LONDON — SecureMedia, the technology leader in open content protection software for secure video and multimedia delivery over IP networks, and GoBackTV, the innovative supplier of digital video headend and edge solutions announced today the integration of SecureMedia’s Encryptonite ONE™ System CA/DRM (conditional access/digital rights management) technology with GoBackTV’s award-nominated RetroVue® System that enables cable operators to dynamically and affordably provide subscribers with their own personal television channels. Adopting this innovative “Secure IPTV over Cable” solution is H & B Communications, Inc., a provider of local and long distance telephone, cable TV, Internet, and voice mail services in Kansas, USA. Now H & B Communications ... Read more

CAMBRIDGE, U.K., and LONDON — Amino Communications, the world leading IPTV entertainment solutions provider, announced today that it has signed a global co-operation agreement with ZTE, the global provider of telecoms equipment and network solutions.

Amino will provide the full range of its award-winning AmiNET™ set-top boxes (STBs) to ZTE, which has over 20 IPTV deployments globally. With a system capacity of more than 1.5 million user licenses and over a million active STBs, ZTE’s IPTV market share is the largest in Asia. Deployments include Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the largest state-owned telecoms operator in India, and PCCW, a major telecom operator in Hong Kong.

ZTE will include Amino’s STBs – with the latest HD technology - as part of their end... Read more

STOCKHOLM and MOSCOW — Edgeware AB, the provider of revolutionary server systems for network deployed on-demand TV, and Smartlabs LLC, a leading provider of service delivery platforms for interactive digital TV, today announced a partnership where SmartLabs will offer Edgeware’s products to Russian Service Providers in combination with SmartLabs platforms for interactive digital TV.

With this agreement, Edgeware will be able to efficiently address the fast growing Russian IPTV market and provide its highly scalable and cost efficient on-demand server technology for applications such as time shifted TV and video-on-demand. The joint solution is already in advanced trials with leading service providers in the country.

“Our core strategy is to grow our business by leve... Read more

LONDON — Verimatrix, setting the standard in content security technologies that enhance the value of pay-TV networks, today announced Telekom Slovenije as its latest customer to select the Verimatrix Video Content Authority System (VCAS™) for IPTV to protect video-on-demand (VOD) and live broadcast premium content. The operator’s IPTV service, known as SiOL TV with 80,000 subscribers, currently maintains the majority market share in Slovenia according to the Agency for Post and Electronic Communications (APEK).

Telekom Slovenije’s subsidiary, Planet9, is responsible for the creation and support of new platforms for mobile, Web and IPTV media, as well as the production of content. According to Miran Nikolic, technical director, Planet9, “Verimatrix has a strong technica... Read more

STEETON, U.K. — EchoStar Europe (www.echostareurope.com), a leading innovator and supplier of beyond the box, added-value applications and connected device solutions to the digital television industry, today announced that it will launch its first dedicated product for IPTV operators at IPTV World Forum, London. The new HDX-600 series digital video recorder (DVR) combines state-of-the-art cosmetics with high definition (HD) reception, advanced video coding (AVC) and hybrid functionality, providing IPTV operators with an added-value product solution. Using its award-winning 900 series platform and in partnership with SlingMedia, EchoStar Europe will also illustrate the benefits of integrating SlingLoaded™ technology, which allows consumers to Sling content to connected devices in nu... Read more

ATLANTA — TANDBERG Television, part of the Ericsson group (NASDAQ:ERIC), is introducing the WatchPoint® Content Management System (CMS). The system gives service providers unprecedented visibility of the content that enters their library and throughout the content lifecycle. This system is designed for the centralized management of any metadata format, content type, and workflow process. The file-based content ingested into and stored in the CMS may include VOD programs, advertising, music, and games. WatchPoint CMS increases overall operational efficiency through the automation of customized content processing via a rules management interface and extensible workflow. The system also provides a scalable technology infrastructure for efficient single or multi-screen strategies while ... Read more

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. — MEDIACOM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION (Nasdaq: MCCC - News) announced today that it entered into a definitive agreement to repurchase all of Mediacom’s Class A common stock owned by an affiliate of Morris Communications Company, LLC (“Morris Communications”) in a transaction structured as a tax free split-off under Section 355 of the Internal Revenue Code. Closing is subject to the receipt of certain regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions and is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Under the definitive agreement, Shivers Investments, LLC (“Shivers”), will exchange 28,309,674 shares of Mediacom Class A common stock for 100% of the shares of stock of a newly-created subsidiary of Mediacom, which will hold cable televisi... Read more

NEW YORK — Studio 3 Networks, the premium entertainment joint venture formed by Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., announced today that it will brand its next-generation entertainment service, epix. The service will provide consumers with access to great films and original entertainment programming on television, along with on-demand access via broadband delivery.

“With epix, we are creating an entirely new category of entertainment service for consumers that is unlike anything that currently exists,” said Mark Greenberg, President of Studio 3 Networks. “epix is the first brand to hold exclusive exhibition rights to movie content that can be delivered anywhere, anytime. The name epix embodies the ... Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq:CMCSA - News, CMCSK - News), the nation’s leading provider of entertainment, information and communications products and services, announced today that it named Kenneth J. Carrig, Executive Vice President of Human Resources for Comcast Cable. Mr. Carrig will join the company on February 2 and will report to Stephen B. Burke, Chief Operating Officer, Comcast Corporation, and David A. Scott, Executive Vice President, Finance & Administration, Comcast Cable.

“We are delighted to have Ken join the Comcast executive team to lead human resources,” said Mr. Burke. “Ken has been recognized as one of the top human resources professionals in his field and brings extensive experience to Comcast having overseen human resources at se... Read more

BROOMFIELD, Colo. — Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: LVLT - News) today announced that it has been selected to provide caching and downloading services to Pando Networks, a pioneer of content delivery cloud services. Pando will use Level 3’s content delivery network (CDN) to support the delivery of rich media content for commercial customers.

“Level 3’s CDN technology enables us to expand our content delivery cloud service with greater reliability and quality than standalone P2P technology,” said Robert Levitan, chief executive officer of Pando Networks. “This expansion builds out our technology platform to provide customers with a more powerful and cost effective solution to deliver online content.”

Level 3 Communications Inc. ... Read more