Opera TV today announced the launch of the latest update to its next-generation TV app technology, Opera TV Snap 3.0. The latest version of Opera TV Snap brings a complete end-to-end over-the-top (OTT) app generator for broadcasters, content providers, and video on demand (VOD) services.
This full platform upgrade enables content providers to mix live broadcasted streams, video clips from recent episodes, and full series content in one app with a multi-tier category navigation for easy access. Opera TV Snap 3.0 has expanded to include support for Brightcove Video Cloud, Dailymotion, JW Player, Ooyala, and Zype, empowering content providers to reach new audiences on millions of Smart TV devices.
“According to Parks Associates research, OTT video usage is expanding worldwide with 55 percent of UK broadband households and 51 percent in France watching TV online, compared to 70 percent in the U.S.,” said Aneesh Rajaram, CEO of Opera TV. “Opera TV Snap is the fastest way for broadcasters and VOD services to enter the OTT market. The platform allows them to reach new audiences on the home’s biggest screen, while also enabling content owners to monetize their existing video catalogs through Opera’s own ad networks and partnerships.”
The Opera TV Snap solution allows content owners to re-purpose their online video channels and existing video inventory into ready-to-run HTML5 apps for the Opera TV platform supported by major television and set-top-box manufacturers. The latest version features a side menu for easier navigation, support for full series content, updated user interface (UI), and improved support for viewer analytics to measure use behavior. Opera TV Snap 3.0 meets the complex needs of broadcasters and content providers enabling full series content to be cataloged and arranged by episode in chronological order. In addition to episode cataloging, Opera TV Snap 3.0 also allows broadcasters to feed live streaming content to viewers on their Smart TVs, Blu-ray players, and set-top-boxes.
Opera TV Snap has launched more than 500 apps with partners including, Arrival TV, Bon Appetit, CNBC International, Conde Nast Traveler, COPS, Deutsche Welle, Fashion TV, GTChannel, GQ, IGN, MLG, The New Yorker, The North Face, Paula Deen, TED, Vanity Fair, Vogue, The Washington Post, Young Hollywood, and many more. Partners have selected Opera TV Snap because it provides cost effective end-to-end OTT app creation platform and distribution on millions of consumer devices from a broad range of brands.
Opera TV Platform App Integration
The three year-old platform uniquely enables content publishers to transform their existing online video channels into ready-to-run apps optimized for Smart TVs. In previous product updates, Opera TV Snap has included support for RSS media video feeds and HTTP Live Streaming. The latest version of Opera TV Snap includes robust viewer analytics to assist content providers in understanding their viewer’s behaviors to deliver content they demand. Opera TV Snap 3.0 is a complete end-to-end solution from app build-out to providing viewers access to OTT apps via Opera TV’s next-generation OTT platform, Opera TV 2.0.
The HTML5-based application platform provides a tailored and engaging OTT viewing experience that also has the ability to create new after-sale revenue opportunities for manufacturers and operators. The managed cloud solution provides a wide selection of popular OTT content – including video channels and clips, movies, apps, games, and live TV – directly to households. The Opera TV UI organizes recommended, trending, and most popular HD movies, videos, and channels for easier access to content, incorporating Opera curation for increased user engagement
Opera TV is available on over 1,200 different Smart TVs, Blu-ray players, and set-top-boxes from Amino Communications, Hisense, Sony, Samsung, TiVo, Vestel, and many more reaching over a million customers worldwide.
OTT App Monetization Support
TDG Research forecasts OTT TV ad revenue to reach $40 billion by 2020, just under half of the projected $85 billion in total TV ad revenue during the same period. Opera TV understands that continuous revenue from apps is key for content providers and has integrated in app monetization opportunities within the Opera TV Snap platform through its ad-serving mediation platform, Opera Mediaworks. The platform is used by more than 19,000 sites and apps across smartphones, tablets, and connected TVs with 1.1 billion audience reach worldwide. Content owners and manufacturers can rely on Opera TV’s fully managed monetization service, as well as leverage the self-service tools for their directly sold campaigns.
