Jessica Glad

Icareus Playout Selected for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s DVB-T2 Rollout

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Helsinki, 15.08.2024 – Icareus is pleased to announce that it has been selected to provide its Icareus Playout platform for the DVB-T2 rollout in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in partnership with Odašiljači i veze (OIV) of Croatia.

OIV was contracted for the Project of Digitization of Public Broadcasting Services in Bosnia and Herzegovina, marking a significant step forward in completing the country’s Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) project, which has faced delays for nearly a decade. Icareus’ Playout technology will ensure reliable and efficient network management across the region, supporting the transition to modern broadcasting standards.

Following the successful completion of the first phase by OIV in 2016, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s DTT project is now entering its final stages. This long-awaited continuation will complete the second and third phases of digitization, enabling all citizens to access Public RTV services via the DVB-T2 digital platform. The entire system is expected to be operational by mid-2025, with most citizens gaining access to the new digital signal by the end of 2024.

Croatia’s OIV has been an Icareus Playout customer since 2016, making it a natural choice to continue the long-term partnership for this project. Icareus’ Playout EPG Platform will be used to manage the PSI/SI and EPG for the entire network.

“Relying on Icareus Playout was a logical decision, as OIV has already verified the Icareus Playout EPG server. It enables OIV to offer a better TV experience by efficiently managing channel line-ups and network parameters.”
Mr Nikola Perković
Head of Video Services Management Department, OIV
"We are proud to have partnered again with OIV to deliver a state-of-the-art EPG solution for the latest DVB-T2 deployment in Europe. This project exemplifies our commitment to innovation and quality in the broadcasting industry. By leveraging our Icareus Playout platform, the public broadcasters of Bosnia Herzegovina are finally taken into digital era!”
Mr Mikko Karppinen
Director, Icareus

Icareus Playout Platform has been in production since 2004 and is trusted by leading operators and broadcasters serving customers in 50 countries.  Icareus Playout product family includes Icareus Playout EP PSI/SI and EPG server, Icareus CS DSM-CC Carousel server for HbbTV and other Interactive TV standards, Icareus Playout DVB SSU server for over-the-air updates and Icareus Playout Compact Lab solution for research, development and testing TV services. For more information about solution visit: https://icareus.com/products/icareus-playout-broadcast-service-management-platform/  

Icareus Playout offers a versatile solution for monitoring and managing Electronic Program Guide (EPG) content, enhancing the overall television experience for viewers. Seamlessly integrated into the customer’s systems, the platform ensures high-quality, real-time EPG workflows that operate continuously, 24/7.

Renowned globally as a broadcast solution, Icareus Playout has been selected by leading broadcasters and DVB operators across Europe and the MENA region. Notable customers include Arabsat, Asharq News, Arqiva, BVN, Dialog TV, DU, France24, Freesat, Mediaset, Persidera, Telefonica, Telenet, Telespazio, and RAI. The platform is praised for its modularity, security, and robustness, which enable seamless multichannel and network EPG data management. Icareus Playout supports unique configurations, including EPG data sources, EIT tables, PSI/SI descriptors, and bespoke setups tailored to specific operational needs.

Icareus Ltd is established 2001 and has a headquarters in Helsinki, Finland. Combining online and broadcast technologies have been the core of our activities over two decades, true pioneers some say. We’ve been making the change from linear TV to today’s multi-screen experience. Millions of consumers enjoy Icareus solutions via our broadcaster, operator, OTT and OVP customers in over 60 countries.

Icareus TV & Video Cloud and Icareus Playout, a trusted broadcast platform for EPG, Data carousels and OTA support solutions for HbbTV, OTT, TV Everywhere, Addressable TV advertising and Audience Measurement. More information: https://www.icareus.com

Odašiljači i veze d.o.o. (OIV) – With more than 95 years of tradition and experience OIV operates in the core of broadcasting and telecommunication industries, providing complete radio and television broadcasting services, audio-visual content and data distribution, fibre-optic lease, co-location as well as modern media services. More information: https://www.oiv.hr/

For more Information:  

Ms. Jessica Glad 
Marketing 
Icareus Ltd 

Email: [email protected] 
Telephone: +358 (0)9 2289 0801 

 

Follow Icareus on:  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/icareus-ltd- 

 

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Jessica Glad

New Release: Audience Measurement 3.0 Solution for Operators and Broadcasters

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Helsinki, 15.08,2024:  Icareus is happy to announce its new version of Audience Measurement solution at IBC2024. It will be showcased at the IBC2024 exhibition held in September in Amsterdam and is immediately  available as cloud service to our customers.

Connectivity is transforming audience measurement by enabling real-time data collection and more accurate insights into viewer behaviour. Icareus Audience Measurement solution offers TV operators, broadcasters, and other service providers tools to gather detailed information on how audiences are engaging with their TV channels. This data is collected in real-time directly from Smart TVs and set-top boxes. The solution supports multiple standards, including interactive TV environments like MHP and HbbTV, and is compatible with all major TV brands such as Samsung, LG, and Sony.

Traditional audience panels should be complemented, or even replaced, with direct, real-time data collection systems like Icareus Audience measurement, because they often rely on a limited number of devices, and thus can miss key insights. Icareus Audience Measurement collects data from all connected devices in the TV network, offering real-time insights that are far more comprehensive and reliable, even for niche channels on e.g. satellite platforms.

This real-time access to viewing data allows operators and broadcasters to make informed decisions without the delay of waiting several days for panel-based metrics. Additionally, Icareus can fine-tune panel sizes as needed to meet different cost and operational requirements, providing flexibility and efficiency.

All the data is presented in flexible, customizable Icareus Audience Dashboards that allows data analysists to customize their experience by modifying and building their own KPIs and dashboards. For full transparency and data management, all collected data can be exported to third-party data management platforms or enriched with additional third-party data, enhancing the usability, depth and value of the system. Our Analytics APIs help 3rd parties to exploit the platform to its full extend with their existing and in-house solutions.

This is the biggest upgrade we’ve done to our analytics platform and by working closely with our customers we’ve been able to add key functionalities badly needed by the industry. I am very proud of our team that has over-achieved and build something unique, versatile and comprehensive to the market to adopt.
Mikko Karppinen
Mikko KarppinenDirector, Icareus

Icareus Audience Measurement can be used in multiple use-cases to improve broadcasters and operators’ operations, viewer engagement and revenues:

  • Improving Viewer Experience by understanding viewer preferences
  • Advertising Revenue Optimization via improved viewer data for more precise ads targeting
  • Competitive Benchmarking to understand market share and channel performance
  • Content Development, Programming and Scheduling decisions by providing understanding which shows, genres and time slots attract the most viewers
  • Audience Engagement and Retention by analyzing the demographics, geographic and behaviours of audiences

Read more about the solution: https://icareus.com/products/audience-measurement/

Or if you are coming to IBC2024, please book a meeting with us: https://icareus.com/events-ibc-2024/

Icareus Ltd is established 2001 and has a headquarters in Helsinki, Finland. Combining online and broadcast technologies have been the core of our activities over two decades, true pioneers some say. We’ve been making the change from linear TV to today’s multi-screen experience. Icareus solutions are enjoyed by millions of consumers via our broadcaster, operator, OTT and OVP customers in over 60 countries.

Icareus TV & Video Cloud and Icareus Playout, a trusted broadcast platform for EPG, Data carousels and OTA support solutions for HbbTV, OTT, TV Everywhere, Addressable TV advertising and Audience Measurement.

For more Information:                                                                                                  

Ms. Jessica Glad
Marketing
Icareus Ltd

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +358 (0)9 2289 0801

Follow Icareus on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/icareus-ltd-

/by
Mikko Karppinen

5 reasons Why Video Drives Conversions on Websites

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In today’s digital age, where attention spans are shorter than ever, businesses are constantly seeking innovative ways to captivate their audience and drive conversions. Video content has proven its merit in capturing viewers and hooking them into action. From product demonstrations to brand storytelling, videos have emerged as a quintessential element in enhancing user engagement and boosting conversion rates on websites. Let’s delve into the reasons why video is a driving force behind online conversions. 

1

SEO Benefits

Video content can boost your website’s search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. Search engines like Google prioritize websites that offer diverse and engaging content, including videos. By optimizing your videos with relevant keywords, titles, and descriptions, you can improve your website’s visibility in search results and attract more organic traffic. Additionally, videos often result in longer dwell times and lower bounce rates, signaling to search algorithms that your website offers valuable content worth promoting. More visitors mean more conversions.

2

Higher Intent

Video content tends to create longer engagement on websites as it resonates with audiences, making them more likely to stay on your website and take action. They may be researching, comparing options, or seeking in-depth information to make informed decisions. These users exhibit higher purchase intent compared to those who quickly bounce off your site, making them prime targets for conversion. Longer engagement basically provides more opportunities for you to engage with your audience and guide them through the conversion funnel. Visitors who spend more time on your website are more likely to convert.

3

Building Trust and Credibility

Establishing trust is crucial; we tend to buy from people we trust. Videos have a unique ability to evoke emotions and forge connections with viewers. Video content humanizes your brand by putting a face and voice to your message, fostering a sense of authenticity and transparency. Whether it’s through behind-the-scenes glimpses of your team, interviews with satisfied customers, or thought leadership content, videos help build rapport and credibility, ultimately instilling confidence in your brand and driving conversions.

4

Demonstrating Value

Videos excel at demonstrating complex concepts or showcasing products and services in action. Whether it’s a walkthrough of how your product works, customer testimonials, or case studies, videos allow you to highlight key features and benefits in a compelling manner. Seeing is believing, and when potential customers can visualize themselves using your offering to solve their problems or fulfill their needs, they’re more inclined to make a purchase.

 

5

Enhanced memory footprint

With the rise of digital media and information overload, attention spans have become shorter. In addition to emotional responses video engages multiple senses, which enhances cognitive processing and memory retention. The combination creates a rich and immersive experience that stimulates different areas of the brain, making the content more memorable. When viewers are fully engaged with the content, they are more likely to remember it later and active later to create higher long-tail conversions.

In conclusion, the evidence is clear: video content is a potent catalyst for driving conversions on websites. By harnessing the power of video, businesses can elevate their online presence, increase user engagement, and ultimately drive more conversions. So, if you’re looking to take your website to the next level, it’s time to hit the record button and let your brand’s story unfold through the magic of video. 

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Annilotta Haataja

The Benefits of AI Captions

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In a digital world where visual and auditory content is taking over the screens, we must not forget the importance of captioning in terms of accessibility. Captioning is not just a nice-to-have feature, it opens the door for many people to participate in the digital world. This makes it a necessity for public actors, among others, to consider. 

People with hearing impairments, different language groups and people with learning difficulties benefit greatly from captions and subtitles. They enable people to understand sound-rich content regardless of hearing status or language barriers. At the same time, it improves search engine understanding and helps everyone find what they are looking for. When sharing your content online, remember to include captions – a small act with a big impact.   

A little effort to add subtitles means a huge impact on accessibility – it’s not just responsible, it’s smart business. But this effort is easy to reduce with today’s technology. Artificial intelligence opens new possibilities to make content accessible to a wide audience, and one major help is an intelligent AI subtitling tool. 

Traditional subtitling tools require manual work, which can be time-consuming, even expensive. This can prevent many content providers from paying sufficient attention to accessibility. Now, our intelligent subtitling tool, powered by artificial intelligence and included in our Icareus Suite video platform, offers a fast, accurate and cost-effective way to add subtitles to your video content. 

The interface of the Icareus automatic captioning tool. The tool can be used to provide captions for videos in Finnish, Swedish or English.

This AI-based tool can automatically convert spoken language into text. The resulting raw text is perfectly understandable and often good as it is, but may require cleaning up the filler words, stuttering and other word repetition that often occurs in spoken language. Nevertheless, using AI texting can reduce the resources required for subtitling by up to 90%! 

The captions created can be easily translated into different languages afterwards with our subtitling tool, allowing for the content to be understood globally. This means that the language barrier is no longer a barrier, and people with hearing loss and different language groups can enjoy your videos. 

Our subtitling tool, with a wide range of translation languages.

Smart captioning tools not only improve accessibility, they also save time and resources. They free up content producers’ time from creating manual subtitles and allow them to focus on the quality of the content itself.  

When your goal is to make your content accessible and reach a wider audience, don’t hesitate to use our AI subtitling tools. Icareus is ready to help you promote accessibility and make the world a place where everyone can participate. 

Related solutions

Icareus Video Cloud for Public Organizations

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Icareus Video Cloud for Education and Training

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Icareus Video Cloud for Broadcasters, Media and OTT

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The Benefits of AI Captions

June 14, 2024 No Comments

The article highlights the role of intelligent captioning in increasing digital accessibility. Icareus’ AI-based captioning tool makes captioning fast and accurate, enabling it to reach a wide audience and saving time and resources.

Read more »

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Helpdesk

Learn more about the solution, how it works, and how to use it on the Icareus Helpdesk.

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Jessica Glad

Icareus Playout Empowers Telefónica Servicios Audiovisuales in Optimizing EPG Workflows 

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Helsinki, 02.05,2024:  Telefónica Servicios Audiovisuales (TSA), the Telefónica Group company specializing in broadcast audiovisual services and solutions, has decided to enhance their operations by renewing their legacy EPG platform with Icareus Playout. As the largest privately-owned satellite teleport in Spain, TSA recognized the need for a modern, flexible solution to elevate their workflows, operations, and ultimately, customer satisfaction. 

The existing PSI/SI and EPG platform, integral to TSA’s terrestrial broadcasting services, reached its end-of-life phase, necessitating an advanced replacement. After a meticulous selection process, TSA enlisted the expertise of Icareus and their Spanish partner, QinMedia, to orchestrate a seamless migration and implement an optimized EPG workflow. 

Collaboratively, QinMedia and Icareus took on the challenge, constructing integrated workflows for TSA’s operations team. This strategic approach empowers TSA to center their focus on nurturing customer success and to furher develop their operations. 

"Partnering Icareus in this project has been a pleasure. TSA is a key customer for QinMedia and we had no other choice than offering them the undisputed leader solution in the EPG servers market. It has been proved to be the right choice."
Mr Roberto Martínez Morán
CTO at QinMedia

The Icareus Playout platform, a renowned global broadcast solution, has been chosen by prominent broadcasters and DVB operators across Europe and MENA, including notable names like Arabsat, Asharq News, Arqiva, BVN, Dialog TV, DU, France24, Freesat, Mediaset, Persidera, Telefonica, Telenet, Telespazio, and RAI. Renowned for its modularity, security, and robustness, Icareus Playout facilitates the seamless management of multichannel and -network EPG data. The platform facilitates unique configurations of EPG data sources, EIT tables, PSI/SI descriptors, and even bespoke setups to meet specific needs. 

"Icareus Playout has streamlined the process of creating services in a tree structure, as well as the customized configuration of other services such as text encoding, individual time setting or TTL for each transport, amongst others. This project has granted us greater flexibility, as well as an important personalized attention and professionalism from Qin Media team”.
Mr Julio López Pérez
Internal Support and Implementation Department at TSA

With the adoption of Icareus Playout, TSA takes a significant leap forward in optimizing their operations, streamlining workflows, and delivering enhanced customer experiences. This transformation underscores Icareus’ commitment to fostering excellence in the broadcasting landscape, solidifying TSA’s position as a leader in the industry.

Icareus Playout provides TSA with a versatile solution for managing its Electronic Program Guide, ultimately enhancing the television experience for viewers. Seamlessly integrated into TSA’s systems, Icareus Playout ensures a continuous, fully automated EPG content workflow, operating 24/7.

“At Icareus, we are thrilled to be part of Telefónica Servicios Audiovisuales' transformative journey as they renew their EPG platform with Icareus Playout. Collaborating with our partner QinMedia, we have ensured a seamless migration, enabling TSA to focus on customer success. The Icareus Playout platform, empowers TSA to efficiently manage EPG data, delivering a superior TV experience. This partnership exemplifies our dedication to elevating broadcasting standards and we are excited to continue contributing to TSA's leadership in the industry.”
Mr Toni Leiponen
Icareus’ Managing Director

Icareus Playout Platform has been in production since 2004 and is trusted by leading operators and broadcasters serving customers in 50 countries. Icareus Playout product family includes Icareus Playout EP PSI/SI and EPG server, Icareus CS DSM-CC Carousel server for HbbTV and other Interactive TV standards, Icareus Playout DVB SSU server for over-the-air updates and Icareus Playout Compact Lab solution for research, development and testing TV services.

More information: https://icareus.com/products/icareus-playout-broadcast-service-management-platform/  

Icareus Ltd is established 2001 and has a headquarters in Helsinki, Finland. Combining online and broadcast technologies have been the core of our activities over two decades, true pioneers some say. We’ve been making the change from linear TV to today’s multi-screen experience. Icareus solutions are enjoyed by millions of consumers via our broadcaster, operator, OTT and OVP customers in over 60 countries. 

Icareus TV & Video Cloud and Icareus Playout, a trusted broadcast platform for EPG, Data carousels and OTA support solutions for HbbTV, OTT, TV Everywhere, Addressable TV advertising and Audience Measurement.

More information: https://www.icareus.com  

QinMedia QinMedia represents the commitment of a group of professionals with a vast experience in the Broadcast and Telco market to fulfill the needs of an evolving market demanding the most technologically advanced and highest technical skills to support them. 

QinMedia is positioned as a Software and Hardware solutions provider wherever the added value constitutes a differentiating factor over other market alternatives. 

To the proven quality of the products distributed, QinMedia’s team tacks on consulting, implementation, commissioning, training and after-sales support. This approach entitles us to cover all aspects needed to ensure the success of systems or subsystems deployment projects within the broadcast environment. 

With a new technologies oriented vocation applied to the changing media consumption patterns, QinMedia stands for a trusted partner to join the customers in its technology migration journey.

More information: https://qinmedia.com/  

Telefonica Servicios Audiovisioales (TSA) is the Telefónica Group company that has been creating broadcast audiovisual solutions since 1993. With its headquarters in Spain and an office in Latin America, TSA stands out for its international character, offering broadcast and multimedia services and solutions worldwide. 

We provide end-to-end consulting, design, and integration for audiovisual projects. Our comprehensive solutions cover television production, innovative projects (including those based on AI), and services for video platforms such as DTH, IPTV, OTT, and channel broadcasting. In addition to project and services work, we offer training, coaching, and support at various service levels.  

Notably, we manage Spain’s largest fully private teleport, distributing over 700 television and radio channels, as well as providing internet access, Starlink, LAN, VoIP, and data services. 

Our extensive experience has been shaped over the years through the design, execution, and support of numerous projects for both our own company and our clients. We believe in customer orientation, innovation, and flexibility. Our commitment is to promote technological solutions that adapt to the ever-changing needs of the dynamic audiovisual world. 

More information: https://www.telefonicaserviciosaudiovisuales.com/en/ 

For more Information:  

Ms. Jessica Glad 
Marketing 
Icareus Ltd 

Email: [email protected] 

Telephone: +358 (0)9 2289 0801 

 

Follow Icareus on:  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/icareus-ltd- 

 

Telefónica Servicios Audiovisuales  

Noemí Pérez Villanueva 
MKT & COM 
Email: [email protected] 
Telephone: +34 630 95 30 89  

Relevant material

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Additional materials regarding this article

Icareus Playout EPG presentation

More information about Icareus Playout EPG generator server solution

Icareus Playout EPG

Read more about our market leading Icareus Playout EPG generator server solution from our website:

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Jessica Glad

IRR-TV Unveils Permanto.fi: Finnish OTT Landscape Gains New Player

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Helsinki, 02.05.2024 – IRR-TV, a leading pan-Christian media organization, is thrilled to announce the launch of its direct-to-consumer OTT service through the innovative platform, Permanto.fi. This step allows IRR-TV to seamlessly integrate its TV channel and other broadcasting endeavors into a dynamic, interactive, and user-centric digital space. Permanto.fi, the brand-new video portal, serves a diverse array of both live and on-demand content.

To achieve this remarkable milestone, IRR-TV joined forces with two industry veterans: Icareus and Digita. Icareus, an experienced player in the field of online video and TV solutions, partnered with Finland’s national terrestrial TV operator, Digita, to craft a comprehensive and cutting-edge solution for both live and on-demand content delivery. Digita, known for its exceptional performance in managing critical network infrastructure, effectively bolsters IRR-TV’s broadcasting and OTT services. The OTT video portal, hosted on the robust Icareus Video Cloud, is a pivotal component of this collaboration.

"We are proud to partner with IRR-TV in delivering an unparalleled OTT experience through Permanto.fi. Our Icareus Video Cloud, coupled with Digita's operational excellence, empower IRR-TV to connect with their audience in innovative ways."
Toni Leiponen
CEO of Icareus

Key benefits that Icareus Video Cloud offers to IRR-TV include:

1

Peace of Mind

The long-standing and successful collaboration between Icareus and Digita ensures that IRR-TV can deliver an uninterrupted, smooth, and reliable viewing experience for its audience around the clock.

2

Streamlined Operations

Leveraging Digita’s operational center and network expertise, IRR-TV benefits from a well-oiled machinery that keeps the content delivery process hassle-free.

3

Reliability

The platform’s robust architecture guarantees a reliable and stable streaming experience, minimizing disruptions for viewers.

4

Tailored & Comprehensive Solution

Icareus Video Cloud empowers IRR-TV with the flexibility to adapt to evolving audience preferences and market dynamics. The integration of Icareus Video Cloud enables IRR-TV to handle every aspect of content delivery, from VOD ingestion and transcoding to live channel management and EPG integration. The platform is optimized to cater to Tier 2 and Tier 3 TV channels and content owners, providing tailor-made solutions that fit unique requirements.

5

Cutting-Edge Technology

Permanto.fi’s OTT end-user portal boasts the latest technological advancements and advanced features, including features such as Airplay, Chromecast, and picture-in-picture capabilities, enriching the viewer experience.

The launch of Permanto.fi marks a significant milestone in IRR-TV’s journey towards expanding it’s audience beyond traditional terrestrial, cable and satellite networks. This pioneering venture exemplifies the organization’s commitment to providing unmatched quality, accessibility, and engagement for its cherished viewers across Finland and Internationally.

IRR-TV is a visionary pan-Christian media organization founded in 1986 and dedicated to delivering high-quality content that fosters spiritual growth, education, and entertainment. With a rich history of serving diverse communities, IRR-TV continues to redefine the way faith-based content is created, curated, and consumed. IRR-TV produces almost 1000 TV programs annually and broadcasts these through 16 satellite channels to different parts of the world. The programs appear e.g. in North Africa, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia. IRR-TV has printed a total of more than 8 million books, in 30 languages on 4 continents. More information: https://irr-tv.fi/

Icareus is a leading provider of advanced multimedia solutions, specializing in empowering broadcasters and content owners to deliver exceptional viewing experiences across a variety of platforms. With cutting-edge technology and a commitment to innovation, Icareus is at the forefront of shaping the future of video consumption via its Icareus Video Cloud. More information: https://www.icareus.com

Digita is Finland’s premier national terrestrial TV operator, renowned for its expertise in network infrastructure management and operational excellence. Partnering with key industry players, Digita delivers seamless broadcasting solutions that enrich the lives of millions of viewers nationwide. More information: https://www.digita.fi/

Permanto.fi is an OTT video portal developed through a collaboration between IRR-TV, Icareus, and Digita. This platform offers both live and on-demand content, re-defining the way audiences interact with Christian media content in Finland and internationally. More information:  https://www.permanto.fi/

Icareus Video Cloud is a turnkey white-label video cloud solution for media, TV and content owners. It offers versatile tools for the production, management, publication and (optionally) commercialization of live streaming, videos and events.

More information: https://icareus.com/solutions/broadcasters-media-ott/

Ms. Jessica Glad
Marketing
Icareus Ltd
Phone: +358 (0)9 2289 0801
Email: [email protected]

 

Follow Icareus on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/icareus-ltd-

Relevant material

Downloads & further reading

Additional materials regarding this article

Icareus OTT Solution presentation

More information about the Icareus OTT Solution

Icareus OTT Platform

Read more about our market leading Icareus OTT Platform from our website

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Annilotta Haataja

Behind the Scenes: How Video Analytics Drive Success

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Businesses across industries are harnessing the power of analytics to gain valuable insights and drive success. Understanding viewer behavior and preferences is essential to optimize engagement and achieve desired outcomes. Behind the scenes, video analytics play a crucial role in unlocking this valuable information.

In this article, we will delve into the world of video analytics, exploring how they provide businesses with the necessary tools to make informed decisions, refine their strategies, and ultimately drive success.

Deep Dive into Viewer Behavior

A treasure trove of information. How would you make use of it?

Video analytics provide a treasure trove of data, offering an in-depth understanding of viewer behavior. By analyzing metrics such as view duration, drop-off points, and engagement levels, businesses gain insights into how viewers interact with their video content. This information helps identify which parts of a video are most compelling, where viewers may lose interest, and how to optimize content to maintain engagement throughout.

With the ability to track and analyze viewer behavior, businesses can make data-driven decisions to refine their video strategies. By understanding what resonates with their audience, they can tailor their content to meet specific preferences and achieve desired outcomes. This deep dive into viewer behavior provides a competitive edge, ensuring that businesses create captivating and engaging video experiences for both internal and external viewers.

This understanding is equally vital for live and virtual events or webinars. Knowing how and when participants engage during the event and the post-event viewing of the recording is crucial.

Audience Segmentation and Personalization

Video analytics enable businesses to segment their audience based on various criteria such as location, demographics, or viewing habits. This segmentation helps tailor content to specific target groups, delivering personalized experiences that resonate on a deeper level. By analyzing viewer data, businesses can create targeted marketing campaigns, recommend related videos, or offer personalized recommendations.

By leveraging audience segmentation and personalization, businesses can build stronger connections with their viewers. Delivering content that is relevant to individual preferences enhances engagement, fosters loyalty, and increases the likelihood of achieving desired outcomes. Video analytics empower businesses to refine their strategies and provide tailored experiences that drive success.

Optimizing Content Delivery

Video analytics provide valuable insights into the performance of video content across different devices, platforms, and networks. By monitoring metrics such as buffering rates, load times, and video quality, businesses can optimize content delivery to ensure a seamless viewing experience for their audience.

Leveraging this data, businesses can proactively identify and address potential video performance issues, such as optimizing video quality settings for adaptive video delivery.

By optimizing content delivery, businesses can minimize viewer frustration, reduce video abandonment rates, and maintain high-quality experiences. Video analytics act as a guiding light, allowing businesses to fine-tune their technical infrastructure and deliver video content flawlessly.

Measuring ROI and Performance

Compare...
And contrast.

Determining the return on investment (ROI) and overall performance of video content is crucial for businesses. Video analytics provide the necessary metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of video campaigns, measure engagement levels, and track viewer conversions. Businesses can effectively measure the success of their external video initiatives by tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) such as click-through rates, conversion rates, and social shares. Internal video success can be evaluated through various metrics, including video plays, average viewing times, and completion rates.

By analyzing ROI and performance metrics, businesses can identify what works and what needs improvement. This data-driven approach empowers businesses to allocate resources effectively, optimize their video strategies, and maximize the impact of their video content.

Conclusion

Behind the scenes, video analytics are the driving force that empowers businesses to make informed decisions, refine strategies, and ultimately drive success. Embracing video analytics is the key to leveraging data-driven insights and creating engaging, personalized, and successful video experiences.

Want to find out what your videos can reveal, given proper tools to do so with? Icareus’ Video Cloud offers comprehensive video analytics that enable businesses to unlock the full potential of their video content.

/by
Annilotta Haataja

Enhancing Internal Communication: Revolutionizing Collaboration, Training, and Knowledge Sharing with Enterprise Videos 

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In today’s fast-paced business world, effective internal communication is vital for fostering collaboration, facilitating training, and sharing knowledge among employees. Traditional communication channels, such as emails and memos, often fall short in capturing the attention and engagement of employees.  

However, with the advent of enterprise videos, organizations now have a fun and powerful tool to revolutionize their internal communication. In this article, we will explore how enterprise videos can transform internal communication channels, enabling seamless collaboration, training, and knowledge sharing.

Captivating and Engaging Communication 

Enterprise videos provide a dynamic and engaging way to convey information within an organization. Compared to text-based communication, videos have an enhanced ability to capture attention and evoke emotions, resulting in increased employee engagement. Through well-crafted videos, organizations can effectively communicate important messages, such as internal knowledge sharing by advocates, weekly product and company updates, policy changes, and strategic initiatives. By delivering information in a visually appealing and interactive format, enterprise videos ensure that employees remain engaged and retain key information. 

Banco Mediolanum
Read how Icareus Icareus enhanced Banco Mediolanum's video communication

Seamless Collaboration and Teamwork 

Effective collaboration is a cornerstone of success for any organization. Enterprise videos offer a platform for seamless collaboration, transcending geographical barriers and enabling employees to connect and work together more efficiently. Video collaboration also fosters a sense of connection and camaraderie among remote or distributed teams, promoting teamwork and productivity.

Transforming Training and Onboarding 

Training new employees and providing ongoing professional development is a critical aspect of internal communication. Enterprise videos revolutionize the training process by offering a scalable and cost-effective solution.  

Organizations see great value in video, especially in video communication and learning. 98% of employees in organizations say that video is valuable for improving communication and training employees better and faster. 

Through video-based training modules, organizations can deliver consistent and standardized training materials to employees across different locations and time zones. Videos allow for the inclusion of demonstrations, simulations, and real-life scenarios, enhancing the learning experience and improving knowledge retention. Additionally, videos can be accessed on-demand, enabling employees to revisit training materials whenever needed, promoting continuous learning and skill development. 

Effective Knowledge Sharing 

Sharing knowledge and expertise within an organization is essential for fostering innovation and growth. Enterprise videos provide a powerful platform for capturing and disseminating knowledge across teams and departments.  

of employees are more likely to watch a video than read text.
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Subject matter experts can create instructional videos, tutorials, and best practice demonstrations, allowing colleagues to access valuable information at their convenience. These videos can be archived in a centralized video library, creating a repository of knowledge that can be easily searched and shared. By leveraging enterprise videos for knowledge sharing, organizations can facilitate cross-functional collaboration, break down information silos, and promote a culture of continuous learning. 

Enhancing Internal Communication Channels and hosting virtual events

Enterprise videos can be integrated into existing communication channels, such as intranets, collaboration platforms, and social media tools. By incorporating videos into these channels, organizations can amplify their reach and impact. Videos can be used to enhance internal newsletters, create engaging announcements, or highlight employee achievements. They can also serve as a medium for CEO messages, town hall meetings, or virtual conferences, allowing for more personal and impactful communication.  

Virtual events and webinars are excellent tool to economically engage with employees and offer updates to company current affairs, employee training and get-togethers. With automated recordings and branded video pages enable you to grow a video library for employees to use at their convenience. 

Integrating enterprise videos and virtual events into various communication channels ensures that important information reaches employees through their preferred mediums, maximizing the effectiveness of internal communication efforts. 

In 3 years Microsoft was able to attribute a 569% ROI and annual cost avoidance of $13.9 million to its Academy video portal. 

Conclusion 

In today’s digital era, where attention spans are short and information overload is prevalent, organizations need to leverage innovative communication methods to effectively engage employees. Enterprise videos have emerged as a game-changer in enhancing internal communication channels, enabling seamless collaboration, training, and knowledge sharing among employees. By adopting video-based communication strategies, organizations can create captivating and engaging content, foster collaboration and teamwork, revolutionize training and onboarding processes, and facilitate effective knowledge sharing. Embracing the power of enterprise videos will undoubtedly lead to improved internal communication, increased employee engagement, and enhanced organizational success in the long run. 

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Jessica Glad

Icareus and Divitel deliver Telenet a complete datacasting solution

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Helsinki, 31.01.2024: Telenet, a leading innovator in the broadcasting industry and the largest cable broadband services provider in Belgium, has embarked on a transformative project, choosing to replace its existing DVB-MHP carousel playout system with Icareus Playout. The project is facilitated and managed by Icareus’ System Integration partner Divitel and the solution is now in production.

With a vision of providing an unparalleled viewing experience, Telenet’s new carousel system is projected to remain operational for a substantial span of at least 6 years, a commitment Icareus and Divitel were happy to make. This commitment to longevity underlines Telenet’s dedication to consistent excellence and customer satisfaction.

In pursuit of a tailored solution that meets Telenet’s unique needs, the company has chosen Icareus Playout. The decision to go with Icareus was preceded by meticulous testing to ensure seamless technological compatibility. Icareus Playout aligns seamlessly with Telenet’s customised middleware and update mechanisms, as well as its complex broadcasting ecosystem.

"We are proud to have led the project management, bringing our specialized technical expertise in digital video broadcasting to this critical initiative. This project was not just important, significantly extending the lifespan of Telenet’s legacy set-top boxes. As we transition this project into its production phase, Divitel will continue to play a crucial role, offering steadfast support and coordination with Icareus, ensuring ongoing success and reliability."

Hans Kornmann
Divitel’s CEO and founder

One of the main considerations for Telenet was the preservation of its finely tuned set-top-box middleware environment. The new solution had to flawlessly integrate with the four models and their respective middleware without any modifications. Telenet’s rigorous requirements also mandated e.g. the ability to real-time update files without causing disruptions to both the set-top boxes and the server.

Key factors that played a pivotal role in Telenet’s selection of Icareus Playout include:

  • Tight Integration: Icareus Playout boasts a seamless integration with Telenet’s set-top boxes and their customised middleware. This integration ensures that viewers continue to enjoy an optimal user experience. 
  • Technological Compatibility: The comprehensive testing phase confirmed that Icareus Playout harmoniously syncs with Telenet’s broadcasting setup, ensuring no disruptions to operations. 
  • Long-Term Commitment: The dedication of Icareus to continuous product development, coupled with the local support offered through Divitel, solidified the partnership. This commitment promises ongoing enhancement and troubleshooting. 

"We are honored to be a part of Telenet's journey toward technological advancement. Our Playout solution aligns perfectly with Telenet's vision, and we are eager to contribute to their success."

Toni Leiponen
Toni Leiponen
CEO, Icareus Ltd

Icareus Playout is a modular, secure and robust broadcast platform for managing multichannel and -network datacasting needs.

Icareus Playout allows Telenet to manage its datacasting, MHP applications and middware upgrades with ease. Icareus Playout is tightly integrated to Telenet’s systems to provide a seamless 24/7 fully automated content workflow.

Icareus Playout Platform has been in production since 2004 and is trusted by leading operators and broadcasters serving customers in 50 countries.  Icareus Playout product family includes Icareus Playout EP PSI/SI and EPG server, Icareus CS DSM-CC Carousel server for HbbTV and other Interactive TV standards, Icareus Playout DVB SSU server for over-the-air updates and Icareus Playout Compact Lab solution for research, development and testing TV services.

Icareus Ltd was established in 2001 and is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. Combining online and broadcast technologies has been the core of our activities for over two decades, making us true pioneers, some say. We have navigated the transition from linear TV to today’s multi-screen experience. Icareus solutions are enjoyed by millions of consumers through our broadcaster, operator, OTT, and OVP customers in over 60 countries.

Our offerings include Icareus TV & Video Cloud and Icareus Playout, a trusted broadcast platform for EPG, Data carousels, and OTA support solutions for HbbTV, OTT, TV Everywhere, Addressable TV advertising, and Audience Measurement.

Divitel excels in video distribution system integration and management, utilizing sophisticated automated technology and Artificial Intelligence to quickly address viewing issues for a diverse range of global cable, broadcast, and IP operators. Their approach, rooted in observability, ensures exceptional Quality of Experience (QoE), Quality of Service (QoS), and security across various platforms and devices. This strategy allows pay TV operators to concentrate on other critical areas, as Divitel’s advanced data mining, automation, and intelligent processes enable them to scale efficiently and fully capitalize on their video delivery investments. With Divitel, operators can effortlessly navigate the complexities of video distribution, eliminating operational stress. 

Telenet is the largest cable broadband connectivity provider in Belgium with 1,8 million video subscribers. Telenet is committed to helping people and businesses to stay one step ahead in the digital age. They want to build a society in which people enjoy living and working together, embracing the endless possibilities of the digital world to the fullest. For a better quality of life. Telenet is committed to offering customers the best connectivity, the best entertainment experience and the best business solutions, on the device of their choice, anytime, anywhere.

Technology is just technology, until we start to change the world with it. Telenet believes that technology can be used for the better. Strengthening what have already been achieved, and using it to enable deeper, more meaningful relationships with its customers and society.

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Icareus Playout CS Carousel / Streamer Server Presentation
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Jessica Glad

Icareus Video Cloud enables a new streaming service: Elonet+

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Helsinki, 16.01.2024, The Finnish National Audiovisual Institute (KAVI), in collaboration with Icareus, has launched Elonet, a new streaming service called Elonet+. This service is designed to offer an even wider range of possibilities to enjoy Finnish film production anywhere and anytime, completely free of charge for the viewer.

The Elonet+ streaming service is hosted on Icareus Video Cloud, making use of its wide range of features. The ease of cloud computing allows KAVI’s experts to focus entirely on curating the content themselves. Icareus Video Cloud enables content owners, public organisations and businesses to deliver their own branded video services securely, quickly and cost-effectively. In addition to the video platform, Icareus designed and implemented Elonet+ applications and user interfaces for various devices, including iOS and Android mobile apps and AppleTV, AndroidTV, LG and Samsung SmartTV apps.Thanks to Icareus Video Cloud’s API interfaces, the challenging migration project, during which thousands of Elonet+ video content and metadata were imported from KAVI’s various video platforms, was completed with minimal human resources.

"It has been important for KAVI to improve the accessibility of its films. The Elonet+, implemented in partnership with the Icareus people, meets a need expressed by customers and we at KAVI are proud of this achievement."

Pekka Tähtinen
Head of Digital Services at KAVI

"We are honoured that KAVI chose Icareus Video Cloud as the solution for the new Elonet+ service. It's great to see how it brings together a vast amount of national film, TV and other content history in one place, and makes it available to all Finns."

Toni Leiponen
Toni Leiponen
CEO, Icareus Ltd

The new video service is off to an impressive start – the collection already contains more than 350 feature films, with 20-30 new titles being added every year. Among the films on offer are the old, familiar Pekka Puupää comedy films, the 1955 Unknown Soldier, Pojat (1962), based on Paavo Rintala’s famous novel, and the true crime film Fraud (1988). TV series will not be ignored either, with a remastered 4K version of the Winter War TV series as its first taste. With around 3000 commercials, documentaries and short films, there’s plenty to keep you busy for a long time.
Elonet+ can be found at http://elonetplus.fi and in app stores under the same name.

Elonet+ devices

The National Audiovisual Institute (KAVI) preserves and makes available Finland’s audiovisual cultural heritage: films, television and radio programmes. The National Audiovisual Institute (KAVI) is a government agency under the Ministry of Education and Culture, whose activities are based on legislation. KAVI’s statutory tasks include the preservation of films and television and radio programmes, as well as related research, the supervision of the provision of image programmes and the promotion of media education.

Icareus Oy, founded in 2001, is a growing and profitable Finnish company providing SaaS video cloud services. Our company serves customers from over 60 countries. Our main product, the customisable Icareus Video Cloud Service, enables the publishing of professional video services for organisations. The service is suitable for both internal and external use in various contexts, such as content services, virtual and hybrid events, communication, marketing and training. All this easily and affordably from the cloud, for all terminals.

Icareus Suite is the most versatile online SaaS video cloud service in Europe, used by a wide range of actors such as sports organisations, companies, 3rd sector operators, TV channels, operators and public organisations. We offer a wide range of features such as Live streaming broadcasts, Video-on-demand streaming services, customisable video portals, events, social media integrations, subscriber management, ad management, paywalls and a handy mobile app to upload videos from your mobile phone to the service. All Icareus video services are always brand-safe and can be customised to look like the customer with selected features.

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Presentation: Icareus white-label OTT solution

Presentation with further information about the service and its numerous applications.

Web page: Icareus white-label OTT solution

Read more about the customizable Icareus Video Cloud on our website.

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