Video & OTT Technology News
Financial & Performance
Telefónica Transformation: ahead of schedule but hitting a bump
Digital services revenue hits 17% revenue increase year-on-year, with the bulk coming from video services. Telefónica Infra remains barebones, but the future looks promising.
Content & TVVodafone feels frozen out by Movistar’s Disney+ win
Rival claims foul play in behind-scenes negotiations with Disney.
- Consumer (B2C)
Movistar Chile plans consumer broadband upgrade
Movistar Chile unveiled plans for a free upgrade to internet speeds for an estimated 80% of its broadband customers.
- Enterprise (B2B)
Telefónica International Wholesale Services teams with Hammer Fiber Optics
TIWS formed a bilateral SMS messaging interconnection agreement with Hammer Fiber Optics Holdings, a fledgling wireless service provider based in New Jersey, USA.
- Partnerships & Alliances
Atresmedia, Telefónica España video content JV still in the works
Atresmedia Corporación assured that its pending video content joint venture (JV) with Telefónica España remained set for creation.
- Content & TV
Updated BT TV aims for platform flexibility
Integration of Sky’s Now TV into BT’s YouView‑based platform enabling Consumer to offer a more rounded pay‑TV product with simplified access to a range of OTT services. New packages built on apparently contradictory goals of leveraging demand for flexible on‑demand services while also tying customers into two‑year contracts. Sky ...
- Consumer (B2C)
EE offers complimentary BritBox
EE is to offer new and existing pay‑monthly mobile and tablet customers a free six‑month subscription to BritBox.
- Content & TV
BT adopts encoder to fight broadcast piracy
BT becomes first UK broadcast provider to use encoder. Video compression solutions specialist Ateme gets partnership.
- Products & Services
O2 Extras aims to bolster loyalty scheme
O2 Extras proffers bundled subscriptions to streaming services, including Amazon’s Prime Video and Audible. Component of efforts to improve customer retention, amid growing competition from rival loyalty programmes.
- Content & TV
Movistar Play now available on smart TVs
Telefónica’s Movistar Play over‑the-top pay‑TV service has been integrated into Samsung smart TVs in Latin America.
- Content & TV
Hungary latest to receive Vodafone TV service
Vodafone Hungary set to become the latest in a string of European OpCos to launch OTT TV service.
- Partnerships & Alliances
Telefónica España and Atresmedia create TV content JV
Telefónica España and Atresmedia, a Spanish media group, agreed a deal to create a 50:50 joint venture (JV) to produce and distribute Spanish-language original series and films for Telefónica’s Movistar+ pay‑TV platform and Atresmedia channels.
- Suppliers & SCM
Zenterio buyout raises questions for Deutsche Telekom
Once-close partner appears to have been damaged by DT supply refresh.
- Partnerships & Alliances
T‑Mobile US agrees go-to-market tie‑up with Quibi
T‑Mobile US (TMUS) agreed a go-to-market tie‑up with Quibi, a high-profile mobile video startup that is due to release services in April 2020.
- Products & Services
T‑Mobile Poland adds Amazon Prime Video to broadband and multi‑play packages
T‑Mobile Poland (TMPL) added Amazon Prime Video to its recently-launched wireline broadband and multi‑play packages.
- Content & TV
PHABRIX flags role in HDR trials with BT Sport
Broadcast test and measurement solutions provider PHABRIX flagged its role in nine months of high dynamic range (HDR) technology trials conducted by BT Sport.
- Content & TV
Timeline Television selects Tedial’s MAM platform for BT Sport’s facilities
Production facilities specialist, and existing BT Sport broadcast partner, Timeline Television selected media asset management (MAM) provider Tedial’s Evolution MAM platform to handle and orchestrate media processing and workflow archiving at BT Sport’s facilities in Stratford and the BT Tower in London.
- Products & Services
Vodacom looks for regional growth via digital media
South African operator retains exclusive expansion mandate within Vodafone.
- Marketing
Vodafone Group supports video marketing startup Spirable
Personalised video marketing startup Spirable was given some love by outgoing Vodafone Global Brand & Media Director Sara Martins de Oliveira as it announced receipt of a Series-A funding round (albeit without an apparent contribution from the Group).
- Strategy & Change
Telekom Deutschland forced to adjust StreamOn
TDE to amend two disputed aspects of media offer, for now. Principal court proceedings in Cologne have yet to run their course.
- Content & TV
Vodafone UK’s Pay-TV plans remain on standby
Pay-TV services expansion plans at Vodafone UK remain on standby.
- Strategy & Change
New competitive threat as Forthnet firms up MVNO
MVNO-sceptic Vodafone compelled to support rival’s mobile launch. Possible trigger for long-mooted M&A action.
