ICTV rebrands as ActiveVideo Networks

May 19, 2008 - ICTV, a US provider of solutions that combine broadcast television with Web content and interactivity, has rebranded to ActiveVideo Networks to better reflect the company's product focus.

Belgacom TV revenues up 125% in Q1

May 19, 2008 - Belgian incumbent Belgacom has revealed in its results for the first quarter of this year that revenues from its "Belgacom TV" IPTV service rose 125% in the period relative to the same three months of last year, reaching a total of €18mn.

The new world of pay-TV: safely and securely managing content in a multi-platform environment

By Steve Christian, VP of Marketing at Verimatrix, provider of leading software-based content security and revenue enhancement technologies for pay-TV networks

The new generation of television services is making the traditional landscape unrecognisable. Changes in how television is both delivered and accessed mean there is even more need for a robust content security system to underpin the business of service delivery. A shift in consumer behaviour demands that television is accessible when and where people want – a complete contrast to the traditional prescribed television schedule. Technological developments have also enabled television services to be offered on a number of devices beyond the traditional TV set – on a PC, via an Internet connection or a portable screen-based media device. An IP-based delivery model has gained momentum due to its flexibility to support services that meet the current consumer demand and its adaptability to meet future consumer needs as the market matures.

IPTV middleware: ready for prime time, anytime

Telefónica O2 Czech Republic adds multi-room viewing for O2 TV

May 19, 2008 - Telefónica O2 Czech Republic has added a new service called Multi to its IPTV offering, enabling customers to watch different channels from the service on two TV sets located in different parts of the home.

Portugal Telecom adds 26,000 subs for Meo in Q1

May 19, 2008 - Portugal Telecom has revealed in its results for the first quarter of this year that it added 26,000 subscribers to its "Meo" IPTV service during the period, bringing the total to 47,000.

Operator interview - Hugo Suidman, Marketing Manager for KPN TV

"You have to be creative on every part"

IPTV set-top box sales up 86% in Q1, says Synergy Research Group

May 16, 2008 - Sales of IPTV set-top boxes rose 86% worldwide in the first quarter of this year, according to a new report from Synergy Research Group, with the IPTV equipment market as a whole growing 45% globally relative to the same period of last year.

ZyXEL unveils new range of IP set-top boxes, joins Ericsson IPTV ecosystem

May 16, 2008 - Taiwanese firm ZyXEL has unveiled a new range of IP set-top boxes, as well as announcing that it has joined the Ericsson IPTV development and delvery ecosystem.

Teracom selects Dreampark middleware for IPTV service

May 16, 2008 – Dreampark has announced that Swedish state-owned media company Teracom has selected Dreampark’s Dreamgallery middleware for its IPTV service, following Teracom’s acquisition of IPTV operator Svenska Basboxbolaget.

Three US telcos form Midwest Video Solutions to deliver headend services

May 15, 2008 - Three independent US telcos based in Wisconsin have formed a joint venture called Midwest Video Solutions which will deliver headend services to other telecoms providers, offering over 200 channels of TV and music, including high-definition content.

Telefónica posts 64% increase in pay-TV subscribers worldwide for Q1

May 15, 2008 - Telefónica has posted a 64.4% increase in the number of pay-TV subscribers it serves worldwide for the first quarter of this year to reach 1.8mn, with operations up and running in Spain, the Czech Republic, Peru, Chile, Colombia and Brazil.

BT adds 94,000 IPTV subscribers in Q1

May 15, 2008 - BT has announced in its first quarter results that it added 94,000 subscribers to its “BT Vision” IPTV service during the period, bringing the total to 214,000.

Private targets 12mn IPTV subscribers by end-2009

May 14, 2008 - Private Media Group has announced in its first-quarter results that its combined new media sales increased 12% year-on-year to reach €3mn for the three-month period, and the company now aims to make its content available to 7.9mn IPTV subscribers in Europe by the end of this year and 12mn by the end of 2009.

Free adds Canal+ catch-up service

May 14, 2008 - French ISP Free has added the catch-up TV service of Canal+ to its IPTV offering, providing subscribers with a selection of drama, documentaries and magazines for viewing up to a month after broadcast.