PLDT licenses Roku to launch streaming service and player

Friday, September 9th, 2016
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Roku Announces Philippines Telecom Operator PLDT Licenses Roku Platform to Launch New Streaming Service and Player

  • Roku Powered Program Provides Pay TV and Telecom Operators Turn-Key Access to Low-Cost Streaming Solutions to Launch New Services and Grow Customer Base and Satisfaction

AMSTERDAM — IBC — Roku, Inc. and PLDT today announced that PLDT is the fifth operator that has joined the Roku Powered™ program, and the first operator in Asia to leverage the Roku® streaming platform to deliver TV services to its broadband customers. The new PLDT streaming service and streaming player are expected to launch during Q2 2017 and combine the best local Philippines content from Cignal and iflix with content from global providers.

“In the past, operators first had to build or lease dedicated infrastructure in order to deliver TV services to the home, but with streaming that is no longer the case. As a result, we see a lot of interest from all over the world for our Roku Powered program from both telecom and pay TV operators,” said Andrew Ferrone, vice president pay TV at Roku. “With its fast fiber and DSL infrastructure, PLDT is in a perfect position to leverage the Roku streaming platform and quickly deploy a proven, low-cost, turn-key solution and launch an innovative TV service to its broadband customers.”

“The Roku Powered program allows PLDT to expand its offerings to consumers to be a leader in OTT in the Philippines,” said Oscar Reyes Jr., PLDT First Vice President and Head of Home Operations. “We’ll be able to offer consumers a low-cost device with access to the best content from the Philippines and around the world through an easy-to-use user interface.”

Under the Roku Powered license, operators leverage the Roku streaming platform, including Roku’s low-cost streaming players, to deliver live TV and streaming services to their customers. Roku provides operators with an end-to-end solution including device designs, ongoing software updates, platform hosting, application development support and certification.

Since announcing the program at IBC in 2014, Roku has expanded its offerings in the Roku Powered program to better meet the needs of operators:

  • Operators can now choose between a streaming player or hybrid streaming and over-the-air (OTA) set-top box that includes a tuner. Sky UK was the first operator to launch this new hybrid set-top box named the NOW TV Smart Box just weeks ago in the UK.
  • The simple Roku OS home screen can now be customized for a content-first experience to allow operators to more effectively merchandise content to their customers. Examples of this customization can be viewed on the Now TV Box in the UK and Italy. In addition, operators can curate their content offerings from the Roku Channel Store.
  • Expanded DRM support with additional technologies such as Cisco VideoGuard and Verimatrix ViewRight in addition to Microsoft PlayReady and Adobe PrimeTime allow for secure streaming and monetization of premium video content.