AT&T U-Verse Boxes Go Wireless
Also: Vendors pitch pre-packaged TV Everywhere platform; Netflix chief justifies Qwikster concept; HBO's got issues with Apple TV
Today's cable news roundup has a bit of TelcoTV flair to it.
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is set to launch a wireless IPTV set-top from Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) that can stream video over 802.11n. The telco will start to offer a combo that comprises the set-top and the a Wi-Fi access point (both elements are now considered part of Cisco's Videoscape portfolio) in all U-verse markets starting Monday, Oct. 31. Word of the new offering, which serves as a whole-home DVR and could conceivably connect with IP-connected tablets and PCs, emerged in March when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved Cisco's Wi-Fi-capable ISB7005 set-top. AT&T ended the third quarter with 3.58 million U-verse TV subs. (See AT&T Cuts the Cord.)
Here's a short video showing the new devices in action:
Three video vendors have hooked up to develop an integrated TV Everywhere platform that supports on-demand and live video on a wide range of connected devices. RGB Networks Inc. is pitching in its Video Multiprocessing Gateway (VMG) transcoding platform; itaas Inc. is adding in an interactive client application for viewing content on connected devices; and Verimatrix Inc. is integrating its VCAS video security system. Itaas is serving as the platform's "prime contractor." RGB will demonstrate the system at this week's TelcoTV show in New Orleans.
On Monday's third-quarter earnings call, Netflix Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) CEO Reed Hastings tried to justify why his company temporarily tried to separate its DVD business as Qwikster, noting that DVD and streaming appeal to two different audience needs (streaming, for example, is instant but has a smaller selection), so Netflix's original idea to split out those businesses "can in theory make sense." But he acknowledged that "in practice, post the price increase, Qwikster became the symbol of Netflix not listening." (See Netflix Kills Qwikster and Netflix Loses 810,000 Subs .)
HBO apparently has some serious issues with Apple TV. The programmer prevents its HBO Go TV Everywhere service from being passed through from an iPad, iPod Touch or iPhone to an Apple TV device using HDMI and/or AirPlay connection because HBO "requires a level of content protection that's not currently supported by Apple TV," notes the ZatzNotFunny blog, recounting a recent Twitter conversation between an HBO customer and the programmer.
Nintendo of America Inc. 's 3DS handheld and Wii console will gain access to Hulu LLC 's US$7.99 per month Plus service before the end of the year. (See Hulu: No Sale and Hulu Launches in Japan.)
— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Light Reading Cable
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