Powered by TMCnet
 
| More

Cable Technology Feature Article

October 07, 2011

CWC Subsidiary LIME Chooses Avail-TVN for Multiplatform Video Services

By Meenakshi Shankar, TMCnet Contributor


Digital media services provider Avail-TVN has been chosen by Cable & Wireless (News - Alert) Communications (CWC) to provide the AnyView multiplatform video service for its Caribbean subsidiary, LIME.

LIME is the first CWC subsidiary that will launch multiplatform video services with Avail-TVN, with the potential for expansion of the relationship to 37 additional markets across Cable & Wireless Communication's global footprint.

As indicated, the service will launch commercially in Jamaica and Barbados in Q4, with expansion across the Caribbean to follow in 2012.

In a press release, Ramu Potarazu, chief executive officer of Avail-TVN, said, "Avail-TVN is very excited to be partnering with Cable & Wireless and LIME on this groundbreaking multiplatform solution that leapfrogs traditional TV delivery models."

Potarazu also said that he and his company is looking forward to celebrating successful launches in the Caribbean and elsewhere over the coming months.

Avail-TVN's official highlighted that AnyView platform leverages the latest IP-based technologies to deliver advanced services. Additionally, AnyView also is said to solve one of the main challenges to providing a consistent level of quality across a multiplatform service. MPEG-4 encoding, another key feature of the Avail-TVN offering, more than doubles available bandwidth, allows the service provider to offer more high-impact services like HD and 3D and works seamlessly across a range of devices.

As a full-service telecom provider in the Caribbean, LIME has been delivering landline, internet, mobile and entertainment services to 14 Caribbean countries. Using adaptive bitrate (ABR) technology, Avail-TVN will provide up to 130 live SD television channels as well as video on-demand content for LIME customers to access via set-top boxes and connected devices. ABR is said to ensure a high quality viewing experience on any device by detecting a user's bandwidth and device capacity in real time, delivering the traditional television service experience to the living room as well as to a second and third screen.

Through this deal, Avail-TVN will also manage the subscriber experience, providing the user interface and electronic program guide, and monitoring broadcasts 24/7 from the company's Network Operations Center. The service will be delivered via LIME's private broadband network.

"LIME's goal is to provide consumers with a pay-TV product that is functionally superior to their current experience, one that delivers higher levels of service and is easy to use. Avail-TVN has provided the full package -- from technology to content -- that allows us to quickly and cost-effectively launch a compelling, multi-screen video offering that delivers true value to our subscribers, with the quality and security our content partners demand," said Diane Bissoon, vice president, TV and Entertainment at LIME.

In related news, Intelsat (News - Alert) has just signed a multi-transponder contract with Avail-TVN for C-band services on Galaxy 28 at 89°W. The multi-year agreement will allow Avail-TVN to provide a suite of IPTV (News - Alert), high-definition and VOD services to its customers across North America and the Caribbean.


Meenakshi Shankar is a TMCnet contributor. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Rich Steeves