As cable providers beef up their PC video offerings, satellite and telco operators increasingly see over-the-top broadband video delivery as a viable option to shore up their own weaknesses. Over the past year, both DirecTV and DISH Network have rolled out over-the-top Video On Demand on Internet-connected set-top boxes, while telcos in Europe have been combining digital terrestrial linear TV broadcasts with broadband video for VOD. ABI Research believes that as broadband video offerings increase in quality and become more seamless, carriers could be significant players in the over-the-top video delivery market.

2Wire’s recent release of a carrier-targeted broadband video delivery set-top box is a sign that hardware manufacturers are also seeing a growth opportunity in this market. At the same time, cable operators such as Comcast are looking for ways to package broadband video to the PC as a way to combat potential growing interest in free ad-supported video delivery from portals.

ABI Research’s new study, “Over-the-Top Internet Video Strategies for Carriers” outlines the various strategies carriers can adopt to capitalize on the wave of broadband video services, thus turning a threat into an opportunity.

It forms part of two ABI Research Services, Digital Media and Multi-Channel Video, which also include other Research Reports, Research Briefs, Market Data, Online Databases, ABI Insights, Vendor Matrices, and analyst inquiry support.