Red Bee Metadata Provider For Liberty Global's Horizon

A leading media management companies providing multi-platform technology and creative solutions to broadcasters, content rights holders, platform operators and brand owners, Red Bee Media, has announced an exclusive multi-year deal with UPC Broadband, Liberty Global's European cable division, to provide rich metadata for Liberty Global's next-generation TV platform, Horizon.
Under the terms of the deal, Red Bee Media will create and deliver rich metadata services for the Horizon platform, which is scheduled to launch in Q1 2012 in the Netherlands. The next generation metadata will include richer and deeper information to help customers to find their way around the range of exciting content on the Horizon platform.
In addition, UPC Broadband has commissioned Red Bee Media to supply metadata for their existing digital TV platforms in the Netherlands, Ireland and Switzerland.
Horizon, which was unveiled earlier this month at IBC 2011 by Mike Fries, President of Liberty Global, is an elegant media and entertainment platform for the home, which seamlessly integrates cable, web-based and personal content.
Using a simple and intuitive interface and a powerful recommendation engine, consumers will be able to share and view content on multiple screens and devices wirelessly throughout the home. Liberty Global has developed Horizon with a set of world-class technology partners including Samsung, Intel, NDS, Nagravision, IOKO and Empathy Labs.
"Metadata is critical to the success of any TV platform, and Horizon is no exception. We are pleased to be working with Red Bee Media to deliver advanced metadata to our platforms," said Andrew Kearney, Vice President TV Products of UPC Broadband.
"Digital television has radicalised the way we watch television and opened up new opportunities for broadcasters to promote and stream their content across multiple platforms.
"Within this picture, rich metadata is revolutionising the traditional listings model, accessing new audiences and potentially lucrative revenue streams," said Bill Patrizio, Chief Executive of Red Bee Media.
"The delivery of next generation metadata services for Horizon builds on our long-standing relationship with UPC Broadband and we’re proud to work with them as a core component of this market-leading television initiative. We admire Liberty Global's vision to become Europe's most sophisticated digital platform and we’re confident that, with our extensive track record of delivery and innovation, we will be well positioned to strategically align with their future growth plans."
Last month, Red Bee Media, alongside the other Horizon partners, jointly won a Liberty Global Vendor Award for Innovation and Breakthrough at the 2011 Liberty Global Technology Summit. The awards are designed to recognise suppliers that have supported Liberty Global and its affiliates over the past year, and that are able to continuously show improvement.
Red Bee Media creates and supplies metadata and listings information for over 1,000 channels across Europe in 23 different languages for over 37,000 programmes a day, providing the vital link between content owners, platform operators and viewers. Clients include the BBC, ITV, Five, Talk Talk, Microsoft and Sony.
(BMcC/CD)