Content Management

SmartTUBE SDP provides a suite of tools designed for Content Management Departments to control TV-related content and VoD movie/series library. The platform also supports the import and management of multilingual Electronic Program Guide (EPG) and VoD-related metadata.

TV-related Content

SmartTUBE SDP capabilities enable operators to manage TV content distributed over IPTV, OTT, and DVB-T/T2/C networks and provided with the following TV services:

• Live TV: Real-time television streaming.
• Catch-up: Services allowing subscribers to watch TV programs for a period after they have aired. Recording of the source streams is done on the operator’s equipment using hardware or software (e.g. SmartMEDIA Content Delivery Subsystem). Services include:
  • Pause Live (Restart TV): Allows to pause, rewind, and fast-forward within the ongoing TV program.
  • Start Over: Allows to start watching the ongoing TV program from the beginning.
  • Time Shift (TSTV): Allows to play, pause, rewind, and fast-forward completed TV programs within a time frame determined by the operator.
  • Catch-up Content Library :  Enables access to selected TV programs recorded by operator and provided to subscribers via content rails on the SmartTUBE Apps’ Home screen.
• nPVR: Cloud recording of completed, ongoing, and upcoming TV programs initiated by a subscriber.

Management of TV-related content

• Channel Management
  • Channel Metadata: Provides control over the channel title, description, number in the channel list, and topics. The channel can have a single logo for display on all device types or multiple logos optimized for each one.
  • Streaming Settings: Allow to configure channel streaming sources, URLs for multicast or unicast outgoing streams, URLs of DVR and nPVR servers, define encryption types for different device types, set regional restrictions or block the channel broadcast immediately.
  • Age Restrictions: Each channel is assigned an age access level, dictating its visibility in apps and user access with or without a PIN code. For more details, check User Profile.
  • Channel Sorting: Operator can control channel sorting in apps by combining sorting by channel number and fixed channel position.
• Program Management
  • Program Metadata:  Provides control over original and custom program titles, serialized TV show attributes, release country and year, poster, age rating, genre, personalities, awards, and so on.
  • Automatic EPG Import: Supports XMLTV, a widely used standard for describing TV listings, and SmartLabs EPG XML, a simplified XML format developed by SmartLabs and detailing all EPG metadata processed by the SmartTUBE SDP.
  • Catch-up Options: Allows to manage the availability of the program for catch-up services and the duration of availability.
  • Blackout: Operator is able to block broadcasting of certain programs by replacing the video stream with a predetermined image.
  • Restriction for nPVR Recording for Certain Device Types
  • Additional Program Logo Overlay: Overlaying additional logo on top of the video stream of a specific TV program. Implemented in conjunction with the SmartMEDIA Content Delivery System.
• Closed Caption (CC) Management: Allows to manage the selection of CC tracks present in the original channel stream and available to subscribers.

SmartTUBE SDP supports all models of the Video on Demand (VoD) content providing, allowing operators to manage the movie and series library from both local storage and external content providers:

• TVoD (Transactional Video on Demand): Allows a user to access a movie/series by making a one-time payment. After the purchase, the user has a limited time to watch the movie.
• SVoD (Subscription Video on Demand): Provides a user with long term access to a range of movies/series by subscribing either through a single payment or periodic charges.
• AVoD (Advertising Video on Demand): Offers a user free content access supported by ads that are displayed before (pre-roll), after (post-roll), or during (mid-roll) video playback.

Management of xVoD Library

• Content Metadata: Operator can manage a wide range of content metadata including original and custom titles, release country and year, posters and screenshots, distribution period, age rating, genre, personalities, awards, and so on.
• Content Assets: Enables operator to manage assets for movies, series episodes and their trailers. Each movie and episode can have several asset versions (e.g. SD, HD, UHD) for different device types, encryption options, content providers, pricing and bundling rules. Assets can be individually enabled for offline viewing by subscribers within the SmartTUBE Apps.
• Regional Restrictions: Regional restrictions can be applied at the movie and series level.
• Integration with VoD Content Providers: SmartTUBE offers streamlined integration schemes with a number of content providers.

Radio Stations

SmartTUBE SDP provides features for managing radio station broadcasting with configuration options similar to those available for TV-related content.