Austria’s national broadcasting services provider ORS has launched three smart TV apps, designed, engineered and delivered by 3SS, for its new simpliTVservice.
The next-gen apps are now live and delivering an advanced big-screen user experience via DVB-T2 (terrestrial), DVB-S2 (satellite) and OTT for Samsung Tizen and Android TV smart TV owners across Austria. These apps enable seamless switching between DVB-T2 live TV to timeshift via streaming. As a result, for Samsung and Android TVs, the 3SS-engineered app is the unified home of all three simpliTV services: simpliTV Antenne (ORS’ original over-the-air service launched in 2013), alongside simpliTV SAT and simpliTV Streaming. Both apps can automatically build channel line-ups displayed in the new UI in accordance with regional availability of over-the-air digital terrestrial services.
This hybrid configuration also achieves ORS’ objectives to provide best-quality viewing experience (QoE) and maximum internet bandwidth efficiency for subscribers. Both are achieved through dynamic offloading of live TV onto reliable broadcast technology.
The simpliTV app is a preferred Live TV application on 2021 Samsung smart TVs sold in Austria. It auto-installs on initial TV set-up, effectively making the app pre-loaded, available out-of-the-box with no effort from the TV owner. The app also automatically installs on newly purchased 2019 and 2020 models. This was achieved through complex technical integration between simpliTV and Samsung, in which the tuners of the TVs are accessed to accommodate traditional broadcast signals.
3SS has also developed a third simpliTV app to support OTT viewing on LG webOS smart TVs. The three apps, all powered by 3SS’ 3READY product framework are now downloadable from Samsung Apps, Google Play Store and LG Content Store.
ORS’ goal is for its simpliTV smart TV experiences to complement its existing FireTV and web apps, and its apps for Android and iOS mobile devices.
“We needed to create a new way of watching TV to meet the ever-higher expectations of many of today’s consumers, including streaming enthusiasts. We wanted to broaden our audience in this way while continuing to embrace our many viewers who prefer a more traditional TV experience,” explained Thomas Langsenlehner, CEO of simpli services.
“It was important to us to enrich the classic, linear broadcast big-screen UX with innovative features that streaming technology brings, such as catchup, Timeshift and network PVR, and to deliver it all to viewers in one attractive, easy-to-navigate app,” Langsenlehner continued. The apps also feature mini-EPG, seven-day backwards EPG, Search and Continue Watching where user left off, even when switching devices.
ORS commissioned 3SS to design and develop a big-screen UX to meet the needs of viewers of classic TV and of streaming fans. The new apps therefore include a grid-view EPG, as well as a modern way of presenting content to viewers which encourages them to explore, with categories such as Recommended, Most Watched, Continue Watching, Genres, etc.
“We are extremely proud to help ORS deliver a next-gen big-screen viewing experience for Austria’s consumers,” said Kai-Christian Borchers, 3SS managing director.
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