Annilotta Haataja

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

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 among employees. 

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.  

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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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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 in a browser at http://elonetplus.fi and other devices can find the apps in their 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.

Relevant material

Downloads & further reading

Additional materials regarding this article

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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Mikko Karppinen

11 highlights of the 11th HbbTV Symposium 

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Discover the evolving world of television technology as we delve into the insights from the 11th HbbTV Symposium in Naples, Italy. From advancements in TV standards to innovations in addressable TV advertising, this post explores how these developments benefit TV viewers, enhancing their content discovery, user experience, and overall engagement. Join us in uncovering the practical advantages that these technological strides bring to the forefront of the television landscape. 

1

Broadcasters pushing direct to consumer business models 

The 11th HbbTV Symposium unfolded in Naples, Italy. In his opening remarks, Mr. Vincent Grivet set the tone by addressing a crucial industry trend: broadcasters are rapidly adopting both OTT delivery and direct-to-consumer models for big screens.  an example of FTA channels new way to reach consumers is Freely’s (https://www.everyonetv.co.uk/news/press-release/new-free-tv-service-via-ip) collaborative approach where they unite forces for a premium content offering. 

2

HbbTV Standard Advancements 

Moving on to advancements in the HbbTV standard, two new specifications are introduced: 2.0.4 and OppApp. Notably, the latter powers Freely’s success. Additionally, updates on reference applications and the test suite are to be highlighted. 

3

TV Sales Steady and Changing Revenue Streams 

Paul Gray’s (OMDIA) market review notes positive developments. He emphasizes robust TV sales and CE manufacturers exploring new revenue streams from advertising and subscription services, following the example of Roku and Vizio. However, challenges persist, because up to 70% of SmartTV advertising spending concentrated in the US. 

4

Diversifying Recurring Revenues 

In the pursuit of diversifying recurring revenues, TV platforms are starting to prioritize them over hardware sales. This involves exploring revenue avenues such as video advertising, revenue sharing with broadcasters/OTT VOD services, audience data, service placements on home screens, and selling custom remote control buttons for OTT providers. 

Smart TV advertising has already surpassed TV hardware sales, underscoring the growing importance of recurring revenues over one-time TV device sales.

5

Software’s Rising Importance

A noteworthy shift is observed as consumers increasingly prioritize the quality of TV platforms when purchasing new TVs. This prompts TV manufacturers to adopt a “razor blades or printer cartridge” business models, 75′ TV costs 400€ and recurring revenue possibly up to 100€/year for a single device. Simultaneously, the battle between operating systems, including Android, Tizen, and WebOS, intensifies. 

6

Content Discoverability and HbbTV’s Role 

From a consumer perspective, this raises the question of content discoverability — how many apps do I need to have installed on my SmartTV to access the content I want: FAST, catch-up, or VOD? In my opinion, HbbTV can address the discoverability of TV services, not by relying on the TV manufacturer, but as an integral part of TV channels. With the rise of OppApp, it can also become an integral part of the TV device itself.

7

DVB-I’s Potential for FAST Channels 

DVB-I is making strides with technical trials in Italy, Spain, and Germany, aiming to seamlessly integrate broadcast and broadband channels into one user interface, significantly enhancing content discovery.

However, a crucial question remains regarding the regulation, legislation, and certification regime needed to define roles and responsibilities in its management. The seamless combination of broadcast and broadband services is highly lucrative for content owners, providing cost-effective means for even niche channels to reach larger screens.

Another consideration is how to develop and distribute DVB-I compliant client apps to devices like set-top boxes, streaming sticks, and mobile devices. Nevertheless, progress in technical, business, and legislative realms continues, and we anticipate real production deployments of DVB-I in Europe soon. This addresses the future of TV, where broadcast, OTT, and multicast deliver mainstream content to large audiences, alongside niche thematic and local content in both linear and on-demand offerings.

The challenge lies in defining the regulatory framework for its effective management.

8

Addressable Advertising and DVB-TA Compliant TVs 

Addressable advertising is deemed a crucial feature for generating increased revenue from the same ad inventory, emerging as one of the hot topics once again in Naples. While display advertising still has its place, there’s a noticeable shift in focus and high expectations toward dynamic ad substitution. In Italy, Linear Ad replacement has become a daily norm, experiencing a 30% YoY growth with over 100 campaigns in 2023. The most prominent advertiser segments are retail, beverages, and Telco. Two main models have been adopted: replacing the entire ad break with online ads and changing only 1-2 ads within the ad break. Technically, most broadcasters rely on client-side ad replacement and custom pre-buffering of manifests to ensure a seamless transition from broadcast to broadband and back.

What holds great promise is the release of the very first DVB-TA compliant TVs by Samsung, utilized by Mediaset in their dynamic ad substitution business. This development not only makes technical implementation easier but also provides a broader horizontal technology platform for utilization.

9

Promoting HbbTV Engagement for Targeted Advertising 

To launch successful targeted advertising in any country, HbbTV should be mandated as the default setting. However, channels must also offer additional beneficial HbbTV services to keep viewers engaged, as seeing only ads may result into reluctance in keeping HbbTV activated on their TVs. 

10

Audience Measurement Challenges 

A significant focus during the unconference, evident from the substantial audience participation, revolved around audience measurement. Exploring how entities like Barb, GfK, Kantar, and others compare to real-time measurement via HbbTV sparked interesting discussions. Particularly for smaller channels facing zero ratings, HbbTV measurement has proven invaluable. The data from HbbTV audiences clearly demonstrates their presence, even when panel data falls short. However, a challenge persists in persuading advertisers of this reality, given their reliance on official TV ratings. This poses a political question requiring resolution, and it’s crucial to involve both media agencies and official panels—often the gatekeepers between TV and media buyers in many countries. While data collection can be costly, channels must assess whether they can justify the expense with the potential for a larger ad inventory and enhanced visibility into how their programming is consumed.

11

Developer Tools and Industry Support 

Concluding on another positive note, Samsung’s release of developer tools for 2024 models is highlighted as a step forward, fostering efforts to enhance UX and cross-platform support within the industry. I hope this paves road for other manufacturers to follow. 

HbbTV is a global initiative aimed at harmonizing the delivery of broadcast and broadband services through connected TVs and set-top boxes. It enables broadcasters to deliver interactive content, such as on-demand videos, catch-up TV, and interactive applications, alongside traditional broadcast services.

Read about Icareus’ HbbTV platform: https://icareus.com/products/hbbtv-solutions/

HbbTV symposiums are events where industry professionals, stakeholders, and experts gather to discuss the latest developments, trends, and challenges in the field of hybrid TV. These symposiums often include keynote presentations, panel discussions, technical sessions, and demonstrations of new HbbTV technologies. Participants may include representatives from broadcasting companies, technology providers, regulatory bodies, and other relevant organizations.

More information:
https://www.hbbtv.org/11th-hbbtv-symposium-and-awards-2023/

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Jessica Glad

11th HbbTV Symposium and Awards

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Meet us @ the

11th HbbTV Symposium and Awards

 

28 – 29 November 2023

Stazione Marittima, Molo Angioino, Naples, Italy

Icareus will be at the 11th HbbTV Symposium and Awards, the annual key industry summit targeting platform operators, broadcasters, advertisers and adtechs, standards organisations and technology companies. Our director Mikko Karppinen will be there to talk about Icareus’ solutions:

  • Icareus Playout CS HbbTV Carousel streamer with support for AIT, DSM-CC, DVB-TA and Advertising
  • Icareus Suite cloud for HbbTV and OTT service management
  • Icareus HbbTV and OTT applications
  • HbbTV Addressable TV Advertising
  • HbbTV Audience Measurement

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Mikko Karppinen

Solving Grassroot Sports Streaming & Monetization

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A paradigm shift is currently underway in the sports industry as content owners are moving towards direct-to-consumer business models. This transformation has primarily begun with top leagues and the ones that lack lucrative TV distribution agreements. Streaming services are found compelling as they allow leagues to redefine how they connect with their fans, partners, and advertisers. OTT has emerged as a new approach to improve leagues’ reach.

However, grassroots sports, despite their potential, have remained largely neglected, partly due to the absence of viable business models. Consequently, this has lead to a situation where most games are streamed on social media platforms, leading to a loss of control over how the sports are portrayed to fans and other stakeholders. 

Solving the grassroots sports streaming and monetization challenge is pivotal for federations, clubs, athletes, and fans alike. Acknowledging the challenges faced by grassroots sports in terms of visibility, control over content, and monetization, 

Icareus’ vision is centered around these three key drivers for change:  

1. Improved game and event discovery,
2. Democratized content production,
3. A sustainable and inclusive business model.

1

One of the primary concerns is the fragmented nature of grassroots sports streaming, scattered across various social media platforms, making it challenging for fans to discover and follow their favorite teams and events. Streaming has become a wild west where federations and clubs have completely lost their control on how their sports is portrayed to fans. The driving change that is needed lies in enhancing game and event discovery, moving it away from social media and consolidating all streaming onto a single user-friendly platform, simplifying the process of game discovery and enhancing the overall fan experience.  

2

The next challenge is to get as many games streamed as possible. We must recognize the importance of inclusive content production, given that it is unfeasible for federations or clubs to manage it centrally.  This necessitates the collective inclusion of team managers, parents, friends, and family to the content production workflows. To facilitate their onboarding, there is a need for user-friendly tools and autonomy for the “grassroots streamers.”

3

The final motivation to get everyone onboard is monetization. A sustainable and mutually beneficial business model is crucial to ensure that all stakeholders find value in the process. This can be achieved by applying the platform economics principle, where most of the revenues can be routed directly to the clubs, without complicated accounting processes. Empowering grassroots sports not only fosters talent development but also taps into new revenue streams within an underserved market. 

Once we can achieve these three key drivers, there will be an explosion of grassroot sports streaming! 

Unfortunately, traditional sports streaming platforms often prioritize major leagues, sidelining grassroots events and tournaments. In response, Icareus has developed a cloud platform that brings all the stakeholders together for the production and consumption of games. At the same time, it improves fan engagement and loyalty. 

Icareus leverages crowdsourcing to turn virtually everyone into content creators, facilitating event and game streaming. The Icareus Sports OTT solution aggregates content from grassroots events within a specific sport, creating a one-stop destination for fans to access games, from top leagues to the smallest matches, all on a single video portal bearing the federation’s or club’s branding. In essence, it gives federations and clubs complete control over how games are streamed, the user experience, and the business model, facilitating a stronger connection with fans. 

Monetization is achieved through subscription models, pay-per-view options, and targeted advertising. Moreover, the platform’s business model ensures that the majority of the revenues generated are directed towards the grassroots teams, a pioneering step in the industry. 

In practice, all beloved sports content, from children’s leagues to senior divisions, can be found from a single source, seamlessly integrated and easily discoverable. By fostering this collaborative and integrated approach to sports streaming, the platform not only amplifies the reach and impact of grassroots sports but also creates a dynamic and engaging environment that benefits everyone involved, from the federations and clubs to the dedicated fans and players. 

In summary

The benefits of this holistic approach extend beyond mere convenience, with the potential to reshape the landscape of grassroots sports streaming, providing a sustainable and profitable model that caters to the needs of all stakeholders. 

Icareus Ltd is an online video cloud and broadcast TV specialist founded in 2001 and having offices in Finland and Spain. Icareus provides video cloud solutions and trusted broadcast TV platforms, and our solutions are enjoyed by millions of consumers via our broadcaster, operator, OTT and OVP customers in over 60 countries.  Combining online and broadcast has been the core of our activities over almost two decades. We’ve been making the change from linear TV to today’s multi-screen experience. 

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

Icareus Sports OTT is a turnkey white-label video cloud solution for sports of all kinds, team or individual, from floorball and football to tennis and martial arts. It offers versatile tools for the production, management, publication and (optionally) commercialization of sports videos and events. Both professional leagues and “grass roots” non-professional sports clubs can make use of this solution. 

More information: https://icareus.com/solutions-for-customer-groups/sports/ 

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Jessica Glad

Icareus delivered second Satellite TV EPG and Apps management solution to Telespazio

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Cover image Telespazio case

Helsinki, 12.09,2023: Telespazio, a global leader in satellite solutions and services, has strategically chosen Icareus as a trusted partner to enhance its broadcasting operations. Recognized as one of the world’s largest suppliers in Satellite distribution, Telespazio’s decision to utilize Icareus’ Playout underscores the exceptional benefits these solutions bring to their operations.

Icareus empowers Telespazio to optimize their EPG and HbbTV content management and distribution processes. The selection of Icareus’ Playout EPG and Carousel management platform equips Telespazio to efficiently manage and distribute critical EPG data and HbbTV applications directly from their Space Centre in Lario, Italy. This not only streamlines their operations but also ensures a seamless and engaging experience for their broadcasters’ audiences.

The enduring partnership between Telespazio and Icareus is a testament to the efficacy of Icareus’ solutions. The collaboration dates back to 2014, when Telespazio initially embraced Icareus’ EPG solution at their Rome Space Centre in Fucino. The longevity of this partnership showcases the consistent value and trust Icareus has delivered to Telespazio over the years.

By leveraging Icareus’ solutions, Telespazio gains a competitive edge in the satellite solutions landscape. The partnership enables Telespazio to deliver content and applications with precision, ensuring a heightened level of user engagement. Moreover, Telespazio benefits from the adaptability and scalability of Icareus’ technologies, enabling them to stay at the forefront of industry trends and technological advancements.

As a result, Telespazio can focus on what they do best – delivering exceptional satellite solutions – while entrusting Icareus to provide the tools necessary to effectively manage and distribute their EPG and applications.

Telespazio is the Italian leader and a major European player in radio and television satellite broadcasting, thanks to its facilities at the Fucino and Lario Space Centres and to the equipment installed and managed at clients’ premises.

Telespazio is over 60 years old company with over 3000 employees around the world and making 220 M€ sales (in 2022). The Lario Space Centre, operational since 1977, is located at the far North of Lake Como, at the town of Gera Lario. The Centre has 40 transceiver and 20 receiver antennas.

As a part of its services, Telespazio provides high quality satellite TV services to its customers including electronic program guide and HbbTV applications management services.

To further improve its services Telespazio needed a best-of-breed EPG solution to manage its customer’s programme information and interactive TV HbbTV applications. As Icareus has been a trusted and reliable vendor for Telespazio for almost a decade, Icareus Playout platform was selected to further develop and manage PSI/SI, EIT, HbbTV signalling, as well as object and datacarousels.

Icareus Playout platform is the leading broadcast solution in the world, selected by main broadcasters and DVB operators in Europe and MENA including Arabsat, Asharq News, Arqiva, BVN, Dialog TV, DU, France24, Freesat, Mediaset, Persidera, Telefonica, Telenet, Telespazio, RAI etc.  

Icareus Playout is a modular, secure and robust broadcast platform for managing multichannel and network EPG data. It enables distinctive configuration of EPG data sources, EIT tables, PSI/SI descriptors, and allows even custom configurations.

Icareus Playout allows Telespazio to manage its Electronic Program Guide in a flexible manner to offer a better TV experience to its viewers. Icareus Playout is tightly integrated to Telespazio’s systems to provide a seamless 24/7 fully automated EPG content workflow. In addition to as a part of the delivery is Icareus Playout Carousel, which offers a long list of features including HbbTV DSM-CC object and data carousel support, AIT management for both broadcast and broadband applications, accurate synchronization of hybrid TV applications with the broadcast signal via stream events, flexible descriptor management, and many more.

“We at Icareus highly appreciate our long-lasting relationship and co-operation with Telespazio. We are extremely glad about widening our business relationship with our old customer, with new solution.”

Toni Leiponen
Toni Leiponen
CEO, Icareus Ltd​

Icareus Playout EPG solution offers Trusted Broadcast Technology enjoyed by leading broadcasters and operators globally for over a decade. Icareus Playout EP110 server is a full-scale PSI/SI generator server targeted for operators and broadcasters to manage their DVB multiplexes and channel line–ups. The tested integrations to multiplexes, EPG data providers, network management systems and Icareus Suite enable quick deployment and high reliability. Icareus global reseller and systems integrator partners offer high service levels and peace-of-mind to our customers.

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 SSU server for over-the-air updates and Icareus Playout Compact Lab solution for research, development and testing TV services. Icareus Playout solutions have been deployed in broadcasting production since 2004 is trusted by world leading TV operators and broadcasters serving customers in 50 countries like SES (Luxemburg), Arabsat (UAE), Cyfrowy Polsat (Poland), NovaTV (Czech) Mediaset (Italy).

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 a decade, true pioneers some say. We’ve been making the change from linear TV to today’s multi-screen experience. Icareus’ customizable end-user apps provide unique TV experience with economical service launch and maintenance on any device. Icareus solutions are enjoyed by millions of consumers via our broadcaster, operator, OTT and OVP customers in over 60 countries. Icareus provides cloud solutions for TV and video services and trusted broadcast EPG, Carousel, OTA and Lab head-end products. Our platforms support solutions for HbbTV, OTT, TV Everywhere, Addressable TV advertising and Audience Measurement.

Telespazio is a joint venture between Leonardo (67%) and Thales (33%) and one of the world’s biggest suppliers of satellite solutions and services. The company teams up with Thales Alenia Space to form the parent companies’ Space Alliance, a strategic partnership which offers a complete range of space services.

 

Founded in Italy in 1961, Telespazio is based in Rome and counts more than 3000 employees through its various subsidiaries and joint ventures. Currently Telespazio has presence in 15 countries and it has 13 companies around the world.

For more Information: 

Ms. Jessica Glad 

Marketing & Communications
Icareus Ltd 
Email: jessica.glad[at]icareus.com 
Phone: +358 (0)9 2289 080

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Annilotta Haataja

ZoneSystems delivered Icareus Playout EPG solution to RTB in Brunei

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Read 10 reasons why Icareus EPG is the best solution for RTB

Helsinki, 07.09.2023, Icareus’ Malesia based partner Asia Pacific Zone Systems Sdn Bhd has delivered Icareus Playout EPG platform to Radio Television Brunei, a national television and radio broadcaster. 

RTB is a loyal customer of Icareus and they have been using Icareus Playout platform for Electronic Program data management and distribution as well as Data and Object Carousels since 2010. They now selected the new latest version of Icareus’ Playout EPG Platform to replace the old system for managing PSI/SI information and electronic program data for their national network.   

Icareus Playout is a modular, secure and robust broadcast platform for managing multichannel and network EPG data. It enables distinctive configuration of EPG data sources, EIT tables, PSI/SI descriptors, and allows even custom configurations.  

The top 10 reasons why Icareus Playout EPG is the best solution for RTB are: 

  1. Enhanced User Experience: The new version of Icareus’ Playout EPG Platform promises to elevate the TV viewing experience for RTB’s audience. With improved PSI/SI information management and precise electronic program data distribution, viewers can enjoy accurate and up-to-date content schedules, leading to greater satisfaction and engagement. 
  2. Seamless Transition: Upgrading to the latest version of Icareus’ Playout EPG Platform provides a seamless transition for RTB. The familiarity RTB has with Icareus as an existing customer ensures a smoother adoption process and reduces potential disruptions in their broadcasting operations. 
  3. Cutting-Edge Features: The new version of Icareus’ Playout EPG Platform brings cutting-edge features that empower RTB to stay ahead in the broadcasting industry. These features might include advanced data manipulation capabilities, real-time updates, and more sophisticated customization options. 
  4. Flexibility and Customization: Icareus Playout offers the flexibility to tailor EPG data sources, EIT tables, PSI/SI descriptors, and other configurations to match RTB’s specific requirements. This level of customization ensures that RTB can adapt the platform to its unique broadcasting needs. 
  5. Reliability and Robustness: RTB’s trust in Icareus Playout EPG server’s reliability and robustness underscores its reputation as a dependable solution. The platform’s stability and resilience contribute to uninterrupted broadcasting, reducing downtime and enhancing RTB’s credibility among its audience. 
  6. Efficient Network Management: By choosing Icareus Playout, RTB gains a powerful tool for managing its channel lineups and network parameters efficiently. This efficiency not only saves time and resources but also allows RTB to respond quickly to changes in the broadcasting landscape. 
  7. Streamlined Operations: Icareus Playout’s modular design streamlines RTB’s operations, making it easier to manage multichannel and network EPG data. This efficiency can lead to improved resource allocation and optimized workflows for RTB’s broadcasting team. 
  8. Future-Proof Solution: Icareus Playout’s commitment to staying at the forefront of broadcasting technology ensures that RTB is investing in a future-proof solution. As the broadcasting industry evolves, RTB can rely on Icareus to continue providing updates and innovations that keep their operations up to date. 
  9. Competitive Advantage: By leveraging Icareus’ state-of-the-art Playout EPG Platform, RTB gains a competitive edge in delivering high-quality TV experiences. This advantage can help RTB attract more viewers and maintain its position as a leading broadcaster in its market. 
  10. Dedicated Customer Support: As an established customer of Icareus, RTB benefits from a strong customer support network. Any queries, concerns, or technical issues can be promptly addressed, minimizing disruptions and ensuring a smooth broadcasting process. 

Relying on Icareus Playout was a natural choice as RTB had verified Icareus Playout EPG server to be the best, most robust and feature rich platform in the market. It enables RTB to offer better TV experience to its broadcaster customers and TV viewers while managing the channel lineups and network parameters in the most efficient way possible. 

"As a system integrator company, we are constantly in search of a reliable and efficient solution that align with our client’s requirement, and Icareus exceeded our expectations in every way."

Asia Pacific Zone Systems Sdn. Bhd.

Icareus Playout platform is the leading broadcast solution in the world, selected by main broadcasters and DVB operators in Europe and MENA including Arabsat, Asharq News, Arqiva, BVN, Dialog TV, DU, France24, Freesat, Mediaset, Persidera, Telefonica, Telenet, Telespazio, RAI etc. It has been in production since 2004.  

“We at Icareus are always happy when our existing customers renew their trust in us and want to extend the collaboration and use our products in new deployments. It is a testament to the quality of Icareus products and the service we offer. We see this as the highest award we can receive.”

Toni Leiponen
Toni Leiponen
CEO, Icareus Ltd​

Icareus Playout EPG solution offers Trusted Broadcast Technology enjoyed by leading broadcasters and operators globally for over a decade. Icareus Playout EP110 server is a full-scale PSI/SI generator server targeted for operators and broadcasters to manage their DVB multiplexes and channel line–ups. The tested integrations to multiplexes, EPG data providers, network management systems and Icareus Suite enable quick deployment and high reliability. Icareus global reseller and systems integrator partners offer high service levels and peace-of-mind to our customers.

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 SSU server for over-the-air updates and Icareus Playout Compact Lab solution for research, development and testing TV services. Icareus Playout solutions have been deployed in broadcasting production since 2004 is trusted by world leading TV operators and broadcasters serving customers in 50 countries like SES (Luxemburg), Arabsat (UAE), Cyfrowy Polsat (Poland), NovaTV (Czech) Mediaset (Italy).

Radio Television Brunei (RTB), (Malay: Radio Television Brunei, Jawi: راديو تيليۏيشين بروني,) is the national public broadcaster of Brunei. Radio Brunei made its first broadcast on 2 May 1957, with a television service starting on 1 March 1975. Currently, it operates 3 television channels and 5 radio stations.

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 a decade, true pioneers some say. We’ve been making the change from linear TV to today’s multi-screen experience. Icareus’ customizable end-user apps provide unique TV experience with economical service launch and maintenance on any device. Icareus solutions are enjoyed by millions of consumers via our broadcaster, operator, OTT and OVP customers in over 60 countries. Icareus provides cloud solutions for TV and video services and trusted broadcast EPG, Carousel, OTA and Lab head-end products. Our platforms support solutions for HbbTV, OTT, TV Everywhere, Addressable TV advertising and Audience Measurement.

Asia Pacific Zone Systems Sdn Bhd (APZS) is a premier provider and integrator of commercial satellite, terrestrial and broadcast / media transmission solutions, maintaining readiness and providing daily operational services to customer’s systems worldwide.

For more Information: 

Ms. Jessica Glad 

Marketing & Communications
Icareus Ltd 
Email: jessica.glad[at]icareus.com 
Phone: +358 (0)9 2289 080

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Jessica Glad

Find us at Sportel Monaco

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Meet us at Sportel Monaco

The Global Sports Media and Tech Convention

 

23. – 25. October 2023

Grimaldi Forum, Monaco

StandS05

Icareus Video Cloud for Sports

In the Icareus Video Cloud, you produce, manage and publish both communication videos and events without technical know-how. Video players, pages, virtual events and portals that match your brand guarantee a consistent user experience for viewers, so your message gets across effectively.

Are you working in sports federations, leagues, or other professional sports organizations? The use of streaming services in sports is continuously growing. Icareus Video Cloud for Sports is a GDPR-compliant and fully brandable streaming platform tailored for sports organizations. It can be used for:

  • Streaming services for national or international sports and leagues, promoting the sport.
  • Grassroots (amateur and junior) sports video services with easy match production, including a mobile app.
  • Streaming tournaments and competition events.
  • Organizational communication, marketing, and training, including video editing, video management, and publishing.

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Annilotta Haataja

PesisTV: Sports Video Platform Home Run

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The Finnish Pesäpallo Federation launched its new video platform, PesisTV, in July of this current year. The platform made its debut in conjunction with three national camps: Kankaanpää Kid Camp, Joensuu Grand Camp, and Oulu Youth Camp.

PesisTV

Pesäpallo is the Finnish version of baseball, and as part of the Finnish Pesäpallo Federation, the Finnish Baseball and Softball Federation operates as the governing body for baseball and softball in Finland.

During its pilot month, PesisTV provided a new and excellent way to enjoy the highlights of young baseball players, with evident success. Even though the camps already gathered a large number of on-site supporters, the video platform offered the opportunity to watch games live from the comfort of one’s own home. Viewers from all around Finland got to enjoy a virtual coverage of a total of 450 matches during the three camps, and this opportunity was eagerly embraced. The camps achieved impressive numbers: there were nearly five thousand registered viewers, streamed games were watched for over 7700 hours, and the highest concurrent viewership occurred during the Youth Camp’s CT competition, with a whopping 443 viewers tuning in!

Registered viewers
> 0
Streamed games
0
Streamed hours viewed
> 0

All of this wouldn’t have been possible without the camps’ contribution to the production, as it was the camps themselves that were responsible for the match production.

The development of PesisTV was handled by the Finnish technology company Icareus Ltd. Icareus Ltd is a respected player in Finland, with extensive experience in collaborating with sports clubs and federations. The company has successfully partnered with organizations like F-Liiga and the Finnish Floorball Federation. Icareus Ltd’s strong experience and expertise have played a crucial role in the development of the Baseball Federation’s new video platform.

In the future, we can certainly anticipate even more exciting moments as PesisTV continues to grow, delivering unforgettable experiences for baseball enthusiasts both from the sidelines and the comfort of their own homes.

“The launch of PesisTV was a great success during the nationwide summer camps. The service was well-received, allowing us to bring the joy of camp games live to homes.”

Miika Rantatorikka
Executive Director, Finnish Pesäpallo Federation

“For us at Icareus, sports is a central area of focus that we want to invest in. We are delighted to have had the opportunity to collaborate with the Pesäpallo Federation in bringing the PesisTV service to our national pastime.”

Toni Leiponen
Toni Leiponen
CEO, Icareus Ltd

Contact us for more info:

Jessica Glad

Marketing & Communications
Icareus Ltd
E-mail: jessica.glad[at]icareus.com
Phone: +358 (0)9 2289 0801

Follow Icareus:

The Finnish Pesäpallo Federation organizes both recreational and competitive activities in baseball. The highest level of baseball in Finland is Superpesis, and Superpesis matches are available on the Ruutu service. Baseball has maintained its position as Finland’s national game and is the country’s third most popular ball sport. Its top leagues in Finland are Men’s Superpesis and Women’s Superpesis. There are a total of 360 registered baseball clubs in Finland, with 18,000 licensed adult and junior players.

Icareus Ltd, founded in 2001, is a growing and profitable Finnish company specialized in video cloud services. Approximately 60% of our sales come from outside Finland, and internationally, our main customers consist of video professionals such as TV channels, TV operators, and media companies. Over the years, we have accumulated clients from around 60 countries, spanning Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, as well as South and North America.

Icareus Video Cloud is the most versatile online SaaS cloud video service in Europe, catering to a diverse range of users including sports organizations, TV channels, operators, corporations, public entities, and even micro-enterprises. Icareus Suite offers numerous features such as virtual and hybrid events, live broadcasts, video-on-demand streaming, customizable video portals, video captioning and editing tools, social media integrations, subscriber management, ad control, paywalls, and a convenient mobile application for uploading videos from phones. All of Icareus’ video services are brand-safe, customer-branded solutions tailored to specific customer preferences.

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Further information about the service and its numerous applications.

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