Western Illinois Video LLC is the latest independent telco cooperative to use Tut Systems Inc. ‘s digital TV gear to launch digital TV service to about 100,000 customers.
Consisting of eight member companies in Western Illinois, WIV will jointly deploy Tut’s Astria content processor product to launch digital TV service. Lake Oswego, Ore.-based Tut will provide the installation and systems integration for its digital headend gear, along with associated satellite and off-air video receivers. The service will run on a mix of digital subscriber line and hybrid fiber/coax networks operated by the member companies.
Initially, the digital programming lineup will include 125 channels mixing broadcast, premium and pay-per-view TV along with 45 channels of music. It will be bundled with voice and high-speed Internet service.
Systems testing is now underway for six of the companies, including Oneida Telephone, Viola Home Telephone, Woodhull Telephone, Mid-Century Telephone Cooperative, New Windsor Telephone Company and Reynolds Telephone Co., with launch planned for the end of the third quarter. The two remaining telco companies—LaHarpe Telephone Company and McDonough Telephone Cooperative—plan to roll out service by the end of this year.
“The forward-thinking approach of cooperatives such as WIV creates unique requirements for deploying a digital TV platform. It’s through true working partnerships with each cooperative that we’ve been able to successfully replicate this model in states such as Iowa, South Dakota, Oklahoma and now Illinois,” said Sal D’Auria, CEO and President of Tut Systems, in a release.
Tut now counts more than 60 independent telcos as customers for its Astria platform, which can operate on multiple broadband networks including DSL and cable using ATM, IP or RF schemes.