Connections

LAS VEGAS — One of the winners of the 2017 NAB Show was NeuLion, which touted numerous partnerships, covering everything from OTT to virtual reality. But Chris Wagner, EVP and co-founder of the company, seemed most excited about a different launch: NeuLion ACE Analytics, a new component of the NeuLion Digital Platform.

Levering real-time consumer watch and user data for OTT, as content is delivered to connected devices, NeuLion ACE Analytics can help gives answers on the profitable marketing of channels and campaigns, who the most valuable customers are, how to predict whether a customer is going to cancel their services, and how free viewers can be transformed into paying customers.

“This offers all-in-one insights into who your customers are and what they’re doing,” Wagner said. “This gives you insight into the value of your viewers.”

Interactive dashboard with the service include customer lifecycle tracking, multi-screen usage, customer support and trial marketing, customer file management, registration and order management, a marketing interface, and more.

“NeuLion ACE Analytics provides our customers all the tools needed to uncover intelligence and insights that drive effective OTT business outcomes,” said Roy Reichbach, NeuLion’s president and CEO. “This newly launched service is a very significant value add for our NeuLion Digital Platform customers, who will get sharper insights and real-time data to stay competitive and grow their OTT businesses.”

Also at NAB, NeuLion and Nokia announced a real-time, end-to-end, live virtual reality streaming partnership, with NeuLion supporting the OZO Reality platform with new viewport-adaptive streaming.

Joint customers with the companies will have end-to-end production, delivery, monetization and playback services of live and on-demand VR content.

“We’re excited to continue to strengthen our relationship with NeuLion, a company with a reputation for superior technology, quality and service,” said Tarif Sayed, head of VR technologies for Nokia.

Wagner said that the partnership really stands out by offering monetization features around the production and delivery of VR content, with options for a VR subscription service, pay TV authentication, transactional services for VR PPV, mid-roll ad delivery in VR content, and VR EST via a purchase model.

Lastly, NeuLion announced it was integrating Intel Software Guard Extensions Into Its UHD streaming solution, allowing NeuLion to deliver premium OTT 4K video to Intel-powered PCs. Intel Software Guard Extensions is a set of CPU instructions for PCs supporting authentication, trusted transactions and media security.

“Consumer demand for high-quality video content is on the rise,” said Rick Echevarria, VP of Intel’s Software and Services group, and GM of Intel’s Platforms Security Division. “We’re very pleased that Intel’s Software Guard Extensions will enable NeuLion to serve this audience and help ensure the secure delivery of 4K UHD on Intel-powered PCs.”

Also at NAB:

TiVo

Less than two weeks ago, TiVo announced the availability of Studio, Broadcast and Network Metadata Packages for the content side, incorporating themes, keywords, images and related programs, allowing studios, broadcasters and networks to better use their catalogs of content.

At the NAB Show, the company unveiled its first partner: the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) arm of Turner, which will utilize the TiVo metadata services to manage the company’s electronic program guide (EPG) metadata distribution and service. That covers more than 40 EMEA channels, with more than 200 Turner customers using its channel schedules and programming information receiving the data services.

“The content owners are finding themselves on the front lines when it comes to metadata, and Turner EMEA is a great launch partner for us,” said Scott Maddux, VP of business development for TiVo. “What we’re doing is a pretty dramatic shift for us.”

James Crossland, regional VP of technology and operations EMEA and APAC for Turner, said the partnership with TiVo is a nod to the needs of consumers and their desire for quicker discovery tools.

“When we were selecting a partner to enable our metadata distribution, TiVo’s global reach and long-standing experience working with the industry ecosystem made them the natural choice to power our services across Europe,” he said. “We want to give our viewers a superior EPG experience when browsing our channels – we see it as an integral part of our program offering to them.”

Roz Ho, SVP and GM of metadata for TiVo, added: “TiVo is providing metadata distribution services that distribute multiple formats where needed. Joining forces with Turner is a testament to TiVo’s technological capabilities in delivering solutions to help make TV and video viewing more enjoyable for their customers.”

FreeCast

FreeCast shared that it will soon offer subscribers of its SelectTV à la carte options for cable channels, letting them pick just the channels they want to pay for.

“FreeCast has always been à la carte TV, more than three years now we’ve been preaching it. Currently, our subscribers build their own personal TV packages to match their tastes and budgets, starting with a robust selection of content for $3 a month, plus whatever streaming services, skinny bundles, or pay-per-view content they want on top of that,” FreeCast CEO William Mobley said. “But the calls for à la carte continue; not every consumer wants to manage all these standalone services. So we’re working with the networks to make what consumers want a reality: pick and pay for your favorite cable channels, and get it all on one monthly bill.”

FreeCast is also using NAB to tout its a turnkey solution for OTT distribution. “By utilizing the company’s Cloud Entertainment Platform, those channel providers can bypass investment in costly infrastructure, development, and marketing of their own consumer packages to offset declining cable revenues. In fact, FreeCast expects that most channels can be offered à la carte for three to five times their current local cable and satellite retrans fees,” the company said in a statement.

Verizon Digital Media Solutions

Verizon Digital Media Services announced Dolby Audio integration for OTT content creators and providers, allowing them to deliver Dolby Audio–enhanced content to mobile and connected devices, using the VDMS platform.

The Dolby Audio integration will be part of the Uplynk Video Streaming service.

“The expectation for high quality audio and video doesn’t go away when content is streamed from the internet rather than delivered by a cable set top box or played from a Blu-ray player,” said Ted Middleton, chief product officer for Verizon Digital Media Services. “With the integration of Dolby Audio support into our digital media platform, we are ensuring that our customers — leading media and entertainment content creators and distributors — can provide their viewers with the ultimate home entertainment experience.”

Mathias Bendull, VP of multi-screen services audio for Dolby, added: “Consumers around the world now expect the highest quality entertainment on all their devices. We are pleased to work with Verizon Digital Media Services, a proven leader in the digital media space, to integrate Dolby Audio into its end-to-end OTT streaming video platform to support the next generation of immersive entertainment experiences that delight these audiences wherever they may go.”