RTÉ To Develop 'Next Generation' RTÉ Player

RTÉ has announced its plans to develop the next generation RTÉ Player, Ireland's number one broadcaster video-on-demand service. It is expected that the new service will be launched before the end of the year.

The redeveloped RTÉ Player will be RTÉ's multi-channel television and video platform, designed and re-imagined for how Irish audiences watch television and video content online. It will be a world-class online television and video destination that seamlessly blends the audience content needs across live and on-demand with a curated, personalised service, with new features and functionality.

The new RTÉ Player experience will be a gateway into a world of great content, from box-sets and curated on-demand libraries across 10 genres, to exciting new original RTÉ Player shorts, as well as the ability to enjoy RTÉ's live channels on any screen.

Delivering a multi-platform experience, the redeveloped RTÉ Player will be available across web, iOS, Android, connected TVs and OTT services, including Saorview, Chromecast, Android TV and Apple TV.

RTÉ's lead partner for the delivery of the project is Fincons Group. The global IT Business Consulting company has over 30 years' experience as a broadband and broadcast service partner and has worked with many leading companies including Sky and the largest Italian commercial broadcaster, Mediaset, as consultant and integration partner for their video solutions and OTT platform rollouts.

RTÉ and Fincons Group will also work with the Dutch-based TV app development company 24i, an internet TV app company, which powers apps for leading brands like Viacom, Fuse media and Sinclair. Discovery and personalisation provider ContentWise will integrate its content personalisation solution.

RTÉ Player will benefit from the combination of Fincons Group's design and integration, 24i's unified UI front-end expertise and ContentWise's user experience automation capabilities.

Múirne Laffan, RTÉ's Chief Digital Officer, said: "The delivery of the next generation RTÉ Player is hugely important for RTÉ's future. It is a sophisticated proposition that will position us to meet evolving audience expectations and compete within a highly competitive, globalised media environment."

Aoife Byrne, Director of Content & Products for RTÉ's digital division, said: "In order to meet the changing needs of our audiences, we are transforming RTÉ Player from being a pure catch-up TV service, to being a world-class live and on-demand online TV and video platform. Irish audiences will continue to be able to catch up on their favourite show, but with the next-generation RTÉ Player we will soon be offering so much more: on-demand libraries with hundreds of great titles from across the genres; great box-sets to binge on, and brand new short-form content, exclusive to RTÉ Player. Audiences will also be able to enjoy RTÉ's television channels live, on any screen."

"As well as delivering on our audience's content needs, we want next-generation RTÉ Player to deliver a superb streaming experience. To achieve this, we are working with our delivery partners Fincons Group, 24i and ContentWise who are hugely experienced in delivering world-class online TV and video platforms. We are rebuilding the product from the ground up to ensure technical reliability, and we will also be adding some great new features and functionality such as live restart and autoplay to make watching great TV and video even better" added Aoife Byrne.

Michele Moretti, CEO at Fincons Group, commented: "We are delighted to be bringing our tailored solutions and wealth of experience to support such a key strategic project for a national media like RTÉ, designing and integrating a future-proof OTT solution which will efficiently provide a seamless and compelling multiscreen user experience. Building on our extensive experience working with the major international players, this project further confirms our footprint in the media and broadcast sector."