israel

Israeli interactive TV advertising company, justAd.TV, contacted [itvt] Tuesday to let us know about its exhibit plans (Booth 5.B09s) for the IBC. The company, which is appearing at the show for the first time, says that it will launch a complete TV advertising system that is designed to enable cable, satellite and IPTV operators and HbbTV broadcasters to apply "Internet-style" advertising to non-linear entertainment services, such as VOD and DVR-recorded content. The system has already been deployed by Italian IPTV operator, Fastweb (see the article published on itvt.com, June 25th).

In a press release in which it announced its financial results for the first half of 2010, the Kudelski Group, the company which last fall acquired full control of pioneering interactive TV middleware provider, OpenTV (see the article published on itvt.com, November 16th), revealed that it has, since then, been investing heavily in its middleware operations: "Personnel expenses rose by CHF [i.e. Swiss Francs] 20.5 million from the first half 2009, representing an 11.1% increase to reach CHF 205.7 million," the company stated.

Playcast Media, a start-up with offices in Israel and London that was founded by two Harmonic veterans--Guy De Beer, who previously managed that company's VOD product lines, and Natan Peterfreund, who was previously its principal scientist and who is one of the originators of the H.264 compression standard--has signed an MOU with a large Portuguese pay-TV operator whose identity the company has not disclosed, the Israeli business news service, Globes, reported late Wednesday.

The [itvt] editorial team is on the road this week, so we are covering most stories in round-up/summary form, and we anticipate that there will be some additional interruptions of our regular news publishing schedule beyond that. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience to our readers.

Interactive TV and conditional access technology provider, NDS, announced Tuesday that Israeli satellite TV operator, Yes, has launched an NDS-powered VOD service, based on progressive download (PDL) technology, for its hybrid satellite/IP DVR platform. According to NDS, the service, which allows users to download movies or series to their MaxTotal HD DVR over the open Internet to watch immediately or later, currently provides access to 5,000 free and paid titles, including HD content, and will add hundreds of new titles each month.

Dori Media Group, an Israeli TV formats, production and distribution company best known for its telenovelas, announced last week that its interactive cross-platform "control game"/reality show, "uMan" (known in Israel as "Megudalim"), has won three Accolade Awards: an Award of Excellence for reality programming, an Award of Merit for creativity and originality, and an Award of Merit for viewer impact and entertainment value (note: according to Dori Media, the awards recognize "film, television and videography professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout ent

Here is a round-up of some other interactive TV-related stories we didn't have room for in this issue:

Here is a round-up of some other interactive TV-related stories we didn't have room for in this issue:

The Box, an Israeli company that bills itself as specializing in developing "content for broadcast entertainment and advertising that seamlessly integrates multiple forms of media, including television, Internet and mobile, into an innovative blend of advertising and entertainment," said Thursday that it has received an investment of "several million dollars" from VC firm, Greylock Partners (note: the latter's other investments include Facebook, LinkedIn, ZipCar and DoubleClick).

Israeli IPTV middleware and applications provider, Orca Interactive (note: earlier this year, the company was acquired by Viaccess--see [itvt] Issue 7.77 Part 1), has partnered with Russian systems integrator, BCC, on a wholesale, customizable IPTV solution for the Russian market. According to the companies, the solution has already been deployed by Russian regional incumbents, North-West Telecom, Siberia Telecom and Southern Telecommunications Company. The new partnership marks Orca's entrance into the Russian wholesale market.

Israeli IPTV middleware and applications provider, Orca Interactive, is
to be acquired by France Telecom-subsidiary, Viaccess, in a deal that
values it at approximately $21.4 million (note: for more info on recent
product announcements by Orca). The deal is subject to various
conditions, including approval by an extraordinary general meeting of
Orca Interactive. Viaccess is a provider of content-protection
technology, that claims to have deployed its conditional access and
DRM solutions in over 30 countries, and to serve over 1.2 million
active IPTV subscribers around the world. The companies say that the
acquisition will enable them to improve their respective market
positions and enhance their ability to "smoothly deliver innovative