Background

Multiplatform has traditionally been considered a computing term. But in the current technical, media and social environments, it has a much broader definition and specifically addresses different forms of video and media entertainment on different devices. The cable industry recognizes this as an opportunity to provide a leadership role in the definition, applications, implementations and commercialization of Multi-platform.

CTAM’s Advanced Cable Solutions Consortium is a corporate partner organization  where cable companies, content providers and suppliers are working together to influence the design, development & delivery of cable products and services including Video On Demand, On Demand Advertising, Interactive Television, Advanced Video and Multi-platform services.

A sub-group of the Consortium from the Multi-platform committee collaborated on the definition of multi-platform and supporting information you find herein. Many thanks to these folks for their work.

Criteria for the term and definition

• Must be understandable to industry and to the consumer
• Must include the benefit/pay-off for all audiences – MSO, programmer, supplier and consumer
• Must be clear, short and serve as the umbrella definition for all Multi-platform applications

 
Term and format for use: Multiplatform

Definition:

The secure delivery of rich media, information and applications to any device, regardless of transport, distribution system or user interface, providing the consumer with seamless, integrated and interactive access and management of their entertainment and communication services.

Applications (this list will evolve as applications are developed or change)

• Caller ID between TV and voice phone
• Video Phone:  Manage personal services from a web interface: ringtones, forwarding, v-mail boxes
• Location or Device Shifting of a program from one device to another at the same spot in the program. For example: watch a program on TV – pause – continue watching on another device, such as your PC or TV, in another room
• Multi-room Whole Home DVR services: record once and watch in any room on any device.
• Alerts for notification of program availability. Alerts can appear on other devices.  Alerts may also include options to record, tune or add to watch list
• PC to TV viewing: access content on the PC via the TV
• TV to PC viewing: access content on the TV via the PC
• Management setting preferences on one device (PC) for another device (TV), parental controls, manage accounts
• Personal programming capabilities: set recordings to your DVR from the phone
• Personalization: set preferences, set favorites, include zip codes for location services
• Communication:  email, voicemail consumption on multiple devices, social sites
• Network-DVR or Digital Locker: content is in the cloud
• Media Management: moving content throughout the home (using DLNA and other standards)
• Personalizing Advertising: targeted or addressable advertising
• Social Networking Applications: sharing of programming clips, scheduled recording, and real-time commentary during shows

 
Terms that will be explained for context as it relates to this definition

• Secure – a protected, authorized and authenticated (as required) delivery of the media between source of entertainment (i.e.: the programmer) to the consumer; Security includes authenticated and rights-enabled services delivered in a closed loop.
• Measurement- the ability to provide visibility into tracking and measuring the use and access of the services. This transparency enables accountability to all parties in the Multi-platform service.  Includes the ability to measure and track the delivery. 
• Rich Media – includes any form of media for entertainment and the associated metadata associated with the media. Examples include video (SD, HD, 3D), formats include MPEG-2, AVC, h.264, Flash, HTML5, graphics and overlays, etc.
• Applications – include the full range of entertainment from video, data services, music services, gaming, social services, etc.
• Seamless – uninterrupted and reliable delivery of the service with high quality as the service is transferred between devices or across networks.  Examples: 
  • Begin watching a video program on a personal tablet at home and then transfer it to a large screen television at home (transfer across devices and possibly different home networks). 
  • Begin watching a video program on a personal tablet at home, pause it, then resume watching at a hotel (same device, different networks).  Note that the ability to provide seamless delivery across a different provider’s network will depend in large part on the characteristics of the visited network.
• Integrated – Part of the services provided by the operator, across different operator systems and operators as well as third party services integrated into the service. Mash-ups apply
• Interactive TV – 2-way services, EBIF™-based services, and communication with the subscriber through prompts, queries, and other requests.