NTL to test broadband TV platform
 

Article from "Cable and Satellite Europe"
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Re: NTL to test broadband TV platform
 

All sounds good - CATV has a much better platform for things like this compared with sky so in the end CATV could end up coming out on top in the UK.

Re: NTL to test broadband TV platform
 

Indeed, all sounds good...it's just the bit about running it on existing boxes that causes me concern, but I don't know whether this is a good or bad thing in reality.

Re: NTL to test broadband TV platform
 

It all sounds very contradicing to me! perhaps its just the way it has been reported.

They are saying "broadband Internet Based Interactive TV Platorm"

Thats saying to me it's not really got much to do with the set-top, it's all about the cable modem. I realise cwc areas have the cable moem in the set-top but I still find the article a little confusing.

Perhaps someone can enlighten me if it's possible to take an internet streamed service (what they are saying) and process it in the set-top so it appears on your TV.

I guess they are really plugging an internet based TV service to be viewed on your PC, the set-top bit adds a lot of confusion and surely the liberty software wouldn't even come into the equation if this is the case.

Would someone please put me out of my misery and tell me I'm a fool who has it all wrong!

Re: NTL to test broadband TV platform
 

I too am a little confused as to what the aim of this is. From the article title I imagined TV channels being streamed onto your PC via broadband.

Re: NTL to test broadband TV platform
 

Well from what I understand....

You're not a million miles away Ian. What will happen is that the STB will be the PC (in effect) and your TV the monitor.

This means it opens up video on demand, I also assume it would be possible demand a live stream (such as BBC1) which would drastically reduce the bandwidth requirement to your home as you're only getting one channel at a time.

Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree (or just plain barking) in which case I'm sure someone will correct me!

Re: NTL to test broadband TV platform
 

But why are they metioning Liberate middleware?

The live stream will not reduce current bandwidth because it's currently a Broadcast medium, the only advantage would be if they were going to close down the Digital CATV network and use the capacity entirely for VOD and interactive services.

Highly unlikely, and ntl has that little problem of money anyway.

Re: NTL to test broadband TV platform
 

I thought they were not having to pay for this anyway? I guess the Liberate software is like the operating system of the box (I really am guessing here, I'm sure you know more than I do Esc!) so it's an application that runs on it - which is why I am sceptical that it will actually work properly (like my box)

Re: NTL to test broadband TV platform
 

No, I dont actually know much about the Liberate software. I did however think that liberate was only dealing with the processing of the MPEG stream and had nothing to do with the DOCSIS data. However I could be wrong and would appreciate it being put straight if I am.

On the paying subject, I expect it's yet another vendor financed deal. ntl is not really concerned if it takes off or not, if they are not paying for it.
It does however have the spin off attraction of getting free upgrades done around headends and hubsites like they have done with the VOD project.

I understand some long outstanding work that's nothing to do with VOD is happening around the sites and is being booked to the VOD project so the vendor financing the deal will be paying for it!

Sneaky eh!

Re: NTL to test broadband TV platform
 

I know nothing of this from the inside point of view however re-read the article

To me this implies most of the processing being done at the headend and the set-tops being little more than terminals connected to a mainframe for example. The headend will do the processing and fire the result as an mpeg 2 stream to the set-top in question, depending on the application as data for a little additional processing or even as a complete video stream of the result of processing.

Liberate is a middle-ware, not an OS, it supplies the bridging between customer interaction and the set-top, it's probably more comparible to DirectX on a PC's graphics sub-system, it supplies an API and an interface to hardware rather than being the be and end all of it. Programmable DSPs deal with the DOCSIS/EuroDOCSIS decoding and the MPEG stream decoding.

Re: Escapee - obviously you'd be happier with higher bills for custs than vendor financed deals (if these actually exist for the VOD project, I know little of it). ntl is a business like any other and will take the freebies wherever they can get them. This isn't being sneaky, it's good business and all companies do it.

This seems to be an extension of VOD, interactive applications on demand but far beyond those that Sky could provide, using both the greater downstream bandwidth on cable and more relevantly the return path.

BTW all digital TV is beamed down via broadband network, this is more a case of controlling what you watch and what you play! more than previously possible.

If all of this comes together it'll make Sky and Sky+ look pretty lame by comparison. I really hope it does, Sky needs the competition. *dislikes Murdoch ;) *

Re: NTL to test broadband TV platform
 

I'm not trying to pick holes in the idea even if that's how it looks.

I am well aware that upgrading todays hardware processing usually involves some new software to enable new functions that were often thought of but not implemented in early design stages. Much of the QPSK equipment I currently work on uses the trusty Motorola 56303 dsp, so I do have abit of knowledge in that area.

It just seems strange to me looking at it form your view of how it will work as well, ntl have a broadband CATV Broadcast HFC network where they are going to implement VOD, this will presumably be MPEG streams transported via QAM to the customers set-top box. That makes sense to me.

ntl are now considering this internet product that will send presumably a compressed MPEG stream down a QAM Downstream for your own Cable Modem (?) to process into usb/ethernet and then be processed by your own PC so you can view it.

Are they going to launch this on the very same Broadband cable modem platform that customers are always complaining about congestion.

I remember the Yes TV/Elmsdale media trial involving MPEG streams transported via QAM to a cable modem, which outputed 10baseT ethernet to a set-top box based on the Acorn Atom, that had a scart output to feed a TV monitor. now that system used very large ncube servers and took up lots of floorspace, theres no other way to store the media!

That system was rejected because there was not enough return path (US) frequency allocations available (Yes thats the main reason why the trial stopped, the allocation may be 5-65 MHZ but theres large portions of the bandwidth unusable due to ingress and cpd)The system took up lots of floor space and rack space for the number of customers it served.

I just wonder how this system can be any different from the Yes TV product that was viewed as a white elephant, I know technology has moved on a bit but the big difference is someone else is paying I guess.

Re: NTL to test broadband TV platform
 

Congestion is pretty much gone and from what I'm reading there the broadband bit refers to the delivery method, doesn't mean that cable modems will be used just that it'll use the same broadband networks that DTV uses.
Re: Return path, CPD, ingress, etc probably a conversation best had in PM to save boring the rest of the forum :)
Pleasure as always!

Re: NTL to test broadband TV platform
 

I asked one of the guys last night who's heavily involved in Broadband support and new products from an early stage about it, he didn't know what the hell I was on about!

He agreed with me that he could see no sound reason or gain in this product, and actually said it sounds like the old Yes TV product we decided was too much bother, although he did mention that there was talk of ntl releasing a press statement to pour some cold water on BT's statement about launching VOD over ADSL. He was very suprised when I told him a company had been named, and he said "are you sure it's nothing to do with ntl VOD via ADSL over the BT network for off-net customers" (something he possibly wouldn't be directly involved with)

I said no, dont think so they are talking about Liberate software and the set-top box!

Very strange ;)

Re: NTL to test broadband TV platform
 

I think, and I am only thinking out loud here so bear with me! BT are about to start something called 21st Century Network, and one of their partners is NTL. Its aim is to have fibre to the home by 2006 (yes I know what u are going to say!). BT are spending billions on this!. They plan to do VoIP, Digital Telly and Internet access via fibre. BT have the money, NTL has the duct in place, and agreements with content providers aswell as an existing method of broadcast.
Meanwhile, They are also looking at Digital TV down DSL. This fits in with the artical. We all assume the broadband was via the HFC network, but with local loop unbundling NTL could selll DTV to people not on franchise via ADSL.

As I said, I amybe barking up the wrong tree!!

Re: NTL to test broadband TV platform
 

Yikes, should have read Escapee's post first!!!