"Virtual Cable Operator" Zattoo Gains 10 Million Users in Europe

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 01:08:56 +0000

AMSTERDAM -- The live Web TV service Zattoo has amassed nearly 10 million users in Europe for its over-the-top type of TV service. At the recent IBC Show in Amsterdam, Beet.TV talked to Stefan Lietsch, Head of Engineering, at Zattoo, for insight into how the service works. Zattoo brings a range of TV channels to digital devices and PCs, operating like a virtual cable operator, Lietsch says. "We do it on a legal basis and have contracts with the channels or with societies that collect monies for the rights and we rep them and transcode them," he explains in this video interview.Zattoo primarily relies on ads for revenue, but also has a paid offering without ads that is similar to a Hulu Plus-esque subscription model. The service is restricted by geo-location, Lietsch explains. "We can only show channels available in [that] country," he says. Zattoo says it delivers 20 million video views each month.Lietsch adds that Zattoo works closely with content delivery network Akamai to manage the traffic.

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"Virtual Cable Operator" Zattoo Gains 10 Million Users in Europe