Rovi Developing IPG with Online Video

Jesse Ward — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:25:01 +0000

California-based video company Rovi is in the early stages of designing an interactive program guide (IPG) for cable operators that would integrate video content from the Internet, linear cable TV and video-on-demand. The company expects to have details on the new IP-enabled IPG in 2010.

Rovi says that competitive pressure has influenced cable companies, and their extremely interested in the device. “The [cable] industry has shifted in the last year,” said Corey Ferengul, Rovi’s executive vice president of product management and marketing. “Their fear of over-the-top video is pulling us forward more quickly than we were planning just six months ago.”

Rovi, previously known as Macrovision Solutions, currently offers cable providers two guides, Passport and i-Guide. Its Passport guide is deployed to about 3.9 million U.S. cable households via operators, including Cox Communications and RCN.

Rovi also offers TotalGuide to consumer-electronics manufacturers. Previously code-named Liquid, the IPG is designed for Internet-enabled HDTVs and other devices to provide integrated access to a user’s personal media and Web content.

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View Rovi’s Web site.

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Rovi Developing IPG with Online Video