Vodafone Deutschland has launched Ultra HD/4K platform GigaTV on its cable network today bundling the entertainment services in the customer’s household.
The successful roll-out of GigaTV which is based on Cisco’s Infinite video platform was confirmed by a Vodafone spokesman to Broadband TV News. Through a central user interface, viewers gain access to around 120 TV channels, 55 catch-up portals, a video-on-demand service (VOD) with over 3,000 movies as well as apps.
The integrated recommendation system suggests content from the platform’s own stock and third parties such as pay-TV platform Sky Deutschland or ProSiebensat.1’s VOD service maxdome based on the user’s personal taste.
The core element of GigaTV is a set-top-box with 1TB storage capacity suitable for Ultra HD/4K. With the box, users can watch selected titles from Vodafone’s VOD library in the new video format. The instant restart function will enable viewers to set the currently running TV programme back to the beginning and watch it from the start.
The multiscreen service can be used on smartphones and tablets through apps: The app for Android devices is available on the Google Play store. The iOS version for Apple devices will follow shortly, according to the Vodafone spokesman. Through the apps, users can watch live TV, access catch-up portals, watch movies they ordered and continue watching them at home on the TV set and initiate TV recordings on the set-top-box.
Vodafone cable customers can obtain GigaTV including the box and apps from €14.99 per month. For an additional €5 per month, they can access GigaTV HD Premium with further 20 channels. The GigaTV app is available for €9.99 per month. No Vodafone cable TV subscription is required, making the app available nationwide.
Vodafone Deutschland wants to introduce GigaTV on its IPTV platform Vodafone TV at a later stage.
Source: http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2017/02/12/vodafone-and-cisco-launch-4k-platform/