A new report from MRG, Inc., "IPTV Video Quality: QoS and QoE - 2006," addresses the issue of video quality by focusing on seven "domains of influence" in the video value chain, and by honing in on any one of them to expose the best practices for identifying and solving QoS (Quality of Service) problems. By using quantitative measurements for addressing QoS issues, and subjective/qualitative measurements for QoE, the report provides linkage between both dimensions of quality control.

"This is a seminal work," states Len Feldman, MRG Director of IPTV Analysis. "It tackles a problem for IPTV that has not previously been approached; and it brings a new level of operational simplicity to the complexities of an IPTV ecosystem." The IPTV domains examined include: Acquisition/ingest, processing, storage, control, distribution, edge, and customer premises. The report also digs deeply into the MPEG-4 and MPEG-2 architectures as a means to demonstrate how packet restoration, fast-channel-change and other issues are accomplished; and at what cost for SDTV (Standard Definition TV), HDTV (High Definition TV), and for shared triple-play services. It also presents both operational and technical tools on how to design, test, operate and monitor a quality-centric IPTV network.

"No other available IPTV report goes into this depth or breadth on video quality," states Gary Schultz, President, MRG. "This is both a business report and a technical report allowing IPTV operators to gain maximum value from their IPTV system investment from the first day of operation."

Over 20 companies contributed to this report and numerous service providers, including Alcatel-Lucent, Amino, AT&T, Cisco/ Scientific Atlanta, Harmonic, Harris, Modulus, Motorola, Tandberg, Optibase, Siemens/Myrio, Spirient, Thomson, Verimatrix, Widevine, and others.

The 137-page report is available for $1,995.00 USD (printed); or $2,995.00 USD (PDF single-departmental); or is available free as part of MRG's IPTV Tracking Service. For more information or to order the report or a Corporate License, contact Rob Smith at 408-524-9767 or rsmith@mrgco.com.