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Akimbo Unveils Queue-and-View VOD Service for Cable Boxes

Posted on: Monday, 25 July 2005, 15:00 CDT

Akimbo(TM) Systems today announced a new program that lets cable operators tap into the burgeoning stream of profitable specialty video and offer it to subscribers on-demand. Akimbo has developed a Queue-and-View(TM) client-server system for DVR-enabled cable set-top boxes that allows cable subscribers to receive videos via download. Cable operators can leverage their popular DVR platforms to generate more revenue by offering thousands of additional hours of video for specialty markets such as foreign language, home schooling, unique sports, film festivals and TV archives.

"Akimbo lets cable companies develop new revenue streams while satisfying their subscribers' desire for personalized entertainment," said Josh Goldman, chief executive officer of Akimbo. "Akimbo is a one-stop solution that allows cable companies to capitalize on the 'long tail' of specialty and archived media, by delivering a broad collection of valuable video to their viewers without incorporating new costs or infrastructure."

Now cable operators have an effective way to add deep libraries of specialty video not currently available on cable. Because the Queue-and-View VOD architecture is not hampered by network latency, operators can choose to deliver downloads directly from the Akimbo Service with no new capital purchases, or send downloads from their own servers. Akimbo complements streaming VOD by enabling operators to offer a virtually unlimited selection for download. Also, Akimbo's same-day publishing capabilities permit delivery of time-sensitive material for immediate download.

Subscribers can use an on-screen guide or any PC with an Internet connection to choose shows for delivery to their cable box. For example, fans of AsiaMovieChannel will discover a variety of hard-to-find films plus international blockbusters such as "Ke Ke Li Mountain Patrol," which won awards at the Berlin, Hong Kong and Tokyo film festivals, and "New Police Story" starring Jackie Chan, which won Best Film and Best Action Choreography at the Hong Kong Film Awards. AsiaMovieChannel also presents an extensive array of Chinese-language serials, including "Lover In Paris,""Grand Mansion Gate" and hit Korean dramas like "Love In Three Colors."

Akimbo's server architecture is designed for compatibility with various middleware platforms and client-side digital rights management technologies. Metadata is delivered via standard XML feed or CableLabs(R) VOD format. Video is available in MPEG 2 and MPEG 4 formats.

Operators can use the platform to feature their own licensed video and tap Akimbo's rapidly growing library of video that already features thousands of titles in more than 50 categories. Although not all Akimbo video is available for cable distribution, the entire Akimbo library can be viewed at www.akimbo.com.

About Akimbo

With the Akimbo Service, your wish is on demand(TM). Akimbo was named "Best of What's New" by Popular Science and accepted 2005 Digital World Innovations and CES Best of Innovations 2005 awards. With 12 patent applications featuring more than 150 patent claims, Akimbo is the first company to deliver digital-quality video-on-demand to any television via a broadband-Internet connection. Akimbo has offices in Los Angeles and San Mateo, Calif. and is a privately held company funded by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Sprout Group and Zone Ventures. For more information, visit www.akimbo.com

Source: Business Wire

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