Neptuny presents ContentWise 2.0 at IBC

Neptuny to launch Content Recommendation Engine for IPTV at IBC

Neptuny, a pioneer of the IPTV sector, will be launching ContentWise 2.0, the second release of the revolutionary Content Recommendation Engine for IPTV, Interactive-Cable TV and WebTV at the next IBC 2008 conference to be held in Amsterdam from 12-16 September 2008. The system will be demonstrated in Neptuny’s pod #222 in the IPTV Zone.

While the broadband connections and technology breakthroughs are finally making IPTV and WebTV real, operators are still facing new challenges to provide users with an easy way to access the available content. Indeed, poor customer retention caused by users’ frustration from trying to find appropriate content is known as a major issue for operators in the sector. To enable operators to satisfy increasingly complex customer requests and increase customer use of the provided services, Neptuny developed ContentWise, a Content Recommendation Engine that allows operators to provide their users with content tailored to their individual preferences based on user ratings and content metadata. Furthermore the system provides unique opportunities for up-selling and cross-selling. Examples include the possibility to recommend soundtracks and ringtones after a VOD view or to propose the sequel of a movie available on the VOD catalogue for people that just watched one episode on the Live TV.

How ContentWise Works

ContentWise uses two different mechanisms for providing its recommendations. The first mechanism is called Collaborative Filtering: all users’ ratings and experiences are used to recommend contents that have been chosen by users having similar tastes. The second mechanism (called Content-Based Filtering) uses content meta-data (e.g. the movie actors or director) to suggest recommendations based on the (discovered) users preferences. Finally, business rules can also be added by the operator to promote specific content according to its strategic marketing or revenue objectives. Recommendations can also be based on explicit user preferences, providing each user with an enriched tailored experience.

ContentWise 2.0 enhancements

• Live-TV real-time top viewed programs

  ContentWise 2.0 now provides the ability for users to receive real-time preferences on live-TV shows on the basis of what others users are watching, thus offering them a quick way to find interesting contents; this new feature offers an important added value to customers and is a key differentiator with respect to traditional broadcast TV since it exploits the power of the feedback channel available in IP based television;
   

• Content and product up/cross-selling support

  ContentWise 2.0 now enables operators to up-sell and cross-sell (physical) products and additional programs that are recommended by the system according to the current user experience; for example, while watching a movie a message could be displayed to advertise the mp3, CD or ringtone of the movie soundtrack; this feature provides high value for 3G/4G Telco operators, when used in combination with the mobile infrastructure (the purchased ringtone can be sent directly via MMS to the user’s mobile phone, thus delivering a higher value also to the customer).
   

• Enhanced Reporting and APIs

  ContentWise 2.0 includes also new predefined reports, e.g. reports showing accurate TV share meter on live TV and customer purchase likelihood estimation based on recommendations;

  ContentWise 2.0 also provides enhanced APIs that enable seamless integration to messaging infrastructures (email, SMS, MMS) and support advanced convergent services; for example, e-mails could be sent to users with the recommended TV program guide or VOD suggestions for the current day/week, or explicit preferences could be set by sending an SMS to anticipate the desire to watch live, recorded or VOD contents later at home.