content rights issues that can be complicated to negotiate, but the industry can expect a trend in this direction allowing better access to local content in a TV Everywhere model. While it is obvious that the availability of content from the cloud for IP devices is paramount to the success, in particular for out-of-home viewing, there are other cloudbased technologies that further this model. The virtual or cloud DVR capability mentioned above not only allows for nonlinear viewing, but also provides users with a depository for any video they want to preserve. This also provides a potential revenue stream for operators as they can charge for additional easily expandable cloud storage space. Another feature that can support both legacy and new devices is the availability of a Server-Client User Experience architecture, often known as Cloud UI. In this architecture the server takes on the burden of preprocessing the UX and delivering a small set of instructions to the device for rendering using the client software. This takes the UX CPU burden off the client, letting the client be lower powered and lower cost. The support costs are also lower, as the software profile on the device is reduced and all the complex operations are moved into the operator’s core domain. It also helps operators centrally address the complexities that might be in any one home, supporting both legacy STBs and newer devices. One of the greater cost savings in new small devices is in security. Traditional embedded smart card based CA systems have locked operators into single vendors, restricting choice and preventing operators from benefiting from market pricing. Whilst the model has supported the traditional delivery of broadcast pay-TV to STBs, the changing landscape of new video service providers and the plethora of viewing devices have meant a fragmentation of security solutions. However, with the advance of technology and standardisation, the market is moving to software-based and exchangeable CA/DRM systems suited to on-demand and live content business models for all types of delivery. These solutions offer cost benefits through the removal of hardware and economies of scale through the wider field of applications and vendor choices. Maximising interoperability, through adoption of MPEG-DASH and common encryption, will bring further cost optimisation in the packaging and delivery of content to a wide range of devices with various DRM schemes. As DRM secured devices can be added seamlessly to their existing network, subscribers can be spared any inconvenience by the variety of content protection schemes in the household. IP devices do not have to be seen solely as a replacement, but can be used to enhance and extend the viewing experience. Operators have an advantage over the ‘one-off’ devices, as they often also have a Gateway STB in the household that may have optional DVR/PVR functionality for content recording and storage. With this emergence of a central multi-tuner gateway in the household, smaller devices become cost effective secondary screen extensions in the house that can take advantage of the central gateway for live distribution to the IP devices. These secondary devices are much less expensive, and operators could consider modelling the hardware sale after the cellphone industry, where the customer turns the devices over quickly as technology advances. This also supports countries that have a retail model, making it easy for endusers to go into their local electronics store Looking ahead, many operators are considering or have started to supply Internet of Things offerings to their subscribers. ADVANCED TELEVISION and add on services. While it is certain that media are consumed on more devices using myriad services, and there has been some flattening of traditional subscribers, it seems equally true that viewers are using more services, whether paid or free. Operators can capitalise on the mobile and miniature devices by providing even more functionality than their OTT counterparts. In an opposite position in some smaller markets, operators are taking advantage of some of the OTT catalogues available as add-on content to their own services. Small devices will make it easy for them to extend these partnerships while extending their businesses. Their ability to control the quality of the service while extending the subscribers' ability to watch TV when and where they want is an attractive and competitive necessity. Providing that ability using miniature devices and allowing a leanback experience is important to keeping their audience while also improving their results for advertising clients. Looking ahead, many operators are considering or have started to supply Internet of Things (IoT) offerings to their subscribers. This may not be the primary usage of IP devices in the house, but considering that such things as sensors for appliance control are already Wi-Fi connected, it isn’t a stretch to consider that a proliferation of small STB-like devices will play a part in new services for IoT in the house. The operator may become the critical hub for securing the data in the IoT network, and all of the operator- provided connected devices in the house would play a part. Alticast was recently awarded a Diamond Technology rating of '4' for its HDMI Media Express device allowing operators to take advantage of the IP delivery model. They can integrate the user experience delivery, whether an operator chooses to use an RDK (HTML5), JAVA or Android delivery model. Alticast has additional offerings to enhance and extend the offering including Cloud UI and Cloud DVR/PVR products. It also has expert security software that can provide content protection for all the operator devices. As the STB becomes a smaller and less complex device through IP technology, operators will be