Microsoft agrees to sell Mediaroom to Ericsson - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

habskilla · 2013-04-08, 11:34 AM

Interesting.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/08/m...m-to-ericsson/

Hey Ericsson, how about implementing a tune to channel feature!

Dr.Dave · 2013-04-08, 11:44 AM

This will affect most telco TV providers in Canada:

Bell Fibe, Telus Optik TV, Bell Aliant, MTS, Sasktel, Thunderbay Tel, etc.

XM4243 · 2013-04-08, 11:50 AM

I don't get this.

Mediaroom is Microsoft's bridge to every major telco in North American and Europe. Embedding Mediaroom into XBOX devices just seemed like a natural to me.

I also never understood why Google sold Motorola cable. Why not embed Google TV in cable set top boxes?

nothanksrogers · 2013-04-08, 12:37 PM

I think Fibe will change one day. This along with google selling motorola set top box division.

Dr.Dave · 2013-04-08, 01:58 PM

On Friday, it was also announced that Korea Telecom will work with Ericsson to test Ultra-High Definition TV—or 4K—and High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC). The latter is a compression technology that promises to reduce the bandwidth requirements for video delivery by over 50 percent compared to the best H.264/MPEG-4 AVC implementations, according to Ericsson, which last year launched a TV encoder compatible with the technology.

We can look forward to more HD streams and higher quality video if Ericsson implements HEVC in Mediaroom.

XM4243 · 2013-04-08, 02:26 PM

For HEVC, Telcos would have to invest in new encoders and consumers would need to invest in new boxes which could take quite a few years.

nothanksrogers · 2013-04-08, 05:49 PM

I would be happy if they used hevc for better looking HD. Nevermind 4k.

Wayne · 2013-04-08, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XM4243

Mediaroom is Microsoft's bridge to every major telco in North American and Europe. Embedding Mediaroom into XBOX devices just seemed like a natural to me.

Microsoft now sees the Xbox as their interface into the living rooms of the world. Perhaps they see cable and telcos as competitors to their Xbox delivery vehicle, if that is true then this could be a good thing since MS may be willing to become a disrupter and compete against the entrenched cable companies of the world.

Quote:

Originally Posted by XM4243

Why not embed Google TV in cable set top boxes?

Because the cable companies would not allow a box like that on their network. Why is it that cable STBs can't access Netflix when your TV, AppleTV, Xbox, PS3, BluRay player, etc can all access Netflix? Pretty much everything you connect to your TV these days can access Netflix except your cable STB.

MarcP · 2013-04-08, 10:48 PM

To count the number of times Microsoft started something and then walked away after being bored with it...

Tridus · 2013-04-09, 05:59 AM

They're not bored with it; Mediaroom no longer fits their strategy. They want to control the living room, but Mediaroom is stuck dealing with what the BDUs want (which is not Microsoft controlling the living room and things like Netflix easily available). The Xbox is a better fit for their strategy.

Besides, if cord cutting picks up steam it's not going to be a growth business to own Mediaroom anymore. Why not get out while the property has value?

XM4243 · 2013-04-09, 07:34 AM

Quote:

They want to control the living room, but Mediaroom is stuck dealing with what the BDUs want (which is not Microsoft controlling the living room and things like Netflix easily available). The Xbox is a better fit for their strategy.

My experience is that it is much easier to effect change when you have a seat at the table.

Tridus · 2013-04-09, 12:45 PM

Not if your goal is to poison the people at the table.

If Microsoft can get in a position to offer those things directly, why would they want to go through the BDUs to do it anymore?

XM4243 · 2013-04-09, 01:32 PM

Your point was that MS wants to control the living room but how can they if they can't offer consumers what the BDU's are selling?

Without BDU's, the best MS can offer on XBOX is Over the Top (OTT) services such as Netflix. Something that ROKU, WDTV, Apple TV etc are all offering too.

I would have thought that to control the living room, MS or Google or Apple or ??? would need a box that could deliver both BDU content and OTT services. (which was exactly what MS was delivering with Mediaroom)

yyzlhr · 2013-04-09, 04:53 PM

Wonder if this will change the look of Mediaroom interface. When I look at Bell Fibe, Optik TV, Uverse etc, the UI elements just scream Microsoft.

Tridus · 2013-04-10, 07:10 AM

Microsoft doesn't control anything with Mediaroom, though. They can't offer value added Microsoft stuff through it. People aren't buying it to get access to Microsoft stuff. It doesn't do things with your Windows 8 phone. etc, etc.

Sure it lets them be there, but only as a vendor to the BDUs, not as the one in control. That's not what they want.

2013-04-08, 11:34 AM	#1
habskilla Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Moncton, NB Posts: 866	Microsoft agrees to sell Mediaroom to Ericsson Interesting. http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/08/m...m-to-ericsson/ Hey Ericsson, how about implementing a tune to channel feature!

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2013-04-08, 11:44 AM	#2
Dr.Dave Moderator Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 4,705	This will affect most telco TV providers in Canada: Bell Fibe, Telus Optik TV, Bell Aliant, MTS, Sasktel, Thunderbay Tel, etc.

2013-04-08, 11:50 AM	#3
XM4243 Premium Supporter Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 900	I don't get this. Mediaroom is Microsoft's bridge to every major telco in North American and Europe. Embedding Mediaroom into XBOX devices just seemed like a natural to me. I also never understood why Google sold Motorola cable. Why not embed Google TV in cable set top boxes?

2013-04-08, 12:37 PM	#4
nothanksrogers Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 91	I think Fibe will change one day. This along with google selling motorola set top box division.

2013-04-08, 01:58 PM	#5
Dr.Dave Moderator Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 4,705	On Friday, it was also announced that Korea Telecom will work with Ericsson to test Ultra-High Definition TV—or 4K—and High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC). The latter is a compression technology that promises to reduce the bandwidth requirements for video delivery by over 50 percent compared to the best H.264/MPEG-4 AVC implementations, according to Ericsson, which last year launched a TV encoder compatible with the technology. We can look forward to more HD streams and higher quality video if Ericsson implements HEVC in Mediaroom.

2013-04-08, 02:26 PM	#6
XM4243 Premium Supporter Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 900	For HEVC, Telcos would have to invest in new encoders and consumers would need to invest in new boxes which could take quite a few years.

2013-04-08, 05:49 PM	#7
nothanksrogers Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 91	I would be happy if they used hevc for better looking HD. Nevermind 4k.

2013-04-08, 10:48 PM	#9
MarcP Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Airdrie, AB Posts: 3,819	To count the number of times Microsoft started something and then walked away after being bored with it...

2013-04-09, 05:59 AM	#10
Tridus Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Fredericton, NB Posts: 567	They're not bored with it; Mediaroom no longer fits their strategy. They want to control the living room, but Mediaroom is stuck dealing with what the BDUs want (which is not Microsoft controlling the living room and things like Netflix easily available). The Xbox is a better fit for their strategy. Besides, if cord cutting picks up steam it's not going to be a growth business to own Mediaroom anymore. Why not get out while the property has value?

2013-04-09, 12:45 PM	#12
Tridus Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Fredericton, NB Posts: 567	Not if your goal is to poison the people at the table. If Microsoft can get in a position to offer those things directly, why would they want to go through the BDUs to do it anymore?

2013-04-09, 01:32 PM	#13
XM4243 Premium Supporter Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 900	Your point was that MS wants to control the living room but how can they if they can't offer consumers what the BDU's are selling? Without BDU's, the best MS can offer on XBOX is Over the Top (OTT) services such as Netflix. Something that ROKU, WDTV, Apple TV etc are all offering too. I would have thought that to control the living room, MS or Google or Apple or ??? would need a box that could deliver both BDU content and OTT services. (which was exactly what MS was delivering with Mediaroom)

2013-04-09, 04:53 PM	#14
yyzlhr Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 669	Wonder if this will change the look of Mediaroom interface. When I look at Bell Fibe, Optik TV, Uverse etc, the UI elements just scream Microsoft.

2013-04-10, 07:10 AM	#15
Tridus Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Fredericton, NB Posts: 567	Microsoft doesn't control anything with Mediaroom, though. They can't offer value added Microsoft stuff through it. People aren't buying it to get access to Microsoft stuff. It doesn't do things with your Windows 8 phone. etc, etc. Sure it lets them be there, but only as a vendor to the BDUs, not as the one in control. That's not what they want.