UPDATED: Now with images
The multi-room DVR launches continue to roll. Cincinnati Bell is now deploying Motorola’s software-based whole-home DVR solution, giving subscribers access to DVR features on up to eight client boxes over an in-home MoCA network. Unlike other multi-room solutions, the Cincinnati Bell deployment lets users not only watch recordings on non-DVR set-tops, but also schedule recordings, manage multiple DVR libraries, and even pause live TV. This is far from typical. And it’s all done with Motorola software.
There are a few technical notes of interest. First, Motorola is doing the user interface for this deployment. Since it’s designed to look like the rest of the Rovi UI, this isn’t revolutionary for consumers, but it is an interesting add-on for a smaller operator that doesn’t want to manage the interface and isn’t contractually obligated elsewhere. Second, and speaking of Rovi, the solution for Cincinnati Bell works with both legacy and new Rovi guides. For those in the industry, it works with A25 and A28, making it widely accessible across the operator’s subscriber base. Third, the Motorola technology is entirely software-based, which means subscribers can order the multi-room feature for existing set-tops in the home and get the upgrade with a simple code download. It creates great up-sell opportunities for Cincinnati Bell.
It’s taken a while, but multi-room DVR finally appears to have gained some momentum among providers. Big and small.
Filed under: DVR, Motorola News
Will this also be written for Barcelona / Buckeye (Tru2Way enhanced UI IPGs)?
In theory it could *if* there was operator interest. One other thing to note, though, many of the bigger operators want to build their own multi-room software.
[...] Motorola’s New Multi-Room DVR Software The multi-room DVR launches continue to roll. Cincinnati Bell is now deploying Motorola’s software-based whole-home DVR solution, giving subscribers access to DVR features on up to eight client boxes over an in-home MoCA network. [...]
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[...] July: New Multi-Room DVR: Pause Live TV, Record Anywhere – covering a multi-room DVR deployment with Cincinnati Bell including features not available in larger operator environments [...]