ioko and Samsung Announce Partnership

Posted by Richard Kastelein in Breaking News on September 12, 2010  |  0 Comments More from this author  |    |  Follow Richard Kastelein on: Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube

Ioko the digital media systems integrator behind the world’s leading media platforms, today announced it has teamed up with Samsung to further accelerate the development of direct-to-TV applications for Samsung TVs. ioko, which developed LOVEFiLM’s secure Real Time Messaging Protocol encrypted (RTMPe) based player, a world first in direct-to-TV subscription video on demand (VOD) , is now certified to develop applications for Samsung’s range of Internet@TV sets.

According to Screen Digest, by 2014, 90 percent of all TV sets sold in Europe will be internet-enabled. This new accreditation means ioko is even better placed to help content providers take advantage of this growing market opportunity, enabling them to extend their current service offerings direct to viewers’ TV sets.

ioko already has experience of Samsung’s Internet@TV sets, having developed the H.264 video player for LOVEFiLM’s direct-to-TV service, which launched in May 2010. LOVEFiLM’s in house team designed and built the application. This service, which was the first of its kind, allows all members of LOVEFiLM unlimited subscription packages to search for and access movie titles using their remote controls.

“With the market for internet-connected TVs poised for takeoff, our tie up with Samsung – Europe’s number one set manufacturer – is hugely strategic for us,” said Fearghal Kelly, vice president of media solutions, ioko. “As we’ve seen with LOVEFiLM’s direct-to-TV service, there’s a growing appetite from consumers to access on-demand programming on their TVs and, with Samsung’s range of Internet@TV sets, the devices are available to meet this demand. Ioko will help content providers capitalise on these emerging and lucrative routes to market.”

This tie up with Samsung is the first time ioko has joined forces with a consumer electronics device manufacturer.

“Device manufacturers like Samsung are setting a brisk pace in terms of video innovation,” continued Kelly. “The introduction of internet-enabled TV sets has the power to change viewing habits forever, with consumers enjoying the same level of choice and functionality via a remote control as they’ve learnt to expect via a mouse.”