Posted on April 6, 2021 in ATSC News
When we became involved with the Phoenix Partners’ groundbreaking pilot project for NexGenTV in the USA we wanted to show that there was a relatively simple way to enable monetization of broadcast TV without forcing complex pay TV subscription approaches onto consumers. Our experience in pay TV around the world has given us the pleasure of working with a variety of broadcasters and video service providers who have extended and grown their businesses through new online distribution methods and hybrid approaches.
For example, a number of our customers have in recent years started to migrate from traditional broadcast to a hybrid environment which brings with it a raft of new topics to address such as how to mitigate threats of attack from the increased surface area that exists in an IP environment when compared to traditional network distribution. In response, NAGRA has created a new technology toolset that’s designed to equip broadcasters and video service providers with all the elements from which a security strategy can be built. The toolset also allows broadcasters and video service providers to extend their reach, address new markets and monetize content in the best way possible – all whilst they respond to threats from new entrants and the pirates who remain intent in setting up illicit access to their valuable content.
Our work with Pearl TV has focused on ensuring that content delivered via the NextGen TV network is not only secure but has innovative approaches through which to monetize. For example, a large demographic of today’s audience wants access to encrypted channels directly without the need to call a contact center – often from an unconnected device where impulse purchases are not possible. By innovating tried and tested security frameworks we have shown that an unconnected NextGen TV receiver can, through the broadcast signal and with a return path through a device such as a mobile phone, create a 2-way mechanism to unlock premium content simply and instantaneously.
By simply adding an on-screen QR code which links to a broadcaster website a viewer who wishes to watch premium content can scan the QR code with their mobile phone and follow the sign-up instructions on the broadcaster’s website to get direct access to their selected content – and crucially for the duration of their choosing – for example, a day pass, an event pass or a full monthly subscription. This brings new upsell and monetization capabilities to broadcasters with a large unconnected device audience in ways that previously have just not been possible. Equally, our use of technology, ensures that broadcasters are able to deliver an identical user experience to both unconnected and connected devices.
While a percentage of TVs will remain unconnected in the NextGen TV world it’s the connected TV use cases where things start to get even more interesting. In this scenario new capabilities and functions are unlocked that allow users direct access to features such as video-on-demand, start-over and catch-up – delivered over the internet and made possible through a single channel subscription rather than a full-service subscription as has been the norm to date. Such capabilities will allow broadcasters and service providers to address new audiences and deliver new and exciting experiences to viewers.
NAGRA is excited to be part of this pioneering journey to revolutionize the way in which television is consumed in North America today; we’re looking forward to continuing our journey with Pearl TV and helping to bring NAGRA’s expertise and innovative approaches to the demands of 21st century broadcasting – and in doing so, helping to turn casual TV viewers into subscribers.
To learn more about how NAGRA is working with Pearl TV, to see a demonstration of the Phoenix Pilot or to continue the conversation, contact Rohit Mehra, VP Sales, Americas at Rohit.Mehra@nagra.com.
Posted in ATSC News
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