Thread: iPlayer upgrades Wii Channel + Tele2 selects Espial’s IPTV middleware

iPlayer upgrades Wii Channel






The BBC is to launch a new version of the iPlayer on the Nintendo Wii. The new Wii Channel is expected to go live on November 18. It is designed to give a richer experience of the BBC TV and radio catch-up service and includes a new full screen user interface. Since its launch in April 2008 there have been 900,000 requests via the device.


“Our partnership with the BBC is another way in which Nintendo is looking to broaden the market for its products by offering compelling and relevant content to families,” said David Yarnton, general manager, Nintendo UK. “BBC iPlayer offers Wii owners another reason to turn their console on everyday and adds to the already established non gaming content on Wii that includes Wii Channels for news, weather forecasts and an internet browser.”


Wii users need first download the BBC iPlayer Wii Channel from the menu screen of Wii Shop Channel. After this a click on the BBC iPlayer icon takes them to the full screen service.






Tele2 selects Espial’s IPTV middleware






Tele2 Netherlands will use the Espial’s Evo TV service platform to launch its next generation television platform. With this platform, Tele2 provides advanced services including linear TV, VOD, HD, PVR and interactive services.


Tele2 Netherlands has operated as an alternative telecommunications operator in The Netherlands for the last 12 years. As the first operator to offer IPTV services in the country, it has gained deep knowledge and experience in pay-TV services.


“It is essential for Tele2 to provide a rich set of high performance, interactive television services to our consumers. We evaluated several middleware products during a rigorous evaluation process and chose Espial’s IPTV middleware. It met our selection criteria for its scalability, rapid service creation capabilities and ease of portability to set-top boxes”, said Günther Vogelpoel, MD Consumer of Tele2 Netherlands, in a statement. “Espial’s middleware is a critical element of our next generation television strategy. We are counting on Espial’s platform to deliver innovative new services, differentiate our brand experience and to provide a highly responsive user experience.”


“Tele2 Netherlands is one of the IPTV pioneers in Europe and we’re honoured to be chosen for their next generation digital television platform. Their evaluation process was based on stringent requirements from lessons they’ve learned from years of delivering IPTV services” stated Jaison Dolvane, CEO of Espial. “The selection of our IPTV middleware testifies to the scalability, robustness and rich capabilities of our IPTV middleware, Evo TV Service Platform. We look forward to working with Tele2 to launch their advanced interactive television services.”













Multimedia adds digital subs


November 16, 2009 06.13




The Polish MSO Multimedia Polska ended Q3 with 96,000 digital cable and IPTV subscribers, or around 36,000 more than a year earlier.
At the same time, ARPU for digital subscribers amounted to PLN24 (€5.9), PLN0.7 more than three months earlier and PLN6.7 more than in Q3 2008.
Multimedia Polska had a total of 686,000 TV subscribers at the end of Q3 2009, along withy 311,000 broadband internet and 211,000 VoIP customers.
Its revenues in Q3 amounted to PLN132.6 million (+11% year-on-year) and EBITDA PLN68.6 million (+13%), though net profit fell to PLN15.8 million (-5%).
Churn figures were relatively low at 0.7% (TV), 0.85% (internet) and 0.83% (telephony).