QuickPlay Media, the Canadian mobile video delivery company, has developed a multi-screen video solution that allows consumers to view TV shows anywhere on their smartphones, computers and other consumer electronics devices.
QuickPlay also this week announced that it is providing the first video-on-demand service for U.S. Cellular, offering streaming video clips for a broad selection of music videos, movie trailers, comedy, entertainment news and extreme spots. U.S. Cellular is offering the service on a number of video-optimized handsets.
The Toronto company released results of a new survey of U.S. consumers that showed strong interest in viewing TV and video on multiple devices and services. The survey said 53 percent of Americans were interested in multi-screen video.
“This research is consistent with what we are seeing in the marketplace,” QuickPlay President and CEO Wayne Purboo said in a statement. “For some time now, we have been working with our clients to deliver solutions that enable them to offer a seamless entertainment experience across multiple devices while also managing key business requirements such as content entitlements, digital rights management (DRM) and geographic restrictions.”
The study said 56 percent of respondents were interested in mobile TV and video services, up from 55 percent last year. The number of people who have tried their carrier’s mobile TV and video service remained the same, 36 percent. But the survey said 67 percent of those currently watching mobile TV or video began using such services in the last 12 months.
Mark Hyland, QuickPlay’s sales and marketing vice president, said in an interview at CTIA that one of the trickiest issues in getting TV on multiple devices is handling the different DRM technologies and rules. QuickPlay has mastered the DRM issues, he said, and is building on the success of its PrimeTime2Go platform released last May.
PrimeTime2Go is a subscription-based service allowing customers to watch TV shows anytime and anywhere. Content comes from major networks and cable providers. Subscribers can download programs on-demand and set the service to deliver full episodes soon after the air date.
QuickPlay knew consumers were interested in viewing short videos on their mobile devices but took somewhat of a gamble in betting they would watch full episodes. Hyland declined to say how many customers it had for PrimeTime2Go but said the company has been pleased with the uptake and retention.
Subscribers to the service typically download 18 full-length episodes a month, he said. All the downloads are handled over a Wi-Fi connection so there is no mobile data usage.