Hybrid TV debuts with Sony YouView catch-up deployment
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Editor
| 23 January 2017

Media and entertainment video services provider Simplestream has revealed that its Hybrid TV solution has been chosen by Sony Pictures Television to power its new catch-up offering for the YouView video-on-demand (VOD) service in the UK.
Launched on 10 January 2017, the Sony Kids service is free to use across all YouView connected set-top boxes (STBs) —including BT TV and TalkTalk TV homes — and hosts shows from kids’ channels Tiny Pop, POP and KIX. The solution is the inaugural deployment of Hybrid TV and is based around a new module of Simplestream’s cloud-based Media Manager platform that provides over-the-top (OTT) linear channels, catch-up TV and other VOD content underpinned by metadata. As well as YouView, the solution supports a range of hybrid TV services including, Freeview Play, Freesat and EE TV.

Hybrid TV also incorporates automated catch-up creation to generate VOD assets from linear channels within minutes of broadcast. It also allows for ingest of playout schedule data to capture the desired components from off-air broadcasts.

“Kids are spending more time every week watching their favourite programming, so it is paramount that catch-up services such as this are in place to cater to their hunger for favourite programming anytime, anywhere and on any device,” explained Simplestream commercial director Dan Finch. “This service is a natural extension of the products and solutions we currently offer. It’s been a pleasure working with Sony Pictures Television and YouView to deliver this entertainment destination.”