Saudi Telecom selects JDSU to provide a comprehensive IPTV end-to-end service assurance solution. The solution will give STC the visibility to proactively detect and resolve IPTV service and network quality issues which will help speed repair times and ensure higher Quality-of-Service for subscribers.

The JDSU IPTV solution was also selected by STC for its ability to effectively reduce the complexity involved in assuring IPTV service end-to-end. The solution consolidates all troubleshooting software and hardware elements and offers an easy to access, efficient view of key performance indicators to identify service-affecting issues throughout the entire IPTV network.

Exterity announces the launch of its new AvediaStream e3535 and e3555 encoders. The HD encoders are designed to enable organisations to scale video content to a variety of resolutions, up scaling to 1080p and downscaling to SQCIF, including the ability to downscale a 1080p HD video source to an iPhone 4 resolution. This allows organisations to scale video and deliver it to satellite offices, remote workers over the web, handheld devices and integrate IPTV channels with digital signage.

When the bandwidth available is low, these encoders are ideally suited to take a high definition stream and downscale the source into a suitable size for transmitting over the internet; or equally, where the viewing device is small like a smartphone, scale video to efficiently delivery content to the device.

The Open IPTV Forum is delighted to announce the publication of Release 2 of its global end-to-end specifications for IPTV. This is a major step forward for end-to-end interoperability within the IPTV ecosystem.

Release 2 includes an evolution of functionality across many areas of the Release 1 Specifications, with notable enhancements of major functional areas.

In parallel with the development of Release 2 specifications, OIPF work since the publication of Release 1 in 2009 has included a broadening of scope to include a range of supporting activities. In particular, the Forum has defined usage Profiles and undertaken interoperability testing using Forum-defined test specifications, and is currently completing definition of a Certification Program which will provide further confidence to Service Providers in architecting their IPTV solutions.

The Open IPTV Forum announces the successful completion of its second Interoperability Event. The event, which took place from 31st May to 4th June in Stockholm, culminated in compelling demonstrations of end-to-end IPTV delivery across interoperable equipment and services from OIPF members.

The OIPF specifications segregate the IPTV delivery chain into three key areas: terminal, gateway and head-end. The terminal function was represented in the interoperability event by both set-top-boxes and television sets. These terminal devices notably included protected content delivery and a range of basic TV services, combined with rich interactive applications. The gateways provided crucial intermediary protocol translation, mediation and login capabilities. Head-end provision covered the delivery of VOD and linear television, protected video content and multiple service provider "bouquets" of services and applications.

France Télévisions has implemented IneoQuest's iVMS management system and Cricket IP probes for end-to-end network monitoring, analysis and remote troubleshooting. Using IneoQuest technology, France Télévisions, which has deployed a full IPTV National Contribution network since July 2008, can minimize operational expenses and ensure digital video quality, as well as determine appropriate service-level agreements with carriers.

Harmonic announces that Santa Barbara Utilities has selected Harmonic’s industry-leading digital video solutions for a new broadcast and on-demand IPTV service at the Santa Barbara Plantation Resort Community in Curaçao, the most populous island in the Netherlands Antilles. The end-to-end IPTV deployment includes Harmonic’s Ion AVC HD encoders, ProStream 1000 stream processing platform, StreamLiner video servers, Armada intelligent asset management and NMX Digital Service Manager.

ARRIS will demonstrate a complete solution for cable operators to deliver IPTV from the head end to the home. The demonstration is part of the CableLabs Summer Conference in Keystone, CO, August 9-11. Additionally, ARRIS will be participating in the CableLabs Summer Conference Innovations Showcase.

Verimatrix announced that Iowa Network Services has deployed the Verimatrix Video Content Authority System for IPTV to protect its IPTV wholesale network with a combination of central and local linear content provisioning. INS, which represents a network of independent telephone companies that provides telecommunications services to rural Iowans, is currently using the Verimatrix security system via its Digital Entertainment Television platform to nine local operators and more than 25,000 set-top boxes across Iowa.

Espial announces a reseller agreement with Power & Tel. As part of the agreement, Power & Tel will resell the Espial MediaBase Video-On-Demand platform to service providers in the United States. Power & Tel is an independent distributor of material for the telecommunications and cable TV industries worldwide. Espial MediaBase is included in their end-to-end IPTV solution to US customers.

DiviNet and Keisense announce the successful integration of Keisense's ConnecTiVi into DiviNet's IPTV network. The combined solution will enable a range of interactive services over legacy television sets. DiviNet Access Technologies Limited provides an End-to End IPTV solution. A consortium, of DiviNet, WICE Net and MKCL, is providing IPTV services on the BSNL's Broadband network, and are providing IPTV services in 21 cities covering 5 states in India.

ZvBox announces general availability of its new ZvPro 250, a cost-disruptive product for the commercial market. Upgrading to HD video distribution in hospitality, digital signage and public displays has been very expensive, as existing analog RF infrastructure must be replaced with IPTV digital technology at both the transmission and receiving ends. ZvPro changes all of that: it allows distribution of HD video using traditional methods - simple coax and tuners in the TVs. The enabling technology is the creation of a local HD channel for broadcast on-premise; the ZvPro 250 delivers this capability at a fraction of the cost of existing solutions.

Conklin-Intracom has achieved the status of Systems Integrator for Cisco’s Service Provider Video Technology Group (“SPVTG”). This distinction adds significantly to the growing selection of ecosystem partners which enable Conklin-Intracom to provide innovative and robust end-to-end IPTV solutions.

Exterity's IPTV Ready Program has successfully carried out testing with numerous digital signage and video equipment companies. One such company is Remote Media with its signagelive SaaS web-based Digital Signage Platform. Exterity's IPTV Ready Program allows these companies to prove interoperability with IPTV, which opens up new revenue streams and generates improved margins; vital in today's challenging economic climate.

Concurrent announces a new software release for its MediaHawk line of video servers. The release is SCTE-130 compliant and features many new functionality and capacity enhancements, most notably play list support enabling advanced advertising.

The SCTE-130 standard supports a unified platform for addressable advertising, providing inventory and placement definitions, while merging content and subscriber metadata for targeting zones - or, in a unicast environment, for targeting individuals. Concurrent has already upgraded many of its Everstream data collection and management products to comply with SCTE-130 standards. With the addition of play list support to the MediaHawk video server, Concurrent can now supply an end-to-end solution supporting targeted ad insertion, ad bumpering and ad replacement.

Avail Media's On Demand solution has now passed 1 million subscribers. Today's announcement marks continued growth for the company, which offers the most studio on demand programming available today for both telco and cable deployments.