CableNET 2011: Diverse Multi-Screen Methods Will Drive Deployment

There is no doubt next week’s Cable Show in Chicago will focus in part on the multi-screen experience because cable operators, service providers and vendors are touting this as being the brave new future world of video.

This year’s CableNET section of the show floor again is dedicated to emerging technologies set to influence the next generation of voice, video and data products and services. Many exhibitors will be demonstrating multi-screen wares in their booths, and CT Reports asked a few of them for their takes on what makes the most sense when it comes to delivering multiple-screen content to the subscriber.

According to Ken Morse, CTO at Cisco Service Provider Video Technology Group, “We see three key steps involved in getting to multi-screen services: Have a design plan in place for multiple screens to be capable of receiving personalized video experiences; be prepared to deliver video between managed and unmanaged networks, and managed and unmanaged devices; and strengthen and enhance the content distribution architecture, including content delivery networks (CDNs), adding cloud-based technology.”

Alex Terpstra, CEO at Civolution, thinks there will be several different methods MSOs will use to promote multi-screen services, “but we trust that providing Web-delivered content in a ‘write once, deliver to all’ devices will be very important.”

“As MSOs move quickly to offer multi-screen viewing, it is critical that they leverage their core assets and next-generation platforms, starting in a pre-IMS mode and evolving into a full IMS deployment,” says David R. Spear, executive vice president/marketing & sales at IPgallery Inc. “This will allow the MSOs to rapidly enable new cloud-based applications blended with their video-content delivery.”

Next Monday (June 13), CT Reports subscribers will be receiving a special Cable Show preview in PDF form, “CableNET 2011: The Future of Video Today – Taking Interactive Video and TV Everywhere A Step Forward,” in lieu of their regular CT Reports e-letter. On Tuesday (June 14), CT Reports will return to its normal e-letter format.

(Editor’s note: If you are attending The Cable Show and have not registered for Communications Technology’s FREE Tech Breakfast on June 16, click here TODAY to reserve your place! We just added Buckeye Cable CTO Joe Jensen to the panel line-up, and he will provide some interesting “from the trenches” information regarding t-commerce and cable subscribers.)