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Microsoft TV Platform Integrates with Leading VOD Vendors, Enabling New Services for Consumers

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

At Cable 2000, Microsoft announced a significant step forward for video-on-demand (VOD) solutions that fully integrate with the Microsoft TV Platform. Five leading VOD vendors, including Concurrent, DIVA, Intertainer, nCUBE, and SeaChange International, are integrating with the Microsoft TV Platform and plan to have Microsoft TV-based VOD solutions available later this year. The collaboration enables cable companies and other network operators to deliver new revenue-generating services to consumers, including on-demand movies, sports, concerts, music videos, audio, and programming.

Key Takeaways:

  • Microsoft has partnered with five leading VOD vendors, including Concurrent, DIVA, Intertainer, nCUBE, and SeaChange International, to integrate their VOD solutions with the Microsoft TV Platform.
  • The collaboration enables cable companies and other network operators to deliver new revenue-generating services to consumers, including on-demand movies, sports, concerts, music videos, audio, and programming.
  • Concurrent's MediaHawk is a high-performance, scalable digital-video server that delivers true VOD and interactive services for entertainment applications.
  • DIVA is a leading provider of interactive VOD products and services for the cable television industry, with its solution providing service operators with a viable opportunity to offer a compelling VOD service to customers using the DCT 5000+ series advanced set-top box from Motorola Inc.
  • Intertainer delivers a large selection of movies, music videos, television, and shopping on demand to PCs and televisions, with a focus on providing consumers with a broad variety of content via cable modems, DSL telephone lines, and digital set-top boxes.
  • nCUBE is one of the world's leading suppliers of high-end video-streaming systems and video application software, with a VOD solution developed in cooperation with Microsoft, providing broadcasters with the ability to manage and monetize their premium content.
  • SeaChange International is one of the television industry's leading suppliers of digital video systems, supporting numerous VOD installations worldwide, including Rogers Cablesystems in Canada, Telewest Communications in the United Kingdom, and Guandong Cable TV in China.

Statistics:

  • Microsoft has partnered with five leading VOD vendors to integrate their VOD solutions with the Microsoft TV Platform.
  • The Microsoft TV Platform is a comprehensive software solution for the television industry, creating significant new economic opportunities for network operators and their suppliers of programming, hardware, and software.
  • The Microsoft TV Platform supports worldwide digital TV broadcast standards, including DVB, ATSC, and ARIB.
  • Concurrent has installed over 30,000 systems worldwide and has recently completed the world's largest residential VOD launch in Hawaii.
  • DIVA has deployed its digital video-on-demand service in six cable systems in the United States.

Sources:

  • PRNewswire, "Companies to Demo Digital Set-Top Boxes Running Microsoft TV Platform-Based VOD Solutions at Cable 2000" (May 8, 2000)
  • Microsoft, "About the Microsoft TV Platform"
  • Concurrent Computer Corp., "About Concurrent"
  • DIVA, "About DIVA"
  • Intertainer Inc., "About Intertainer"
  • nCUBE Corp., "About nCUBE"
  • SeaChange International Inc., "About SeaChange International"

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