April 20, 2007

Intel, Tandberg Partner Deliver Video Content to PCs

By Mike Robuck

At last week's National Association of Broadcasters show in Las Vegas, Intel and Tandberg announced a joint solution that is designed to enable programmers to deliver broadcast-quality content over the Internet to Intel technology-based devices and PCs.

The new broadband TV publishing solution combines Tandberg's content management software with Intel's programming configuration tool in order to help programmers publish popular content and create original programming for online consumption.

The solution includes the custom development of publishing templates for Intel technology-enabled platforms, including pre-programmed consumer interfaces with embedded functions such as online video players and mobile TV front ends. The templates have the flexibility to include new forms of integrated advertising, live or on-demand TV streams, and interactive content and community features.

While the current release is aimed at programmers, a cable operator such as Comcast could use the solution for its programming outlets, according David Jensen, Tandberg's vice president of broadband TV.

"It has a cable angle in that cable operators are also looking for help in moving their content to different platforms, but this announcement is focused around programmers," Jensen said. "We haven't approached the cable operators yet, but we plan to. They could use it now, in the way that Comcast has the Fan, to give them a tool that would enable content distribution to devices other than TV screens that their cable pipes go into."

Jensen said Tandberg plans on working with cable operators on integrating the solution into headends and on how the content could be distributed via IP.

"There are larger integration issues that we feel will impact how we build before we move to the next iteration from networks to service operators," Jensen said. "It's something where we see how it can happen, but we need to work with the cable guys first."

The two companies will jointly market the broadband TV solution to professional content owners, programmers and broadcasters later this year.

The solution with Intel builds on Tandberg's purchase of Zetools last year. Since then, Tandberg has formed a new broadband TV business unit to advise content owners and distributors on solving challenges in their transition to TV 2.0 through turnkey solutions.

- Mike Robuck