PeerTV-based Kartina STB launches in Germany

Kartina and PeerTV announce rollout of revolutionary Kartina TV OTT set top box globally

PeerTV (AIM:PTV), a provider of technology solutions for the OTT (TV over the internet) market and PCB (printed circuit board) production solutions, are pleased to announce the launch of the Kartina IQ set top box, which has been developed jointly by PeerTV and Kartina, into the German market. The new Kartina IQ set top box is based on PeerTV’s eTV system. It underwent extensive consumer testing last year, with customer feedback and results exceeding Kartina’s expectations, as referred to in the Trading Updated released by the Company on 10 December 2013.

Russian specialist pay per view TV operator Kartina targets the fast growing Russian expatriate market globally. Based on the sales estimates of the Company’s partner, Kartina, revenues from this product could lead to a material uplift in the Company’s revenues for 2014, with sales potentially as high as 30,000 to 50,000 units. Kartina will be supporting the launch of the PeerTV OTT set top box through extensive social media, dealer and internet based marketing campaigns.

PeerTV is now working on a second generation set top box which will deliver an enhanced viewing expertise to include additional multimedia, messaging and a new range of App based functionality. At the same time, a continuous programme of development will deliver regular upgrades throughout 2014, in areas such as High Efficiency Video Coding, Android and MPEG upgrades.

PeerTV CEO Avi Vermus comments, “The Kartina IQ set top box launch marks an important step in the development of our OTT business and our ability to deliver solutions to Telcos and TV companies wishing to enter the OTT space. TV and video content delivered over the internet is a fast growing and fast moving market and we now have a proven and tested product which can now be developed and adapted to suit market needs.”

Alexander Cofman head of client products at Kartina adds, “We are now able to offer our many thousands of subscribers globally a much enhanced viewing experience via their Kartina IQ box. Our subscribers can access live and archived TV, as well as many thousands of films via our cinema channel. Our Android based set top box enables broadcast content to be distributed via the internet and downloaded directly onto a normal TV screen. The service also makes websites such as Facebook and YouTube available via television sets so continuing the convergence of pay TV and the internet.”

PeerTV was one of the first companies in the market to launch an Android based set top box bringing together the advantages of the Android operating system, apps and a quick and smooth user experience to enable TV or web viewing via a single unit. PeerTV has already completed a number of successful large scale field trials and is now actively pursuing commercial opportunities in both Europe and Latin America. The PeerTV package has been carefully designed to meet the unique needs of the OTT marketplace, delivering a flexible platform that can be customised both by the end user and by corporate buyers of the system. PeerTV is expected to be bought by ISPs, ethnic TV service providers, content providers, cable operator, mobile operators, the hospitality sector, hospitals and academic institutions.