Can Game Consoles Become STB Replacements
October 2010
In the last few months, IPTV and DTH Operators announced that subscribers will be able to use game consoles as a set-top box. In Canada, TELUS announced that its “Optik” TV users will be able to use Xbox 360s as a secondary set-top box. On October 15th, AT&T revealed that it was starting to offer “U-verse” TV on Xbox 360 game consoles. In October 2009, Sky began delivering its live and on-demand streams to users in the U.K. and Ireland.
Both TELUS and AT&T use Microsoft’s “Mediaroom” IPTV middleware, so it’s no surprise that they are using the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 has sold 44.6 million units worldwide, and Sony’s PlayStation3 (PS3) has sold 41.6 million.
Both the Xbox 360 and PS3 have online services to deliver games, add-ons, and other media, but the companies don’t know how many paid users they have. It is estimated that Xbox 360 has about half of its users paying for the “Xbox Live” service, which would be about 22 million.
Microsoft’s Xbox Live service already has an online Video Store where users can buy or rent TV shows or movies. The service was launched in November 2006 via Xbox Live with partners like CBS, MTV Networks, NBC, Paramount Pictures, TBS, UFC, and Warner Bros. Since the launch, other movie studios have joined; however, the service is only available to U.S. customers. The video store is now known as the “Zune Marketplace,” which is the portable digital music device from Microsoft.
The PS3 has a similar online service (the PlayStation Network), with over 50 million registered users worldwide. The PlayStation Network includes content from the MLB, Netflix available in the U.S., and the BBC’s iPlayer in the U.K. Additionally, local Broadcasters like ABC (Australia), RTE (Ireland) and TVNZ (New Zealand) are also available in certain countries.
The full article is available in the October 2010 IPTV Bulletin by MRG, Inc. To subscribe, go to: www.mrgco.com/bulletin.html
Source: Over-the-Top Video Services & Forecast Update: Service Provider Strategies for Success (Nov. 2010) Report
BBC's "iPlayer" Tops in Usability Report
October 2010
According to a recent usability report by London-based user experience research and design consultant firm Webcredible, the BBC’s “iPlayer” was the most popular catch-up service, of the six U.K. major Broadcasters with an 88% score.
The “STV Player,” by Scottish Broadcaster STV, was second with 76%, while Sky’s “Sky Player” was last with 55%. Apparently, the low score for Sky was because the Satellite company did not properly explain its various subscription packages to consumers.
Webcredible analyzed the VOD services against 10 best practice usability guidelines, focused on site and homepage priorities, supporting key user tasks, engagement, and help & support. The average usability score for all six services was 69.7%.
The full article is available in the October 2010 IPTV Bulletin by MRG, Inc. To subscribe, go to: www.mrgco.com/bulletin.html
AT&T and Verizon Top J.D. Power Three Years in a Row
October 2010
In J.D. Power and Associates’ latest annual 2010 U.S. Residential Television Service Satisfaction Study, AT&T and Verizon topped the consumer ratings over Cable and Satellite Providers. Verizon’s “FiOS” service had the highest overall rating in the East region of the U.S., while AT&T’s “U-verse” had the highest overall rating in the South, North Central and West regions.
According to J.D. Power, the average satisfaction score for television services was 629 for 2010 (on a 1000-point scale), which is down from 632 in 2009. Customer satisfaction with the cost of the TV service was lower as well, dropping from 555 in 2009 to 541 for 2010.
J.D. Power and Associates’ Director of Telecommunications, Frank Perazzini, advised TV Providers to better communicate their price value proposition.
“Customers are increasingly voicing irritation with the amount of their monthly bill,” he said. “Seventy-four percent of customers who say they definitely or probably will change TV Providers in the next year cite price as a major reason to switch.”
The full article is available in the October 2010 IPTV Bulletin by MRG, Inc. To subscribe, go to: www.mrgco.com/bulletin.html
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