Zappware inks partnership with Polish cable operator Toya

TOYA to move linear network to full Video-On-Demand (VOD) services

Zappware, the Belgian one-stop solution provider for interactive Digital TV (iDTV) on multiple TV platforms, have been selected by Toya, Poland’s fifth largest cable operator in terms of subscriber numbers, to deliver a range of Video-On-Demand (VOD) services from Zappware’s “iView for Operators” product.

“iView for Operators” is Zappware’s integrated suite of off-the-shelf services that are available on a broad range of set-top box and middleware combinations. Thanks to the iView technology the operator is able to customize the look-and-feel of the delivered services and to maintain the services in-house.

The extension of Toya’s cable network with VOD services is being introduced in phases and in close collaboration with eventIS, the Holland-based DTV solutions company that is in charge of the VOD back-office.

Today High-Definition TV (HD TV), iView Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) and iView Portal have been successfully deployed on Toya’s Motorola 1920C set-top box (KreaTV/Linux):

• iView EPG is an Electronic Program Guide service presenting detailed information on the broadcast programmes, featuring a flexible data import and processing engine, reminders, a flexible search engine, and a new file-cast solution for transporting the EPG data files via the MPEG broadcast path to the set-top box.
• iView Home is a portal service with an integrated front-end for the viewer to start and personalize all operator or third-party services, and to install and configure the set-top box.

In a next phase Toya’s network will be upgraded with PVR and PushVOD on the 1970C box, and VOD on both the 1920C and the 1970C boxes. The VOD services will be integrated with VOD management products from eventIS, and conditional access from Conax.

Patrick Vos, CEO Zappware: “Our deal with Toya is another recognition of Zappware as an expert in the field of Video-On-Demand (VOD) services. We have recently added PushVOD in our VOD offering making our offering for operators even more appealing.”

Jacek Kobierzycki, CEO TOYA: “Among the distinguishing companies that could offer software solutions for Interactive Digital TV, only Zappware presented an interesting solution giving extensive possibilities for the cable operator to shape its own services accordingly with its views. Experience in working on big projects as well as the elasticity of solutions were the main driving forces in choosing the company Zappware as a business partner.”