CableLabs® Issues Technical RFI for Online Content Access Service

• Press Release
• Source: CableLabs
• On 3:27 pm EDT, Thursday October 29, 2009

LOUISVILLE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CableLabs® has issued a request for information (RFI) to define elements for a common technical approach that would enable consumers to have secure on-line access to subscription video services delivered by any provider. The deadline for responses is December 11.

The objective of the RFI (http://www.cablelabs.com/nda/online_access_rfi_nda.html) is to have suppliers provide CableLabs and its cable operator members with assistance in defining the technical requirements and architecture necessary to enable on-line access to subscription cable TV video services involving both multiple programmers and multiple multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs). A goal is to use existing standards and specifications.

Cable operators currently have trials of this service including TV Everywhere by Time Warner Cable and On Demand Online by Comcast. The trials will help gauge consumer reaction to having high quality content available on the Internet.

“We are issuing this RFI at the strong urging of our members,” noted CableLabs President and CEO Dr. Paul Liao. “It is their belief that a common technical approach will offer greater choice to consumers, and will enable competition among technology providers to support the market,” he added.

“I am greatly encouraged that this RFI and CableLabs efforts will provide the technical tools to our industry and other multichannel programming providers to offer high quality video online,” said Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian L. Roberts, who also is Chairman of the CableLabs Board of Directors.

“This work by CableLabs will be consistent with the high level service goals that we at Time Warner Cable announced last June,” said Glenn A. Britt, President and CEO of Time Warner Cable. “Our intention is to make this technology open and non-exclusive,” Britt said.

Key components of the RFI include broad areas such as service architecture, technical interface specifications, resource attributes specifications, infrastructure components, and security.

Guiding principles behind this RFI for online content access include providing technology solutions with the highest level of security possible to enable consumer choice and convenience, while protecting consumer privacy, protecting copyright, and to enable both ad supported and pure subscription programming on-line.

Founded in 1988 by members of the cable television industry, Cable Television Laboratories is a non-profit research and development consortium that is dedicated to pursuing new cable telecommunications technologies and to helping its cable operator members integrate those advancements into their business objectives. Cable operators from around the world are members. CableLabs maintains web sites at www.cablelabs.com; www.opencable.com, www.tru2way.com, www.advancedadvertising.tv, www.packetcable.com; www.cablemodem.com; and www.cablenet.org;

CableCARD™, CableHome®, CableLabs®, CableNET®, CablePC™, DCAS™, DOCSIS®, Go2Broadband^SM, M-Card™, OpenCable™, OCAP™, PacketCable™, and tru2way® are marks of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

CableLabs
Mike Schwartz, 303-661-9100
m.schwartz@cablelabs.com