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Freeview: TV viewers shouldn’t foot 4G bill | Advanced Television

Fri, 25 May 2012 11:28:37 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

2.3 million households are at risk of losing their digital TV signal from 4G interference

Freeview has called on the Government urgently to revise its 4G proposals on the levels of support being offered to consumers.

Freeview, which currently provides free digital TV to over 20 million homes in the UK, is concerned that the Government commitment to securing a £180 million fund to pay for countering the effects of interference does not go far enough to meet consumer needs.

Freeview is calling on Government to address concerns regarding:

Costs affecting consumers with second sets – currently, the Government plans to supply free filters only for the main TV set in the home. However, latest BARB figures estimate the number of additional Freeview sets to be as high as 21 million.
Costs and inconvenience affecting consumers who live in multiple dwelling units – the Government will not be providing installation support for filters to affected households unless they qualify as vulnerable consumers. However, 83 per cent of affected homes use either an amplifier or are reliant on a communal aerial system which would need professional installation support, involving considerable cost.
Support for the elderly – while almost 40 per cent of Freeview’s viewers are over 65, only 39 interviews with those aged 65+ were considered by Ofcom in concluding if the majority of people within this age bracket would find installing a filter themselves straightforward. Moreover, whether local authority care homes and other public buildings will be eligible for support is unclear.

Tags: distribution&devices, freeview, 4g

by: Lloyd Mason

UK TV could be set for major overhaul | News | TechRadar

Wed, 23 May 2012 16:29:24 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

The licences for Channels 3 and 5, currently held by ITV, STV and UTV and Channel 5 respectively, expire at the end of 2014

Ofcom has told the Secretary of State that it is perfectly feasible to put the very limited public service broadcasting (PSB) licences up for auction, alongside extension or renewal.

Tags: distribution&devices

by: Lloyd Mason

MediaTel: Newsline: Smart direct response TV set to rise

Wed, 23 May 2012 16:09:07 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

Growing penetration of internet-enabled TVs in 2012 is set to fuel the next generation of direct response television - Smart DRTV

They continued to be wary of revealing personal and financial details through internet-enabled televisions for a variety of reasons, including fear of 'a barrage of follow-up communications once they have your details'.

qualitative research across key age demographics, found viewers were put off by having to make instant decisions and that many were still sceptical of the claims and quality of the deals offered through DRTV.

The research indicated it is essential for marketers to know characteristics of the demographic they are trying to reach. According to the research, the three main areas of concern for consumers are:

Making it easy - one click is fine, two OK, three and you are asking too much
Do not make me give too much away - hold off asking consumers to fill in forms - reminding later is fine
Respect privacy - consumers do not want to reveal their credit card number in front of friends and family

"Key to success is the understanding the nature of the deal: there is a value exchange between the amount of personal details surrendered and the perceived benefit

Tags: no_tag

by: Lloyd Mason

Can Motorola’s cloud-based DVR kick-start TV Everywhere? — paidContent

Wed, 23 May 2012 12:28:34 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

The company’s networked DVR could theoretically fulfill the wide-reaching promise of TV Everywhere, allowing subscribers to multichannel services the ability to access their TV programming on devices ranging from notebook computers to tablets to smart phones.

recent changes to key multichannel industry technical specifications that allow metadata to be added to video streams sent to subscribers, rights holders would have control as to how their programming is accessed.

the pace of TV Everywhere’s development has been bogged down by the complexity of the deal-making between program suppliers and pay TV operators. Also, programmers are concerned about the potential loss of control to their ad-delivery mechanisms should viewing of their shows be fragmented across myriad devices.

theoretically, having a unified solution that enables TV networks to control what’s played where — and how the commercial time is counted and displayed — could free cable, satellite and telecom providers to roll out TV Everywhere services faster.

Tags: distribution&devices, motorola, tv, tveverywhere, cloud, pvr, dvr, dtr

by: Lloyd Mason

BSkyB can thank internet TV rivals for escaping anti-trust charge — paidContent

Wed, 23 May 2012 12:27:23 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

Despite earlier provisionally concluding News Corp’s part-owned BSkyB’s exclusive subscription pay-TV deals with Hollywood studios restricts competition, the UK’s Competition Commission has now reversed its decision,

Whereas in the past consumers wanting to watch recent movies on a pay-TV movie service had to subscribe to Sky Movies through a traditional pay-TV platform, the launch of new and improved movie services in the pay-TV market by Netflix and Lovefilm means that they now have other alternatives.

“In particular, Netflix launched in the UK in January 2012 and, since the original provisional findings, LOVEFiLM has enhanced significantly its Internet-distributed movie offering.

“As rival services increase the number of their subscribers, the barriers to them acquiring further first subscription pay-TV window rights will continue to fall.”

“The CC expects consumer choice to increase further when Sky launches its own Internet-based service in the summer (branded Now TV), which will offer Sky Movies without the need to take any other pay-TV content or subscribe to Sky’s satellite platform.

Tags: futurecontent, BSkyB, netflix, movies, internet

by: Matthew McNally

TiVo and Pace first product | Advanced Television

Tue, 22 May 2012 16:35:13 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

It will utilise TiVo’s whole-home capabilities, such as multi-room streaming and support for both traditional set-top boxes and IP devices as clients over MoCA

Tags: no_tag

by: Lloyd Mason

Viewers still prefer Live TV | Advanced Television

Tue, 22 May 2012 16:23:11 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

Seventy-five per cent of viewers still prefer to watch some TV live according to a survey by Digital Spy

The research also shows that despite being keen to watch shows live, nearly two-thirds (59 per cent) multi-task

Sky Anytime was revealed to be the top platform for on-demand movies with 49 per cent saying they used this, followed by Lovefilm at 30.7 per cent. Nearly 20 per cent (17 per cent) admitted to downloading films from pirate sites.

Tags: no_tag

by: Lloyd Mason

X1 marks the spot for Comcast | Advanced Television

Tue, 22 May 2012 16:18:36 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

The cloud-enabled platform is designed to transform the TV into an entirely new integrated entertainment experience.

“The X1 platform makes the TV smarter, richer and more personalised – and that’s only the beginning. Our goal is to leverage this platform to redefine the entertainment experience for our customers,”

Tags: distribution&devices, comcast, us, tv, xfinity

by: Lloyd Mason

TWC’s Britt: ‘STBs to become extinct’ | Advanced Television

Tue, 22 May 2012 09:44:45 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

Cable set-tops will become extinct, to be replaced by smart TVs and other IP-connected devices such as gaming consoles, Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt has suggested at The Cable Show in Boston.

Britt suggested that CE devices would allow the cable industry to offer subscribers a better user interface than those that it could offer through digital cable STBs. According to Britt, the cable industry’s video platform had worked well for a long time, “but it’s somewhat archaic. Few people can write software to it,” he noted.

Tags: distribution&devices, IPTV, STB, connectedtv, Console

by: Matthew McNally

Leap 3D motion control system is 100 times more accurate than Kinect, will cost $69.99 | The Verge

Mon, 21 May 2012 16:48:06 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

The Leap consists of a small USB device with industry-standard sensors and cameras that, in tandem with the company's software, can track multiple objects and recognize gestures.

Tags: interfaces&functionality

by: Lloyd Mason

BSkyB could win reprieve on regulation of movie rights » Digital TV Europe

Mon, 21 May 2012 12:52:29 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

The Competition Commission has decided against regulating to reduce BSkyB’s grip on the UK pay TV movies market, according to a report in the Mail on Sunday newspaper

The commission’s preliminary report, due to be released this week, is expected to conclude that the entry of online movie rivals including Netflix and Lovefilm has reduced the need to regulate the market by weakening BSkyB’s dominance, according to the report.

the Mail’s story, if true, indicates that the Competition Commission has decided that the impact of the online services is sufficient to weaken Sky’s hold on the market.

The commission is expected to publish its final report in July.

Tags: futurecontent, sky, movies, netflix, PayTV, lovefilm, regulation

by: Matthew McNally

France leads with connected TV use » Digital TV Europe

Fri, 18 May 2012 14:14:34 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

Futuresource surveyed 4,000 consumers across the US, UK, France and Germany. The company found that 71% of connected TV owners in France hooked their sets up to the web, with the lowest connection rate across the four countries surveyed being that of the UK, at 56%

40% of users access social networking sites, while 24% used the devices to stream music and 23% used them to access personal media libraries

62% of those surveyed said they interacted with other electronic devices, notably laptops and mobile phones, while watching TV

25% said they surfed online to find out more about the programme they were watching, the remainder used the devices for completely unrelated activities

Tags: distribution&devices, connectedtv

by: Philippe Epailly

TalkTalk preparing YouView Q3 launch » Digital TV Europe

Fri, 18 May 2012 14:08:38 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

UK telco TalkTalk says YouView is on course to launch by the end of September.

TalkTalk began a ‘friends and family’ YouView trial in April and said this would be extended to customers “soon”.

The telco reduced its customer losses to 13,000 in its final quarter, down from 43,000 the previous quarter. It ended March with a total of 4.066 million subs.

Tags: futurecontent, TalkTalk, youview, connectedtv

by: Matthew McNally

TalkTalk profits double, YouView set for Q3 | Advanced Television

Fri, 18 May 2012 14:03:52 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

TalkTalk CEO Dido Harding said that a trial YouView box had been installed in her home last week, and that the much-delayed commercial launch would be spread out between June and September

Tags: interfaces&functionality, talktalk, youview

by: Philippe Epailly

TalkTalk: YouView remains on track

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:42:42 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

TalkTalk is maintaining that its triple play proposition that will feature YouView is on track for a launch in the autumn

“Development within the YouView team is progressing well and within TalkTalk we are making good progress on provisioning capability

TalkTalk is promising a gradual ramp-up of activity from July before going above the line in September

In the last 12 months, TalkTalk has spent £4 million on the venture.

Tags: distribution&devices, youview, talktalk, talktalktv

by: Lloyd Mason

Are you ready for iTV-Commerce? | News | TechRadar

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:57:14 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

One in four people will regularly use interactive TV - something we're dubbing iTV-Commerce - to shop by the end of 2014, generating direct sales worth nearly £750m

The rise of the Internet connected TV will make it the most influential of five emerging new technologies identified in an eBay-commissioned study carried out by retail experts Conlumino.

Augmented Reality — enables consumers to bring the real and virtual worlds together by overlaying digital information onto real products, spaces and places. This will range from allowing shoppers to view 3D projections of products that aren't physically present or allowing them to virtually try on clothes.

Smart devices — everyday appliances become intelligent and empowered, for example a fridge making recommendations on what food to order. Retailers could develop greater personalisation and gather deeper insight into their customers.

Tags: interfaces&functionality, commerce, IPTV, ebay, smart

by: Matthew McNally

TalkTalk: YouView remains on track

Fri, 18 May 2012 09:19:15 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

It seems unlikely that YouView will have a full launch before the Olympics and a year-end launch is now probable

However, TalkTalk is promising a gradual ramp-up of activity from July before going above the line in September

In the last 12 months, TalkTalk has spent £4 million on the venture

Tags: interfaces&functionality, talktalk, youview

by: Philippe Epailly

Grand Slam tennis coming to Sky in 3D | News | TechRadar

Thu, 17 May 2012 15:14:00 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

Eurosport is a big producer of 3D and has the rights to the live 3D feed from Centre Court of Roland Garros, and will be piping footage from the French Open through the Sky 3D channel.

Tags: distribution&devices, Sky3D, sky, eurosport

by: Lloyd Mason

Playalong helps Millionaire to tweak format | News | Broadcast

Thu, 17 May 2012 08:32:32 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’s ‘Ask the Audience’ lifeline will become ‘Ask the Nation’ as part of a ground-breaking playalong game for the ITV1 quiz.

giving viewers the chance to play along online or on a mobile for free.

In a major step forward for ITV’s digital strategy, users will answer the same questions as contestants live on air. They will also compete with other players online in a live leader board, where points are awarded based on the speed of their answers

Social media elements on Twitter and Facebook will allow viewers to interact while playing.

In the ‘Ask the Nation’ twist, recommended answers from players at home will be aggregated alongside the studio audience’s views

It is ITV’s first playalong quiz app and although free to access, ITV will sell advertising and sponsorship opportunities around the game.

Throughout the show, host Chris Tarrant will also provide live updates on how viewers are getting on in the same way Davina McCall does during Channel 4’s The Million Pound Drop Live.

“Instead of just shouting at the TV viewers will be able to interact with the show. We hope it will enhance the viewing experience,” said Victoria Ashbourne, Millionaire’s executive producer.

Tags: futurecontent, millionaire, play-along, two-screening, game, ads

by: Matthew McNally

Best content in decipher | Diigo - Groups

Freeview: TV viewers shouldn’t foot 4G bill | Advanced Television

UK TV could be set for major overhaul | News | TechRadar

MediaTel: Newsline: Smart direct response TV set to rise

Can Motorola’s cloud-based DVR kick-start TV Everywhere? — paidContent

BSkyB can thank internet TV rivals for escaping anti-trust charge — paidContent

TiVo and Pace first product | Advanced Television

Viewers still prefer Live TV | Advanced Television

X1 marks the spot for Comcast | Advanced Television

TWC’s Britt: ‘STBs to become extinct’ | Advanced Television

Leap 3D motion control system is 100 times more accurate than Kinect, will cost $69.99 | The Verge

BSkyB could win reprieve on regulation of movie rights » Digital TV Europe

France leads with connected TV use » Digital TV Europe

TalkTalk preparing YouView Q3 launch » Digital TV Europe

TalkTalk profits double, YouView set for Q3 | Advanced Television

TalkTalk: YouView remains on track

Are you ready for iTV-Commerce? | News | TechRadar

TalkTalk: YouView remains on track

Grand Slam tennis coming to Sky in 3D | News | TechRadar

Playalong helps Millionaire to tweak format | News | Broadcast

More video, more platforms, but TV sales based on screen size, picture quality, innovation | News | Rapid TV News