ActiveVideo Networks has come up with a plan to deliver its CloudTV platform to consumer electronics devices, including HDTVs, Blue-ray players, media servers and other components.
ActiveVideo said CloudTV is a low-cost platform that leverages cloud computing in order to bring interactive TV functionality and exclusive content to consumer electronics devices.
The company’s technology has already been deployed in more than 5 million homes with cable and IPTV providers.
“Get ready: The CloudTV revolution is now coming to CE,” said Jeff Miller, president and CEO of ActiveVideo. “With ActiveVideo, CE manufacturers and retailers can simply and cost-effectively increase the value of their products by enabling differentiated content and interactivity and opening up the possibility of new revenue streams. By making their devices ActiveVideo-ready, CE manufacturers and retailers can leverage our infrastructure, expertise and relationships to become content providers virtually overnight.”
The CloudTV platform leverages content stored and processed in the network “cloud” to expand the reach and availability of Web-based user experiences. Content is delivered as a single, adaptable MPEG stream to the CE device, which passes key clicks from standard remote controls through the CE device to the cloud.
Because the power of CloudTV is in the network and not in the device itself, the impact of the ActiveVideo client is minimal, according to the company. The thin client can be downloaded to the hard drives of existing network-aware CE devices, or built into the chipsets of new devices.
As part of its new consumer electronics strategy, ActiveVideo hired CE industry veteran Henry Choy as vice president of business development.
With ActiveVideo, Choy will be responsible for driving partnerships between original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and ActiveVideo’s CloudTV platform.
Prior to his new position, Choy recently served as vice president of consumer electronics business development for AnySource Media, an enabler of next-generation content on traditional consumer electronics devices. AnySource Media was acquired by DivX Inc. earlier this year.
With AnySource Media, Choy worked on securing integration agreements for the company’s software in connected TVs, set-top boxes and Blu-ray players. Prior to his time with AnySource, Choy served as vice president of DisplaySearch.
