SeeSaw to go International

AMSTERDAM—Communications infrastructure and media services company Arqiva announced that it will begin licensing to third parties the VOD technology that powers its SeeSaw online TV service. 

Matt Rennie, SeeSaw's commercial director, told IBC delegates that having achieved more than 3 million unique visitors in its first eight months of operation, the service was "unmatched in terms of UK users."

He said SeeSaw now had more than 3,500 hours of free content and some 1,500 hours of paid content available.

"What makes us unique is that as an operator we are happy for channels to handle their own branding, and ad sales for the paid element of the site-we are very broadcaster friendly."

He also admitted that more work was being done behind the scenes, but it was clear that "pay" and "free" could co-exist without problem and be appreciated by users.

Rob Hamlin, strategic development director for Arqiva Terrestrial Broadcast, added: "Arqiva is serious about providing infrastructure for television online. Our new VoD solution is designed by broadcasters for broadcasters and meets clear demand for a proven, scalable, and robust platform for aggregated IP-delivered video content."

The Kangaroo platform on which SeeSaw is based was originally developed by internet technology specialist Ioko, which worked closely with the BBC, Channel 4, and BSkyB on their own online VoD players. Indeed Ioko can claim to have developed the technology solutions behind 90% of all TV viewed on the internet in the UK.

Arqiva is also a joint venture partner in the BBC-led IPTV standards initiative Project Canvas.

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