Dutch telco KPN has signed content licenses with 60 companies as it prepares for a second quarter commercial launch of video-over-DSL services. Emphasising its increasing involvement in television entertainment, the company has also announced a [non-binding] agreement with Endemol Nederland BV to establish a joint venture that will exploit Endemol content through all KPN platforms in the Dutch market. The deal covers a number of digital theme channels for KPN TV and access to Endemol content in the form of Video on Demand for Internet and mobile phones. The new entity will also develop new forms of advertising.

Network PVR

KPN, which plays a significant role in Dutch digital terrestrial television, says the IPTV launch will include a full basic broadcast TV package with add-on theme packages that include music, sports, news, children’s programming and adult content. It will also include Video on Demand and Replay TV (network-PVR).

There will be 60 channels of TV and radio initially, all delivered through the DSL network despite KPN’s share in the Dutch digital terrestrial TV platform. According to a spokesperson: “We are keeping them [DTT and IPTV] as two separate propositions in the market.”

Kreatel Communications, which is being acquired by Motorola, haas been chosen to supply the set-top boxes, which could include PVRs. The EPG will include an alarm feature so viewers can set a warning that their favourite TV show is about to start. Weather, traffic and news reports will also be available via the user interface.

The KPN IPTV offer will be deployed nationally using ADSL2+, reaching 70 per cent of Dutch homes this summer. The company is not commenting on whether it has plans for HDTV services.

Referring to the content agreements now in place, Ludolf Rasterhoff, manager of KPN’s TV and Media business unit, says: "In signing these contracts, KPN is setting a major step in the roll-out of its TV strategy. With KPN TV, people in the Netherlands can watch TV anytime anyplace, anywhere. We’re still negotiating with several more interesting parties, and expect to have further news in the coming months."

With the introduction of digital TV over DSL, KPN will complete a quad-play offer that already includes mobile telephony and could yet include television to mobiles. The company has been helping to trial TV-to-mobiles since last year with the DVB-H broadcast standard. With its close involvement in Dutch DTT, KPN will soon be one of the most diversified telecoms and media providers in Europe. The company exemplifies how telecoms operators are being given a route into the television market through the advent of new delivery platforms.