Verimatrix announces that Hong Kong-based Anyplex is securing its over-the-top video on demand service with the Verimatrix Video Content Authority System for Internet TV. Anyplex is a leading on-demand streaming service in Hong Kong that delivers premium content to any Anyplex-enabled devices, such as set-top boxes, connected TVs, iPhones, iPod Touch and iPads.

Key challenges for Anyplex to deliver video to multiple consumer devices over unmanaged networks included the need to secure on-demand content from studios with shorter release windows and maintain high Quality of Experience for consumers. It rapidly became apparent that the HTTP Live Streaming protocol had several advantages in addressing automatic bitrate for OTT content to be shared between devices with different screen resolutions, processing power and available network bandwidth, while maintaining a smooth viewer experience.

NeuLion announces the addition of George Mason University to its family of nearly 200 collegiate partnerships and an upgraded digital service offering to Southern Utah University.

Previously a CBS College Sports client, George Mason University is now using NeuLion for its live game video portal, web publishing services and mobile WAP site. Encompassing website development, implementation, and audio and video streaming, this partnership will enable George Mason University to reach its fans, alumni and passionate school community through an enhanced service. The school can take full advantage of advertising and multi-platform marketing initiatives, website and new media strategies. In addition, it expands NeuLion's presence in the Colonial Athletic Association to now include seven out of 12 schools plus the conference website.

Orb Networks announces new software for Blu-ray and PlayStation 3 players that allows consumers to watch thousands of online TV shows from Hulu, HuluPlus, Comedy Central and more on their home TV. The new Orb BR (Blu-ray) software works with an Internet- connected Blu-ray player, and is easily controlled through a smartphone app (iPhone, Android, iPad, iPod Touch) or on any computer.

Priced at only $19.99, Orb BR leverages the consumer's investment in a Blu-ray player, and offers an easy and cost-effective way to enter the new world of connected TV without buying or installing any new hardware. In addition to an extensive array of online TV options, Orb BR provides consumers with access to thousands of movies on their TV, via Netflix and Amazon Video on Demand. Orb BR also makes it fun to watch YouTube, personal videos, and photos on a TV, connected to a Blu-ray player, as opposed to viewing on a PC or Mac screen.

Ustream announces that its live internet content is expanding to three screens through new relationships with Verizon Wireless, Panasonic and Boxee. Ustream is putting the world at the center of all three screens by giving viewers a live, interactive experience while watching premium content such as live coverage of movie premieres and breaking news from around the world, whether its through a mobile device, on the PC or on a TV screen.

The Ustream mobile application for Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network will combine broadcasting and viewing into a single application and allows users to watch and RSVP to live events, share with social networks and take advantage of the speeds and low-latency of the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE broadband network. The Panasonic VIERA – Connect Ustream application, a first in live online video, offers instant streaming access of live and recorded content on Panasonic's line of 2011 VIERA Connect-enabled HDTVs. Ustream on Boxee gives users access to the most popular live and recorded content in a simple easy to use interface tailored to the big screen.

The Boxee Box by D-Link, winner of more than 10 industry awards, has undergone significant improvements on both hardware and content partnership fronts. The latest whole-home entertainment hub features high-performance hardware and a huge content library thanks to several new major media partnerships and a continuing collaborative development effort with Boxee.

Boxee Box aggregates the best Internet content and locally stored media into an elegant on-screen interface for a "lean-back" couch experience. It's the best, easiest way to watch movies, TV shows and clips from the Internet on your TV. All you need is a TV with an HDMI input and an Internet connection. Boxee Box takes care of the rest. The hardware is equipped with an SD card slot, (2) USB ports, an optical digital audio connector, HDMI output, 802.11n wireless and an Ethernet port. There isn't much Boxee Box can't plug into.

Opera Software announces it is now able to offer a BBC iPlayer compatible version of its browser to the consumer electronics industry, for use on connected televisions, Blu-ray players and set-top boxes. The broadcaster allows users in the United Kingdom free access to favorite television and radio programs from the past week.

The Opera Devices SDK has been pre-ported to popular chipsets from a variety of silicon vendors and currently ships on millions of connected TV devices such as televisions, Blu-ray players and set-top boxes. By integrating the Opera Devices SDK in modern connected TV devices, manufacturers can make use of an out-of-the-box solution, to bring premium web-based TV services to the market. Adopting a web-standards-based approach for content development allows broadcasters to work in fast-paced research and development cycles, while maintaining relationships with device manufacturers seeking deployment of these services in a cost-effective manner.

Open Heavens Media Limited will offer to their users Nigerian entertainment content such as Nollywood movies, documentaries, news from various sources within Africa, faith based programming from The Redeemed Church of God, on demand music, and other family programming to their target audience. Traditionally this content could only be accessed via the PC, with the Open Heavens TV box, the content can be viewed on the television. The programming is delivered over the internet to consumers through a small OHTV box which fits in the palm of the hand and connects to the TV with an HDMI cable.

ivi TV has expanded its service to include live television broadcasts from the entertainment capital of the world, Los Angeles. While television networks block access to Google TV, and Apple TV leaves consumers longing for more, ivi TV's revolutionary software affords consumers a long-awaited, legal solution for watching television live on the Internet anywhere they have an Internet connection.

ivi TV offers more content than Hulu, and a 30 day free trial to watch live major broadcast channels online, including all hit-programming and live sports from ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, The CW, PBS, and others from a growing number of local affiliates, all available immediately via ivi TV's downloadable app.

With its members now watching more content streamed over the Internet than on discs delivered by mail, introduced a $7.99 streaming-only subscription plan in the United States, the first time it is promoting a 100 percent streaming option in the U.S. The plan, which allows members to instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix to TVs and computers, is available now to both new and existing members.

"We are now primarily a streaming video company delivering a wide selection of TV shows and films over the Internet," said Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and CEO. "Today's action reflects the tremendous customer value we've injected into streaming from Netflix, our initial success with a pure streaming service in Canada for $7.99 a month and what our U.S. members tell us they want."

Revision3 is bringing its full line-up of more than 20 programs to the television screen. The Internet TV Network, which produces popular shows like Tekzilla, AppJudgment, Dan 3.0, Diggnation, Destructoid and Film Riot, is bringing its online content to multiple platforms including Google TV, Yahoo! Connected TV, Windows Media Center, AppleTV, Boxee and Roku.

Revision3 has developed a new experience for enabling viewing through these platforms. Either by accessing the TV optimized website at tv.revision3.com or by using the applications available on the various platforms, users can ‘lean back and watch’ Revision3 programming on the television. The application’s user interface makes finding content simple as it sorts shows by name, category, featured content and most recent episodes. Viewers are also able to manually search for their favorite episodes and view new content.

Orb Networks launched the first Internet TV product that allows consumers to watch thousands of online TV shows from Hulu, ESPN3, Comedy Central and more by bringing it to the home TV for comfortable, big screen viewing. Orb TV is now available for $99, offering a complete home entertainment solution that is easy to set up, and simply controlled through a convenient smartphone app (iPhone, Android, iPad, iPod Touch).

In addition to online TV, Orb TV provides consumers with easy access to thousands of movies on their TV, via Netflix. Orb TV also makes it easy to stream home videos, YouTube and photos to the TV, for viewing with friends and family.

Roku and the NHL announce that NHL GameCenter LIVE, a subscription service that offers live broadcasts of up to 40 weekly out-of-market hockey games, classic hockey as well as on-demand access to all NHL games 48 hours after broadcast, is coming soon to Roku customers.

NHL GameCenter LIVE provides the most comprehensive access to the NHL regular season, as well as archived and condensed games, highlights, and select games from the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup® playoffs. NHL GameCenter LIVE is specifically designed for those avid fans looking for the most robust, in-game NHL viewing experience, as well as for the more than 50 percent of NHL fans that live away from their favorite team’s local television market and want to watch their favorite team play live. Current NHL GameCenter LIVE subscribers can enjoy the service for no additional cost on Roku.

The Internet is most likely to debut in the American living room via a set-top box that is streaming rented content, says a nationwide survey of 3,600-plus consumer electronics retail sales associates conducted by Creative Channel Services.

Recently, the consumer market has seen an increase in the number of manufacturers that offer Connected TV (Internet TV) technology in stand-alone products and as an embedded feature in TVs, Blu-ray players and other entertainment devices. CCS, a retail marketing agency that works with both consumer-electronics manufacturers and retailers to enhance shopper experiences by empowering retail sales associates with product knowledge, commissioned the survey to gain an understanding of attitudes toward the burgeoning technology at retail stores.

Espial announces the availability of Espial TV Browser powered by Intel set-top box reference platforms based on the Intel Atom processor CE4100 and the recently announced Intel Atom processor CE4200. With the Espial TV Browser, consumers will enjoy the power of interactive, connected and searchable TVs. For Connected TV and set-top box manufacturers, this high performance solution will accelerate their time-to-market.

UTStarcom will enter into a partnership that will take advantage of China's "Three Network Convergence" policy to provide Internet TV services in China and abroad.

UTStarcom has signed agreements under which it will provide technology and service platforms to Cristar through entities affiliated with Stage Smart Limited. UTStarcom is acquiring a 75 percent interest in Stage Smart for $30 million.

The total consideration UTStarcom intends to pay to Stage Smart has two parts:

• $20 million will be paid in cash to Stage Smart in exchange for preferred stock and used as working capital by Stage Smart.
• $10 million in shares of UTStarcom's common stock (the amount of UTStarcom shares to be paid will be calculated using the 30-day trailing average of the share price prior to the closing) will be paid to Smart Frontier Holdings Limited, Stage Smart's only shareholder. In exchange for this two part consideration UTStarcom will own a majority of the outstanding ordinary shares and all of the preferred stock of Stage Smart, which gives it control of the entity.