Are VM and Avinity demonstrating "NGTV" at a trade show later this week?

[sammyjayuk]

For those of you that haven't read my thread in the News forum - or who have otherwise not heard about it - later this week Virgin Media and a Dutch company called Avinity will be demonstrating Avinity's RenderCast platform, at Cable Congress 2009. It looks like it's best described as a thin client solution, in that all the work is done at the headend.

Talk of a next-generation TV platform has been flying around for some time, with the term cropping up in investor presentations and also in the leaked Samsung V+ document. However, this is (to my knowledge) the first time that VM has publicly linked itself with a possible provider of such a platform - up until now the only platform provider (again, as far as I know) that VM has dealt with was SeaChange International (who bought Liberate Technologies a few years back), since before the NTL:Telewest merger when Liberate TV Navigator wasn't looking quite so archaic.

What's interesting is that VM may have worked with Avinity before, see here, quote down there (my emphasis):

Together with a Tier 1 cable operator we have been building a prototypeon top of a large VoD archive. It has been demonstrated successfully, and shows how the VoD navigation can become media rich.

This project started in December of 2007

I'm not even going to pretend that I know what "Tier 1" means in this context (although I would think that maybe it simply means big and important, yes?), but VM are probably the only cable operator with a VoD library that could be described as large. So, VM and Avinity could possibly have been working together - obviously in secret - for well over a year now.

Looking at their website, RenderCast as the NGTV platform seems like a rather good fit for VM. With all the older boxes out there, creaking under the strain of Liberate but prohibitively expensive for VM - in its current state, anyway - to replace, the thin client approach could be just what the doctor ordered.

Hopefully, somebody will leak a video because I'd very much like to see exactly what it is that VM and Avinity have to show off!

Sam

[Toto]

Some links in the google finance watch of VM (VMED)

http://www.google.com/finance?client=gd&q=VMED

[BenMcr]

I so hope this is it and will be the new platform. If so wooooooooooo!

Time to blow Sky's new EPG out the water?!

[joglynne]

I'm not sure if this is about the same thing but I received this report to-day.

Motorola and Virgin Media Explore the Future of Entertainment Delivery at Cable Congress........The next-generation service delivery gateway architecture being discussed by the two companies is proposed to deliver advanced multimedia services, such as:
* Multi-room TV – the ability to watch recorded content from any TV or PC in the house
* Converged entertainment services across three screens – PC, TV and mobile
* Media Mobility – moving your content from device to device and taking it on-the-go
* Customizable user interfaces.

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=89910

[BenMcr]

Flipping hell. If they do both then things are looking good!

[sammyjayuk]

Originally Posted by joglynne

I'm not sure if this is about the same thing but I received this report to-day.

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=89910

I hadn't seen that, but it's rather interesting! I don't know if you're aware of this, but Motorola manufacture the FiOS multi-room DVR. They actually seem to manufacture most of the cable boxes in the States (not to mention the most fugly cable boxes I've seen in quite a while...), as I found out when I tried to find out whether any of the FTTC US cablecos do a multi-room DVR - but it seems like Verizon is the only one to offer it (although, admittedly, I only tried 4 or 5 of them before giving up - there just seem to be soo many!).

What I'd like to know, is: why exactly are these two companies partnering with VM to show off their fancy new stuff?

I don't understand Motorola's and VM's interest in each other, I really don't - not now we're *just* seeing the Samsung V+ start to roll out. The only way I can see it making sense for VM to roll out the Motorola DVR is if it was a separate product, complementing the V+ - a V++, if you will. Incidentally, that's actually how Verizon do it.

What I can very much understand is the affinity (sorry!) between VM and Avinity. VM are running on a platform that became prehistoric years ago running on STBs that, many of which at least, ought to be hidden away in some obscure museum where they can no longer frighten the children who grew up while they waited for the guide to respond - but VM can't afford to replace millions of boxes. Avinity have a technology which means that they won't *need* to replace the boxes to get things running smoothly again - it's a match made in heaven!

Still, I'm not sure that any of this will ever come to fruition - it's only a trade show, and this is still the same Virgin Media...

Sam

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by sammyjayuk

and this is still the same Virgin Media...

I wouldn't be too sure about that.

Just look at how far things have come in the last two years when it comes to the TV service. No-one could claim it was the same now than it was when it became Virgin

Yes the hardware is *mostly* the same, but that is being addressed.

[sammyjayuk]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Just look at how far things have come in the last two years when it comes to the TV service.

In what areas, exactly?

• Apparently, there's now less HD VOD than there was a year ago
• the ITV HD linear trial disappeared never to return
• VM publicly announced that they had the rights to Channel 4 HD both linear and VOD over a year ago yet it's *still* only available on Sky
• Vbox users have only 1 day of EPG data
• Teletext withdrew their service from the platform completely
• the VOD menus look almost *exactly* the same as they did on Telewest, if a little less psychedelic
• VM is the only platform on which BBC Red Button won't give me weather for Plymouth
• Things like genre search, which were even in an ancient NTL EPG, have gone
• Where are subtitles on VOD??
• For that matter, where are the subtitles on BBC HD?
• Why, why, why do the standard boxes still have this awful remote?!

I'm sure there's more, but I am *trying* not to come across as a complete ********! I'm just struggling to see what enhancements the TV platform has seen since VM became VM. Skippable playlists, maybe?

Sam

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by sammyjayuk

Apparently, there's now less HD VOD than there was a year ago

And yet VoD viewing counts for 52% of Virgin's customer base, and now has content from all the main broadcasters barring five and Sky

the ITV HD linear trial disappeared never to return

Which was a decision by ITV

VM publicly announced that they had the rights to Channel 4 HD both linear and VOD over a year ago yet it's *still* only available on Sky

Not defending that one - it annoys me as much as anyone else

Vbox users have only 1 day of EPG data

Blame the old STBs for that - hopefully once they have all gone, then it can be increased again.

Teletext withdrew their service from the platform completely

Commercial decision by a 3rd part company - nothing to do with Virgin

the VOD menus look almost *exactly* the same as they did on Telewest, if a little less psychedelic

So the menus look the same. I always though it was about the content provided - not how good the menus look?

VM is the only platform on which BBC Red Button won't give me weather for Plymouth

Maybe you should talk to the BBC about that then - as they provide the Red Button content NOT Virgin

Things like genre search, which were even in an ancient NTL EPG, have gone

Never used it TBH so didn't know it was there!

Where are subtitles on VOD??

On their way

For that matter, where are the subtitles on BBC HD?

AFAIK also on their way

Why, why, why do the standard boxes still have this awful remote?!

AFAIK it is something they have planned to issue a single remote. Slight problem is the Pace and the non-V+ SA boxes don't like normal remote codes (which is why you have the different coloured remotes)

Also which remote are you on about. The ex-tw or ex-ntl ones?

I'm sure there's more, but I am *trying* not to come across as a complete ********! I'm just struggling to see what enhancements the TV platform has seen since VM became VM. Skippable playlists, maybe?

Increased content from most broadcasters for all customers - only place to access iPlayer content on the TV, 4oD and now ITV Net Player,
Improved reliability of the STBs,
Improved access to subtitles,
Increase inclusive content for XL tv customers

I know there is still room for improvement. But to call the TV service the same is wrong

[sammyjayuk]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Which was a decision by ITV

Why did they make that decision, though? Why, when it came time to "launch" ITV HD, did they choose not to return to VM?

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Blame the old STBs for that - hopefully once they have all gone, then it can be increased again.

Return path? It's not as if a non-recorder needs to hold the whole thing in memory, is it?

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Commercial decision by a 3rd part company - nothing to do with Virgin

A decision made, perhaps, because the platform was slow, clunky and unstable.

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Maybe you should talk to the BBC about that then - as they provide the Red Button content NOT Virgin

I'm aware of the fact that VM aren't responsible for what the BBC do, but it's a little telling that while the MHEG and OpenTV versions have gone through quite a number of revisions, tweaks and enhancements, the vast majority of the Liberate version looks much the same as it always did.

I had hoped that the Sport Multiscreen's more modern style would be applied to the rest of Red Button, but I'm actually glad it wasn't - it's dog slow, as is iPlayer. They're both very well done, don't get me wrong, but on my two SAs they feel like... like jewellery, almost. You show them to people because they look good, but they serve little practical purpose.

By the way, did you know that there's a red button app on ITV1? I thought I knew what slow was...

[QUOTE=BenMcr;34754805]So the menus look the same. I always though it was about the content provided - not how good the menus look?
Yes, of course - but if menus and such weren't considered important we wouldn't have things like EPGs.

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Never used it TBH so didn't know it was there!

Well it was before my time, but apparently awareness of the feature was about as low as that of the help button on the remote!

Originally Posted by BenMcr

On their way
AFAIK also on their way

That's good to hear, but seeing as both BBC HD and VOD have been around for rather a while now, I'm afraid that sounds like "coming soon" to me...

Originally Posted by BenMcr

AFAIK it is something they have planned to issue a single remote. Slight problem is the Pace and the non-V+ SA boxes don't like normal remote codes (which is why you have the different coloured remotes)

Also which remote are you on about. The ex-tw or ex-ntl ones?

I think it's an ex-tw - it's got a big blue home button about half a million miles above where my thumb wants to be, the one where the back and i buttons are so close together that if I'm not careful I'll hit the other by accident, the one with not enough grip, the one with the tiny domes of hard plastic for the d-pad buttons which need about a ton of pressure and actually *hurt* my thumb to use.

I *love* the V+ remote because it's got those enormous d-pad buttons and the so-raised-it's-impossible-to-miss ok button, home and back and stuff are so close to where I want them to be, it's a nice weight and it's got a rubberised back.

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Increased content from most broadcasters for all customers - only place to access iPlayer content on the TV, 4oD and now ITV Net Player,
Improved reliability of the STBs,
Improved access to subtitles,
Increase inclusive content for XL tv customers

I know there is still room for improvement. But to call the TV service the same is wrong

You've got me on improved reliability of STBs, and the XL inclusive content - a few years ago I couldn't go near a cable box without it hanging...

iPlayer is the same as catch-up, basically, and I'm think that 4oD was on Teleport so any enhancements to those services is just incremental. ITV Player is definitely a good thing, but until HD appears it's just bog standard catchup.

I'm not sure why, because my hearing and that of the rest of my family's is, I think, ok, but I grew up with subtitles turned firmly on, and that's a habit that's just continued. I find it especially difficult to watch comedy (laughter and applause) and HD (wide dynamic range or something) without them, so I find it frustrating that VM haven't implemented them on VOD *or* HD after all this time.

I didn't mean to come across as argumentative, though, so I'm sorry about that!

Sam

[dsmuk]

Wonder if this has anything to do with the new software?
[img]Download Failed (1)[/img]
Image is taken from the November Investors presentation I believe

[synner]

Originally Posted by dsmuk

Wonder if this has anything to do with the new software?

Image is taken from the November Investors presentation I believe

Now that is ugly, barely an improvement on the awful menu/EPG system in place now.

And I have to wonder just how slow thats gonna run when some of the boxes seem to struggle with the *ahem* Graphical Intensity *ahem* of the current EPG !

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by synner

And I have to wonder just how slow thats gonna run when some of the boxes seem to struggle with the *ahem* Graphical Intensity *ahem* of the current EPG !

The whole point of this thread is that Avinity have techonlogy where all the hard work is done at VM's end - not on the STB in the customer's home.

So it doesn't matter how old the box is or how graphic intensive the EPG is

[synner]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

The whole point of this thread is that Avinity have techonlogy where all the hard work is done at VM's end - not on the STB in the customer's home.

So it doesn't matter how old the box is or how graphic intensive the EPG is

Oh joy, so it's going to rely on the crumbling network instead, fantastic

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by synner

Oh joy, so it's going to rely on the crumbling network instead, fantastic

Then best you move then you will not have to worry about it will you.