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21-Jan-2010
by John Moulding
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Peer TV: connected televisions no threat
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Convergence TV
With over 70,000 Internet-connected set-top boxes installed worldwide, Peer TV helps online content providers – what it calls Internet-based 'Virtual TV Operators' – to compete with cable and satellite Pay TV services and online content providers like Netflix with their subscription content, including ethnic channel services. But the company’s CEO Ronnie Jaegermann is unconcerned about the expected proliferation of connected TV sets.
“On the contrary, we are a rapidly growing industry and there is room for everyone,” he says. “We specialise in a specific part of the business, which is content from one country into another or the delivery of niche content like sports. Connected televisions are aimed at the general public.”
Peer TV does not believe its content owner partners will try to bypass their delivery channel and use the new breed of televisions to deliver their online video. “Not all televisions will be connected, and how is the content owner going to control his subscription, assuming he wants to make money from the content?” he asks.
Peer TV provides a range of PeerStation hybrid set-top boxes that support digital terrestrial television as well as broadband connectivity and linear online content is streamed to consumers. Jaegermann says one of the keys to success is stability of the services and Quality of Service is one of the strengths of his company.
Besides its Internet TV STB client platforms, Peer TV provides a widget-based client-server application delivery technology, providing the supporting platform for a connected environment and the user interface.
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About the author
John Moulding joined Videonet as editor at the start of 2010, having spent over 10 years writing about digital TV and the various technologies that have simultaneously disrupted and enriched the television business. With Videonet he is focused on the unstoppable march towards multiplatform, connected and personalized television. John was editor of Cable & Satellite International (now CSI) for six years before helping launch New Video Technology, and helped develop the IPTV World Series conference programmes from 2006-07. At home, he takes a Sky triple-play bundle, watches around one-third of content time-shifted, enjoys BBC iPlayer on television through the Wii, and eagerly awaits the arrival of YouTube on his own TV (the killer TV application for late on a Friday night). He is still loyal to channels - but can also remember when TV shut down after lunch.
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