(11 September 2007 6:00 pm)

MUMBAI: US satellite television service provider DirecTV has deployed the Tandberg WatchPoint workflow system to enable its new multi-platform on-demand (OD) service that includes set-top, web and mobile content.

According to an official release, DirecTV has an estimated 16.3 million customers. WatchPoint is involved in offering service providers and programmers visibility and control in creating and executing their digital media strategies.

Producing, managing and delivering multi-platform on-demand services involves many steps and systems. DirecTV sought a workflow automation solution that would simplify, manage and reduce costs related to this complex process.

"The flexibility of WatchPoint enabled us to customize the platform to support our individual workflow process and make our Directv on demand service a reality," said DirecTV Inc VP of broadcast systems engineering Hanno Basse. "Tandberg television simplified a complicated process by automating our entire on-demand workflow, so we could focus our efforts on delivering a compelling lineup of video on demand services to our customers."

DirecTV's new on-demand service will launch this fall and will offer customers access to thousands of titles, including movies, music and popular television shows through their Directv Plus HD DVR.

"We have developed a highly scalable and flexible solution that integrates seamlessly with our customers’ existing processes and subsystems, allowing them to reduce complexity and cost and leverage their hardware and software investments while freeing them to focus on building new revenue channels and improving the quality of their service offerings," said Tandberg Television Inc VP software product management Andrew Rowe.

In addition to the WatchPoint Workflow System, DirecTV utilizes several other Tandberg television systems to deliver its new on-demand service, including the company’s market-leading advanced compression and Xport producer content production solutions.