France-based Orange has launched “la nouvelle TV d’Orange”, a next-generation subscription TV service which upgrades its IPTV service, preparing the infrastructure for the new challenges of OTT video, multiple screens and unlimited content.
“La nouvelle TV d’Orange” includes VOD, Catch-up TV, content discovery and recommendations, EPG, PVR and self-developed applications.
Orange started migrating its IPTV subs to this new service platform in late November 2011. The platform has been developed by affiliate security solution provider Viaccess and its fully-owned IPTV subsidiary Orca. Migration of satellite customers will follow.
Overall, Orange has over 5.1 million customers for its TV services in Europe as of December 31 2011. This represents the largest ever IPTV middleware migration, a process in which three different existing services over ADSL, FTTH and hybrid satellite-IP will be converged onto the single Viaccess-Orca platform. To date, approximately 400,000 subscribers have joined the new service platform in less than three months.
The competition for Pay-TV subscribers in France and worldwide is increasing, Orange says: “Operators must provide a great experience for the viewers. A personalized service that meets the users on their own terms, anytime, anywhere, allowing viewers to enjoy the full range of content provided, is the logical next step in order to keep them engaged and prevent churn.”
