Freesat and SeaChange debut connected TV platform at IBC2014

Turnkey Platform Ensures Rapid Time-to-Market for Service Providers to Capture New Content Revenues

LONDON and ACTON, Mass. — Freesat and SeaChange International, Inc. (Nasdaq:SEAC) have partnered to put service providers on a fast track to introducing connected TV services. This week at IBC2014 (SeaChange stand 1.F70), the Companies will demonstrate a new platform that integrates Freesat’s next-generation Freetime electronic program guide (EPG) with the SeaChange Adrenalin multi-screen television platform.

The jointly developed platform empowers service providers (including IPTV, satellite, cable and terrestrial operators) to rapidly customize and deploy a complete connected TV service for subscribers on set-top boxes and smart TVs, including an advanced TV guide with catch-up and recommendations services. To ensure rapid rollout and optimal performance, the platform offers the concept-through-commercialization capabilities of SeaChange Professional Services for customer integration, deployment and post-launch service monitoring and management.

Freesat is a joint venture between the UK’s leading broadcasters ITV and the BBC and is now in over 1.85 million homes. The subscription free service offers over 200 channels, including On Demand and connected services ranging from BBC iPlayer to YouTube. Freesat’s next generation connected TV Guide, Freetime, is now available in both smart TVs and set top boxes and features a Backwards EPG (merging the program guide with catch-up TV services) plus a unique editorially curated recommendation service, Showcase. Freesat’s Freetime UI and applications are proven solutions for a superior experience for television viewers.

Matthew Huntington, Freesat’s Chief Technology Officer, said: “Freesat’s Freetime has been extremely successful since we launched the service in September 2012, with Freetime boxes now accounting for over 45% of all Freesat set-top box sales. Freetime is also a key driver of the growth of Freesat in the UK with consumers choosing to purchase Freetime enabled-boxes and smart TVs to access the superior experience this delivers. Freetime is based on open web technologies such as html, making it a compelling proposition for service providers. This partnership with SeaChange means we can now take an end-to-end TV platform to the market that offers the comprehensive features set and customer benefits that Freetime provides.”

Andrei Noppe, Senior Vice President and General Manager EMEA & APAC, SeaChange said: “The Freetime guide has been proven to drive significant subscriber attraction and stickiness. By offering this powerful guide in concert with SeaChange’s software and services, Freesat and SeaChange are helping service providers to reinforce their value and grow revenues with a fully-managed platform for advanced television capabilities.”