What exactly is social cloud TV?

What exactly is social cloud TV?

Social Cloud TV was developed by scientist headed by Wen Yoggang of Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Social Cloud TV is a technology that empowers users by sharing videos on multiple devices at the same time through cloud-based system. With it, you can also connect to your social buddies through video chats and IMs while watching or playing your favorite videos. You can also continue watching movies on your tablet when you leave your room or your house or continue chatting with your online buddies. 

What exactly is social cloud TV?

Social cloud TV or simply CloudTV is a software platform that virtualizes set-top box (STB) or customer-premises equipment (CPE) functionality allowing pay-TV operators and other video service providers to get advanced user interfaces, interactive web-style advertising, and online video experiences like YouTube to current and next generation cable TV and IPTV set-top boxes and connected consumer electronic devices. CloudTV is a product of ActiveVideo, a Silicon Valley software company.

CloudTV is available on over 15 million devices. Listed customers include the following:

• United States – Time Warner Oceanic, Cablevision Systems, and Charter Communications
• Europe – Deutsche Telekom’s T-Labs and Liberty Global
• Asia – PCCW Limited

ActiveVideo was the result of a merger done in 2006 between ICTV and Switched Media which is a developer of technologies for the customization of video streams. The company formed after the merge was named ActiveVideo in 2008. In 2009, Avinity Systems, B.V., a European company, was acquired by ActiveVideo. Its first consumer electronics partner, Funai Electric, was announced in 2011.

Funai Electric is a manufacturer of Philips NetTVs. A partnership with Sumitomo Corporation was also announced by ActiveVideo which is aimed at driving distribution of CloudTV in Japan and the Asia-Pacific market. Sumitomo Corporation is a fifty percent (50%) owner of J:COM, the biggest cable system operator in Japan.