Octoshape and NetRange Forge Alliance Powering OTT IPTV Enabled Smart TVs

Partnership brings Infinite HD-M to NetRange-powered Smart TVs, enabling the transition from Broadcast TV to Broadband TV

ATLANTA & HAMBURG, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NetRange, a global provider of Smart TV solutions, and Octoshape, an industry leader in cloud-based streaming technology, have partnered to facilitate the next generation in broadband television -- transitioning from "Broadcast TV" to "Broadband TV.” The Octoshape Infinite HD-M multicast technology will be integrated into NetRange SmartTV portals and will enable TV quality, TV scale and TV economics over unmanaged IP networks.

“The partnership with NetRange is an explosive catalyst in the ecosystem”

The concept, also called “Triple OTT,” will allow consumers to watch linear TV via the DVB-Platform as they do today, but also add the ability to view unlimited amount of linear channels in broadcast quality via the public Internet, including access to SmartTV applications and services. Broadcasters and media companies will benefit from a range of new business models and gain an unlimited, global reach for HD quality video delivery on Smart TVs. Network operators and ISPs will benefit, as the life cycle of already existing broadband infrastructure such as ADSL2+ will be extended, since the technology makes existing networks much more efficient to deliver large volumes of content.

“With Triple OTT, we deliver exactly what the consumer wants. Besides linear TV based on DVB and our portfolio of Smart TV applications, Octoshape will enable our devices and our content partners to make more content available at the highest quality with flat fee per channel pricing,” said Jan Wendt, Founder and CEO of NetRange. “Octoshape’s Infinite HD-M technology will become a major component in our OTT strategy. Their focus and reputation for providing for large scale broadband TV audiences, coupled with its unique technology enabling global video quality, will provide a new platform for content owners and device manufacturers with unparalleled consumer video experiences.”

The partnership integrates Octoshape’s Infinite HD-M Federated Multicast platform into NetRange-powered Smart TV portals. Infinite HD-M enables large volumes of broadband TV consumption to be delivered efficiently over last mile networks without requiring the vast infrastructure upgrades necessary with traditional video delivery platforms.

With more than 400 customers, NetRange is one of the world’s largest service providers for Smart TV solutions, and is also one of the world’s most successful service providers for the development of Smart TV applications and services. Working for clients like ITN news, maxdome, Mercedes-Benz, Brainpool, Tagesschau and the Bauer Media Group, NetRange has developed applications and services not only for its own portal, but also for other current leading Smart TV portals, such as Samsung, LG and Philips.

“The partnership with NetRange is an explosive catalyst in the ecosystem,” said Michael Koehn Milland, CEO of Octoshape. “The combination of the consumer friendly NetRange Smart TV portal with the quality, scale and economic aspects of the Infinite HD-M platform will create an unbeatable consumer video experience on the broadband connected television.”

Telco and cable operators that are part of the Infinite HD-M Federated network receive the signals via native IP Multicast in a way that allows them to easily manage large volumes of traffic without upgrading their Internet capacity. Octoshape’s federated linear broadband TV ecosystem will continue to expand globally throughout 2012 in carefully planned phases, adding content contribution partners, Tier 1 broadband providers, connected television manufacturers and conditional access providers.

About Octoshape

Streaming media innovator Octoshape provides the enabling technology required to bring TV Quality, TV Scale and TV Economics to the public Internet. The company is writing the next chapter of content delivery for broadband IPTV services. The Octoshape approach is more scalable, flexible and affordable than traditional content delivery (CDN) schemes, while providing feature-rich, high-quality viewing to the largest of audiences. For more information visit www.octoshape.com.

About NetRange

NetRange is a global provider of white label, brand independent Smart TV portal solutions. NetRange is operating integrated worldwide full-service Smart TV portals for major clients such as Sharp, Loewe, Vestel and HD+ (a subsidiary of SES Platform Services).