Sister Pub CT’s Inaugural Platinum Award Winners
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| November 8, 2011
Cable ops and programmers, take note: Our sister pub Communications Technology recently selected the winners of its first annual Platinum Awards, honoring excellence in tech products and marketing. Here’s a sneak peak at some of the top-notch products and services to be celebrated during the CableFAX 100 event on Dec. 8.
Best 2011 WOW Overall Marketing Campaign: SeaChange International
We all know it takes a village to pull off high-quality marketing programs, and that was certainly the case with SeaChange International. It takes a lot of ingredients, but they found the secret sauce. Getting creative and tapping “the collaboration of cable, telecom, satellite, mobile and OTT operators, [as well as] partners, content providers, media and analysts—and of course our SeaChange family” did the trick, said Tammy Snook, VP, Communications.
Test Equipment: Arcom Digital LLC – QAM Snare
CT’s nod for best Test Equipment goes to Arcom Digital LLC, for its QAM Snare. Among the digital leaking platform’s capabilities: “Cable operators can now migrate to a truly all digital channel lineup and deploy inexpensive DTA’s,” said Nick Chunka, VP of Sales, Arcom Labs/Arcom Digital.
Cloud Software for Providers: Ensequence Inc. – iTV Manager Service Provider Edition
Ensquence’s iTV Manager topped the cloud software category for the product’s ability to deploy interactive TV programming and advertising across myriad platforms—from a single vantage point. The manager creates a viable business model through reducing “the complexity of iTV development and deployment for our customers,” said Chief Technology and Product Officer Aslam Khader.
Fiber-Optic Distribution System and Equipment: Aurora Networks Inc. – Universal Digital Return Platform
Aurora Networks’ Universal Digital Return Platform is an answer to operators’ growing need for upstream bandwidth. Plus, “it is easily expanded to meet tomorrow’s requirements of more than 100 MHz, capable of supporting up to 1024-QAM loading over all practical distances,” said John Dahlquist, VP, Marketing.
Internet-Connected TV/Smart TV Solution: Rovi – TotalGuide Apps
Consumers—and therefore cable providers—are demanding better search options for video, across multiple platforms. Rovi’s TotalGuide Apps have taken up this task. The apps for set-tops allow more sophisticated search and discovery, while the TotalGuide xD is “uniquely designed to extend the service provider’s cable user experience and branding to tablets, smart phones and PC devices,” said Bob Shallow, SVP of Service Provider Sales.
New Product Launch: EchoStar – Aria
The challenge was creating awareness of all EchoStar’s products and services for the target audience of mid-tier and indie operators. The solution: build awareness of the brand itself. “The campaign was executed in three distinct phases of messaging, culminating in the unveil at The Cable Show in 2011,” said Shelley O’Connell, Marketing Communications Manager, Americas. A carefully-timed media plan provided maximum exposure.