Telefónica’s new global convergent video platform, based on the Microsoft Mediaroom product suite, will power its pay TV and OTT services across its Operating Businesses, with first deployments in Brazil, Chile and Spain
Telefónica Digital and Microsoft have announced a multi-year strategic agreement to create a Global Video Platform (GVP) for all video entertainment services across Telefónica’s Operating Businesses.
Based on Microsoft technologies including the Microsoft Mediaroom platform, the GVP will deliver TV services over both managed (IPTV) and nonmanaged (“over the top”) networks to a range of consumer devices. The first GVP deployments are taking place in Brazil, Chile and Spain, and Telefónica anticipates extending the deployment of TV services based on the GVP to a number of its other Operating Businesses over the next few years.
“Video is a fast-growing market, and we already play a leading role in delivering Pay TV services to customers in Europe and Latin America. This new platform allows us to meet customer demands for access to video content on an ever- expanding range of devices,” said Vivek Dev, Director of Digital Services, Telefónica Digital.
“Telefónica is a close partner to Microsoft, and the Global Video Platform, based on the Microsoft Mediaroom platform, will enable them to grow their business and reach new audiences,” said Tom Gibbons, corporate vice president, Operator TV Business, Microsoft.
Earlier this month, Telefónica launched its premium Internet Protocol television (IPTV) service in Brazil, which follows a similar launch in Chile in October. Both services, Vivo TV Fibra in Brazil and Movistar IPTV in Chile, are the first IPTV deployments that take advantage of the new GVP platform and its capabilities, offering an exceptional user experience for their Fiber to the Home customers.
In November 2011, Telefónica and Microsoft launched the first service enabled by the GVP: Movistar Imagenio on Xbox 360. It provides subscribers with 12 linear channels focused on sports, including the Spanish First Soccer League (Liga BBVA) under Canal+ Liga Channel.
During the past 14 months, the Microsoft Mediaroom platform has provided services to over 11 million consumer households and 22 million set-top boxes across the Americas, EMEA and APAC.