Global IPTV Domination Achieved in UK with Major VeHDa Deal
Global Digital Broadcast sign major deal with VeHDa to install 500,000 IP set-top boxes in UK.
[UKPRwire, Sat Jul 07 2007] IPTV specialist, Global Digital Broadcast (GDB) (http://www.globaldigitalbroadcast.com/playTV.php), has signed a deal with leading UK provider of advanced high-definition and digital technologies, VeHDa, to release and install 500,000 IP set-top boxes (STBs) within the UK consumer market by the end of 2008. Of these half a million units, 100,000 boxes will be installed, by VeHDa engineers, directly into customers’ homes by Christmas 2007.
This partnership utilises the resources of both VeHDa and sister company, Play TV, including: over 200 installation and service engineers, strategically located around the UK; and an 800 strong force of sales and customer service staff. Over 200, new, VeHDa/Play TV-branded vans are also being deployed to transport the boxes.
GDB co-founder, Mr Jim Deans, says: “Our marriage to VeHDa and Play TV finalises our route to market, allowing GDB to continue with its engineering and software platform development whilst knowing that consumer interests are being handled by a team of experienced professionals.”
The high-definition VeHDa set-top boxes are programmed with GDB’s middleware and will be pre-programmed with over 700 channels from 84 countries, allowing UK consumers to watch ‘local TV’ regardless of their geographical location. Initial channels will include; GDB’s own niche, local and international channels; Play TV movies, Play TV entertainment and Play TV sport; popular generic content and terrestrial freeview.
VeHDa spokesman, Mr. James Thompson, comments; “This is a victorious deal for all parties concerned and I feel that, ultimately, the end user is the biggest winner here, because we are giving them greater choice, flexibility and control.”
Play TV spokesman, Mr. David Reynolds, continues; “The development of IPTV means that we can now deliver real-time streaming to the UK market and the GDB/VeHDa/Play partnership will give the consumer a much wider selection of competitively-priced programming options.”
Connexions 4 London (C4L) has been chosen as the network provider to support the deal. C4L founder, Mr. Matt Hawkins, states; “This is a brand new class of IPTV and we’re on board because we can support the high-capacity bandwidth required to take home entertainment to the next level. It is a very smart move to give consumers triple play and hi-def in one easy solution and Play TV looks to be the next major player in the market.”
The roll-out of the VeHDa boxes, which are manufactured by IP set-top box specialist, CIMA Technology, will start in September 2007.
Mr. Angus Kirkwood, co-founder of CIMA, adds; “We feel that GDB and VeHDa have a clear vision of what IPTV can truly offer to the customer and that this exceeds the limited offerings from BT and Sky. I see this as a great opportunity to demonstrate both the core talents of the CIMA STB design team and the skill of the CIMA manufacturers in China.”
GDB will continue to sell its AVEC-branded box outside of the UK.
For further information and images, please visit:
http://www.globaldigitalbroadcast.com/playTV.php
NOTES TO CONTENT OWNERS
The race is on … aggregating content and channels has become the primary objective of GDB. Co-founder, Mr. David Wray, says; “We have plenty of channel space and are keen to talk with content owners and existing channel owners, as well as potential new channel set-ups. With a complete management system such as this, starting you own channel is a piece of cake.” Email: content@gdbtv.com
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
About GDB:
Based in Hove, East Sussex, UK, Global Digital Broadcast operates an IPTV delivery network with a large client base of content providers and channel owners.
GDB hosts independent channels from local TV and regional programming, to multi-cultural and international streaming and hosts content from over 70 countries.
GDB channels include: 18 Doughty Street; the Local Government Channel; NFL Alumni; Suzuki; TVScuba; TV Freestyle; Invincible; Make it or Break it TV; Suncastv; Faithglobe; Dave Courtney TV; Future of Broadcast; TVBrighton; TVWorthing and TVChichester.
About VeHDa:
VeHDa is the leading independent manufacturer of advanced high-definition and digital technologies in the UK. Based at the foot of the South Downs, near Arundel, UK, it supplies and installs across the UK and continental Europe. VeHDa prides itself in providing superior picture and sound quality and is constantly increasing its cutting-edge product range. The company motto is; “VeHDa puts the HD into HDTV.”
About Play TV:
Based in West Sussex, UK, Play TV has an extensive customer database and offers a moderately-priced movies, sports and entertainments package. Play TV also incorporates its successful, independent, internet radio station, which has over a million listeners worldwide. Play Radio may also be found on i-tunes.
About Connexions 4 London:
C4L is a major, wholesale, internet service provider (ISP), providing infrastructure solutions across the whole of the UK. Its network and data centres support the core infrastructure for many of the UK’s ISPs and it has premises in London’s Docklands and Bournemouth in Dorset.
About CIMA Technology:
CIMA is an internet protocol set-top box (IP-STB) provider, covering IPTV, video-on-demand (VoD), voice-over-IP (VoIP) and digital video broadcasting (DVB) applications. Although the key members of the research and development (R&D) department originate from the UK and the USA, the R&D and manufacturing facilities are now located in China’s high-tech Shenzhen and Dongguan zone. The company’s philosophy is; “Excellence and innovation” and it boasts an international team of highly-skilled designers and engineers.
For further information and images, please contact:
James Deans on 01273 774800 or email info@gdbtv.com
http://www.globaldigitalbroadcast.com/playTV.php
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