Global sports pay-TV provider beIN SPORTS has selected the Cisco Videoscape TV services delivery platform to deliver advanced sports video experiences across 20-plus countries in the MENA region. Cisco provides software and hardware solutions, along with prime system integration services to beIN SPORTS to help support millions of new subscriptions across MENA.
“Consumer appetite for new video experiences and a connected lifestyle is developing so rapidly in the MENA region,” commented Yousef Mohammed Al-Obaidly, deputy CEO, beINSPORTS. “It is opportune that we have teamed with Cisco to help us remain competitive by delivering new and exciting services faster than ever before. With premium content security top of our agenda, Cisco Videoscape can provide an open, flexible and fully secure platform that will reduce barriers to innovation and time to market. The first boxes launched in March 2014 and we will continue to roll out many more high-end boxes throughout this next year.”
The platform uses Cisco’s VideoGuard conditional access system (CAS), Cisco MediaHighway middleware, Cisco digital video recorder (DVR) and user interface (UI) technologies.
The Qatari Sports Investments-owned beIN SPORTS offers HD set-top boxes from multiple manufacturers, all enabled by Cisco software and security solutions, ranging from the low-end to a mid-range DVR, and a high-end media gateway enabled by Cisco middleware with a common, advanced user interface.
Yves Padrines, VP, cable media and video, Cisco, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Russia, added: “Security and protecting valuable premium sports programming is of vital importance to beIN SPORTS. Utilising the Cisco Videoscape platform allow beIN SPORTS to provide a secure and flexible foundation for launching more personalised, synchronised, and social video experiences that their subscribers in the MENA region want and expect.”