Allente, the new entity resulting from the recent merger between Viasat Consumer and Canal Digital, is to deploy KAON STBs and middleware alongside new 3SS-enabled viewing experience advances across its aggregated 1.2 million subscriber base in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

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3SS: An enhanced user experience is at the core of the investment

The move builds on Allente’s successful 3SS-enabled OnePlace satellite and OTT service which Canal Digital launched in 2018, which is based on the Android TV Operator Tier.

Allente’s new hybrid KAON PVR STB is made for an enhanced user experience and new services, and is more powerful than incumbent OnePlace on-premise equipment. With a host of advanced features, the devices will enable Allente’s subscribers to enjoy a range of benefits from high performance to an enriched customer experience.

Jon Espen Nergård, Allente CTO, said: “Delivering these new powerful STBs to our audiences is a major milestone as we open our new chapter as Allente. Thanks to our key partners, KAON and 3SS, we are well-equipped to further build on our award-winning successes, and we look forward to providing even better experiences to our valued subscribers.”

The new STBs will be deployed this year in a phased rollout. Online OTT viewing will be enabled first, followed by DTH satellite-delivered TV, and later, PVR capability and IPTV will be introduced. KAON STB middleware is fully integrated with Google’s Android TV software stack to enable new pre-certified Android TV capabilities such as Custom Over-The-Air Update, further accelerating the introduction of new features that will generate value for customers, enhance viewer appeal and grow service uptake.

Part of Allente’s technology evolution is the migration of OnePlace from Android N to Android P compliancy, including on existing OnePlace STBs.

3SS is developing additional new UI features and capabilities for second-generation OnePlace, in partnership with Allente, which will feature on the entire STB population. Among these are catch-up TV collapsing, which will make searching for an episode in a series catalogue easier. Additionally, all OnePlace receivers will feature electronic sell-through (EST) with more buy and rent options for subscribers, across a broader-than-ever range of assets.

“The highly fragmented and competitive entertainment landscape today is more challenging than ever for operators, and the need to provide superior experiences for subscribers is business-essential; we are honoured to have been selected by Allente, a true world leader, to help deliver first-class experiences to viewers today and tomorrow,” commented Tom Buhl, KAON Media Executive vice president.

“We are extremely proud that Allente continues to trust our team to help deliver advanced TV entertainment to consumers across the Nordic region,” commented Kai-Christian Borchers, managing director of 3SS.

“We look forward to collaborating with KAON to help Allente delight even more consumers with captivating, next-level viewing experiences,” he added.