--Open Interface Works with Third-Party Recommendation Engines
Ericsson on Wednesday launched its OpenStream Catalog Gateway, a content discovery solution that the company claims will help operators better promote the content in their VOD libraries and differentiate their TV offerings.
Part of a line-up of Ericsson VOD solutions that includes the OpenStream Digital Services Platform, the OpenStream Catalog Gateway is billed by the company as an open interface that works with third-party recommendation engines and Web portals to provide personalized and relevant recommendations for viewers looking for content in large VOD libraries. When the solution is combined with the Ericsson OpenStream Marketing Manager, the company says, an operator can present subscribers with promotions that are applicable to their personal interests. "Recommendation technology is becoming an important component for operators to convert subscribers that are 'just browsing' into revenue-generating buyers," Andrew Rowe, head of software product management for Ericsson's Solution Area TV, said in a prepared statement. "Adding this interface to our on-demand solution can help operators increase the average revenue per user for their VOD libraries."
Ericsson is demo'ing the OpenStream Catalog Gateway this week in its booth (701) at the NCTA Cable Show in Los Angeles. The demo sees the solution working with FreedTV's "friends-based" Crowdsource Recommendation Engine (note: for more on FreedTV, see the article published on itvt.com, December 17th), which is billed as "min[ing] social television to generate context- and community-aware on-demand and broadcast television recommendations," including "Personal Picks" (based on viewing history and preferences), "Recommended Picks" (based on recommendations from friends and viewers with similar interests), and "Popular Picks."
