Website: Rapid TV News

IPTV could finally be making its way Down Under.

Australian internet service provider iiNet has become the first top-tier ISP to sign a deal with new IPTV provider Fetch TV.

Fetch TV, partially backed by Malaysia’s Astro All Asia Networks and a different company from the UK-based provider of the same name, has so far caused ripples only in the sports rights market, reportedly planning to join bidding for the next Australian Rules football (AFL) contract.

But iiNet today announced a partnership with Fetch TV, confirming it would be the first ISP to deliver the service over an iiNet cutomer’s ADSL2+ broadband connection.

However, the third-ranked ISP could see stiff competition from incumbent telco Telstra, with the company also planning on launching its Tbox IPTV offering over the next few months.

Fetch TV will offer access to free-to-air digital channels, “a range” of subscription channels, a PVR and an EPG, plus unmetered video-on-demand content with a basic subscription.

The VOD content includes a continuously updated library of movies, TV shows, documentaries, kid’s programs, as well as new release movies.

The service will also include 3D TV capability, in-built single and multi player games and access to a selection of social networking web application.

FetchTV CEO, Scott Lorson said: “FetchTV has been developed to satisfy the entertainment needs of the 70% of Australians who have elected not to take up the existing and expensive subscription TV alternatives.

“We are delighted to team up with iiNet to introduce FetchTV to the Australian market, given their proven network reliability, reputation for product innovation and award winning customer service.

“The team at iiNet has been heavily involved in the development of the FetchTV service, and they share a common passion and commitment to innovation and differentiation.”

iiNet added it had “beefed up” capacity of its network to handle multicast transmissions.

Trials are set for the next month or so, shortly after which the service will be available to customers.

Original post:
iiNet to bring IPTV to Australia

Website: Rapid TV News
Seven Network-backed Vividwireless has launched Australia’s first “4G” mobile broadband network, in the Western Australian state capital, Perth.

While the network has been up and running for two weeks, with orders taken and customers connected, March 22 saw the start of Vividwireless’ advertising campaign for the network, as well as retail launch in two consumer electronics chainstores, Harvey Norman and Dick Smith.

The company is offering prices “competitive with” current fixed ADSL offerings.

Subscribers will be free to connect as many devices as they like to the same plan and contracts will either be pre-paid, month-by-month subscriptions or fixed term contracts.

Vividwireless CEO Martin Mercer said: “The critical defining point of a 4G network is that it is an all IP network.

To date, customers have only been able to access mobile broadband as an add-on service on voice-dominant networks.

“Vividwireless’ purpose-built 4G wireless internet network has enormous capacity to support at home or ‘on the go’ mobile computing.”

Mercer added that the network had a few sites yet to be commissioned and said it would be “constantly fine-tuned”.

Here is the original:

Website: Rapid TV News

Liberty Global’s CEO Mike Fries has indicated his company would be interested in buying into Australian pay-TV platform Foxtel, although he doubts Foxtel’s owners (Telstra, News Corp and Nine Network), would want to sell.

Liberty already has a stake in the Australian pay-TV market, through its 54% stake in regional pay-TV platform Austar.

Foxtel is the metropolitan-targeted version.

Should Telstra, the major Foxtel shareholder, refuse to comply with a government order to separate its wholesale and retail arms, the telco could find itself forced to sell its stake.

Liberty, Mike Fries said, would be a happy purchaser.

The two companies held merger talks as recently as two years ago, but these came to nought.

Asked by the ABC’s Inside Business programme at the weekend whether Liberty was prepared to sell its Austar stake to Foxtel during those talks, Fries said: “If the price were something that we really couldn’t turn down we would have to respond to it but generally speaking we are not in the posture of exiting and we’re very very happy owners and quite frankly I’d rather be a buyer and with the capital we have at our… you know, relatively available to us, I guess I’d be much more interested in buying Foxtel myself.”

Questioned on why Liberty hadn’t made a bid for Foxtel, Fries added: “you know it’s easier said than done. I think the problem is that you’ve got some very strong owners, strong willed owners who are each in their own way getting something from this relationship.

“I do believe it will be difficult to break that up so it probably would fall on deaf ears.”

Go here to read the rest:

Hong Kong-based Tandberg Television has been awarded the accolade of IPTV Vendor of the Year in the Telecom Asia Readers’ Choice Awards.
The Ericsson-owned company received the award this week at a ceremony in the Conrad Hotel, Hong Kong.
Dario Choi, Tandberg’s vice president and general manager, said: “We are proud and honoured to be named IPTV [...]

Go here to see the original:
Tandberg named IPTV Vendor of the Year

KIT digital Bolsters Its Online Video Offering With Social Networking Platform Alliance – November 25, 2008

KIT digital, Inc. (OTCBulletinBoard: KITD) , a leading global provider of IPTV enablement technology and video-centric interactive marketing solutions, announced today it has entered into a distribution agreement with WebAlive Pty Ltd, owner of “WebCommunity,” the first ‘plug-and-play’ social networking platform for businesses.

IPTV Courses
Prerequisite
Follow Up
Request Info/Contact

View original here:
.IPTV Social Networking