Viaplay launches advanced TV streaming services with Netgem in Sweden

A stepping stone in OTT delivery

NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE — Netgem (Paris: NTG FP 7537; ETGM), a leader in connected home technologies and solutions, has been selected by Viaplay (Nasdaq OMX Stockholm: MTGA, MTGB) to supply its new Viaplay Box. The Viaplay box is a hybrid set-top box (STB) which offers viewers a wide range of over-the-top (OTT) delivered premium TV channels, free to air terrestrial channels and the full Viaplay online service in one single set-top box. Viaplay is the leading online pay-TV service in the Nordic region, and offers over-the-top (OTT) delivery of premium TV, movies and sports content to anyone with a broadband connection on multiple devices, now including the Viaplay box in Sweden.

This is the first time a pay-tv operator in the Nordics has combined adaptive bitrate streaming technology and free-to-air digital terrestrial TV (DTT) in one single channel list with seamless channel change.

Viaplay will use the Viaplay box to broaden its Swedish offering, and to make linear and on-demand pay-TV content, including TV series, film and sports, available directly on a TV using a remote control. The launch extends the number of platforms for consumers to access the Viaplay service from personal computers, tablets, smartphones and connected TVs to the Viaplay Box, using a single log-in.

The box is a customised version of the Netgem Multifunction hybrid STB and it also uses Netgem’s award-winning middleware to provision the enhanced Viaplay service and the linear channels. The STB offers Ethernet, WiFi and HDMI connectivity to access and share multimedia content stored on the home network and also offers UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) for simple connection between the units in the house hold.

Niclas Ekdahl, CEO of Viaplay, said: “The launch of the Viaplay box in Sweden is the next step in our continuous evolution and development of our service. Our wide library of TV, movie and premium sports content is highly attractive to viewers, and we are focused on both improving the user experience and the quality of our streaming and make it as simple as possible for our subscribers to access the content. The Viaplay Box is a great product making high quality streaming accessible in the most convenient and simple manner.

Christophe Aulnette, Chief Executive Officer of Netgem, said: “It is a real breakthrough. This launch is the clear demonstration that OTT video delivery can achieve first class quality as requested by top-tier service operators, such as Viasat. The Viaplay Box is a prime example of how OTT can be successfully deployed by operators for both live streaming and VOD content beyond their traditional customer base.”