PC Telcom Combines OTT, Broadband and Broadcast for Hybrid TV

The hybrid TV opportunity continues to be explored in the Tier 2 and Tier 3 IPTV (News - Alert) markets, with the latest to embrace the concept being PC Telcom, which serves Colorado's Phillips County. Enabled by Entone’s FusionTV, the telco will offer over-the-air programming from local broadcasters, a DVR and cloud-based over-the-top (OTT) services, including streaming video on demand from VUDU along with popular media services such as Facebook (News - Alert), Flickr, Picasa and Twitter—all within one, operator-branded pay-TV portal.

With the busiest shopping season coming up, PC Telcom is taking a unique approach to its distribution strategy, since it is also a Radio Shack authorized retail dealer. Radio Shack will offer a FusionTV bundle at retail that includes a broadband subscription and the turnkey suite of TV services.

"To retain and capture broadband customers in this fast-changing marketplace, we needed a solution that we can deploy quickly over our existing broadband network while also allowing us to deliver video at a competitive price," said Vince Kropp, GM and CEO at PC Telcom. "By bundling our existing broadband service with OTT, this takes the market appeal of our broadband service to a whole new level. With FusionTV, we can now provide a richer and more compelling service. Our customers get a cost-effective, personalized viewing experience that they can't get from satellite or traditional TV services—further strengthening the relationship with our subscribers."

A new survey from consulting firm Accenture (News - Alert) of consumers in the U.S. and U.K. found that half of all consumers are watching broadband-delivered OTT content on their televisions. As the economy continues to demand more flexible TV viewing options, and as OTT continues to grow, pay-TV operators and broadband providers thus have an opportunity.

"PC Telcom is demonstrating that service operators can harness and capitalize on the disruptive potential of OTT while also taking back control of their broadband network. PC Telcom subscribers get the best of both worlds – live HDTV programs from local broadcasters, DVR and high-value OTT content through a seamless operator-branded user interface," said Andrew Morton, VP of Broadband TV Solutions at Entone (News - Alert). "We look forward to supporting PC Telcom as they continue to grow their business.”