S3 has been selected as a Microsoft Mediaroom testing partner to provide STB testing services. This means that S3 will undertake testing work for Original Equipment Manufacturers to test new and derivative STB models for deployment by Mediaroom customers. S3 is in a position to increase testing capacity for Mediaroom, enabling faster time-to-market for OEMs and more choice of STBs for Mediaroom operators.

Tilgin announces interoperability with Amino Communications’ IPTV STBs. Tilgin’s remote management solution enables operators to manage the STB remotely, allowing them to expand their IPTV offering whilst effectively managing operating costs.

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, YouTube is outstretching its hand to major movie studios to potentially open a movie rental service for streaming online. Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., Sony Corp., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. and Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. were among the studios that may be in talks with YouTube.

This does bring many questions to mind with the first being how much a movie rental will be and are users willing to pay for the service? Most people expect the price to stick around that of a typical rental of $3.99. What type of quality can we expect and will the price be discounted due to what will most likely be a sub-DVD resolution? Netflix offers streaming of movies online as well but not many of them are new releases. YouTube, however, may be looking to release some as soon as the same day of the release.

Türk Telekom has deployed the Verimatrix Video Content Authority System for IPTV for its highly anticipated IPTV rollout. Türk Telekom, one of the world's largest tier one telecommunications operators serving more than 30 million customers, has integrated VCAS for IPTV to secure the delivery of its extensive line-up of live broadcast and VOD content for its new IPTV service.

JDSU has extended its offering of communications test and measurement solutions used in support of Microsoft's Mediaroom platform for IPTV services. JDSU test solutions to ensure a high quality of Mediaroom-based services now also include NetComplete Home Performance Monitoring, part of JDSU's industry-leading service assurance system.

Entone’s market leading IP video gateways and media hubs are fully integrated with Edgeware’s widely-deployed VOD servers. This collaborative effort provides service operators a more efficient and cost-effective IPTV solution that can be quickly and easily deployed to enable advanced services, such as time-shifted TV, VOD, whole-home DVR, and online media services, using advanced codecs such as MPEG-4 (H.264/AVC).

Nexio announces the launch of Nexio TV. Nexio TV offers top level, end-to-end solutions that allow organizations, whatever their field of activity, to operate their own private web-based TV network and leverage the huge potential of the Web 2.0.

Nexio TV thus provides a range of services encompassing all aspects of web-based TV production, from project design to broadcasting, all the way through content production, management, marketing and site traffic optimization. Combining the expertise and technological assets of Pecunia - a firm specialized in Internet TV -with those of Nexio, the new entity can rely on an unmatched mix of competencies in terms of infrastructures, telecommunications, security, data storage, social networks, production, webcasting and business communications. It also has access to TrainingOffice, a powerful e-training platform backed by a team of top-level experts.

Verimatrix announces the successful deployment of its Verimatrix Video Content Authority System for IPTV for BH Telecom's IPTV service. The addition of IPTV services positions BH Telecom, the leading telecommunications operator in Bosnia & Herzegovina, as a strong triple play provider to its 2 million subscribers.

SPB Software announces the release of SPB TV for Android phones. SPB TV is a subscription-free mobile IPTV viewer, designed for tuning in to publicly available digital TV channels from all over the world. SPB TV features exclusive and patent-pending usability innovations like picture-in-picture mode and gives the mobile subscribers easy access to over a hundred of international TV channels, directly from their phones.

Proven track record of high quality customization projects made SPB Software a stratigic partner for many carriers, who manage a wide range of mobile devices. With this release SPB TV becomes available for Windows Mobile, Symbian and Android platforms providing diverse mobile carrier customers with the next generation mobile TV experience.

Stars producing their own online TV shows are rapidly taking Web TV into the mainstream, according to a new report from digital entertainment research company Futurescape www.futurescape.tv.

Futurescape, which focuses on the latest developments in the dynamic Web TV sector, today publishes the second edition of its research report The Birth Of Online TV. The report identifies three major trends in original online TV series.

1) More stars are launching Internet TV shows, often funded by major sponsors

2) Sound business models and commercial opportunities are emerging

• Digital download sales
• Major brand sponsorship
• Commissions from Web sites
• Reaching TV viewers via games consoles
• Cross-promoting other commercial interests

3) Web shows will break out across the entertainment sector as a whole

The US IPTV market will grow from over 5 million subscribers in 2009 to 15.5 million by 2013, according to a report just published by analyst firm Strategy Analytics. While IPTV holds less than a 5% share of total television households in 2009, the percentage will approach 13% in 2013.

The entrance of the Telcos into the television game has created new and significant competition for the traditional pay television platforms, according to the report. Strategy Analytics believes that, despite recently announced deployment deceleration by companies such as AT&T, IPTV will nonetheless become an important platform in the pay television landscape.

As Ohio State fans gear up for the season, buzz surrounding the school's athletics is fueled by the relaunch and new look of OhioStateBuckeyes.com, the official website for The Ohio State University Department of Athletics.

Working with its Digital Media Partner NeuLion, the official website relaunch brings video to the forefront with a modernized appearance and new design elements. The improved site offers fans many new online experiences through an easily accessible homepage video player, simplified navigation and increased access to multimedia features for all 36 varsity sports. The new Buckeye destination is very video and photo centric.

Verizon, partner in the industry's TV Everywhere initiative, has launched a trial to bring television programming online to FiOS TV subscribers.

Time Warner Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bewkes said, "When we first announced the TV Everywhere initiative, we hoped others in the industry would soon sign on to provide consumers with more on-demand television content over all platforms including broadband. We are pleased to partner with Verizon to deliver TNT and TBS programming on-demand and online at no additional cost to customers and to do so in a progressive manner that builds the business for the future."

The main engines of growth in South Korea's telecom market from 2010 to 2014 will be services built around broadband technologies such as VoIP, IPTV, and mobile data, according to the latest report from Pyramid Research.

Communications Markets in South Korea offers a precise, incisive profile of the country's converged telecommunications, media, and technology sectors based on proprietary data from our research in the South Korean market. The 29-page report provides detailed competitive analysis of both the fixed and mobile sectors, tracks the market shares of technologies and services, and monitors the introduction and spread of new technologies such as WiMax, IPTV, and VoIP. This executive study provides a comprehensive view of the South Korea communications market by analyzing key trends, evaluating near-term opportunities and assessing upcoming risks factors.