Targeting new markets for IP delivery takes patience
Jun 2, 2011 8:00 AM, By Michael Grotticelli
A new generation of products like the Kaleido-IP multiviewer with iControl software allows TV service providers to centrally monitor and control hundreds of channels delivered via IP.
With local stations not spending much these days, broadcast equipment manufacturers continue to search for new markets into which to sell their technology. With the emergence of telco TV (e.g., AT&T’s U-verse and Verizon’s FiOS) as a major player in subscription TV, it’s one rapidly growing segment tech companies are targeting with a vengeance. Cable and satellite TV are close behind, in terms of new facility/headend building.
This shift in marketing strategy, which began more than two years ago, is backed up by a number of market size predictions from different analysts who are reporting that the worldwide broadcast industry (terrestrial local and network stations) is estimated to be spending between $150-175 billion per year, and slowly decreasing, while the TV service providers (TVSPs) — made up of cable, satellite and telco TV services — market is growing at a faster rate and could potentially reach as high as $200 billion per year by the end of 2012.
Miranda Technologies has established a separate monitoring and control division (launched in 2006), which began working with EchoStar’s Denver, CO, facility and continues to increase its client list. It now includes DISH Network, four of the top five cable TV providers (Cablevision, Charter, Cox and Time Warner) and Verizon.
Marco Lopez, senior vice president of infrastructure, routers and monitoring and control products at Miranda, said his company’s iControl technology is used to remotely monitor Internet Protocol (IP)-delivered signals at 13 Verizon regional headends across the country.
“One of the reasons we believe the activity right now is in TVSPs is that pay TV services outside of the U.S. are exploding right now,” Lopez said. “Here in the U.S. we’re jaded to believing that there’s no room for growth, but elsewhere [China, India and South America], things are just starting to be built out, and Miranda is taking advantage of this opportunity, and we believe other vendors are as well.”
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