Technology focus > Quality assurance Digital TV Europe May/June 2014 Multiple qualities Quality assurance software for multiscreen and OTT can help deliver a better experience and retain subsribers, but is the transformative promise of ‘big data’ from IP systems oversold? Stuart Thomson reports. the rush to launch and develop Amid multiscreen and over-the-top TV services, how to ensure the consistent – and consistently high – quality on such services remains something of a challenge. Specialist technology suppliers have for some time been providing solutions to enable service providers to deliver better Quality of Service for multiscreen TV services, while broadcasters have also sought to improve the delivery of catch-up and on-demand services delivered to the main screen via IP. However, there is still uncertainty about how to make money from OTT services, as well as the best business model for multiscreen deliv- ery, meaning that whether there is a case for investment in quality assurance technologies is sometimes still a tough call, particularly in the case of technologies that monitor the experi- ence of all users in a service provider’s sub- scriber base or footprint. In this environment, there has been much talk recently about the promise of ‘big data’ – the totality of information about user behaviour and the performance of different services and delivery architectures that could be provided by quality assurance agents embedded in user devices at the player level. This, it is said, could help transform the way in which service providers evolve their offerings over time. Business case For multiscreen services offered by pay TV providers in particular, quality assurance itself remains a key concern, but questions remain over how cost-effective it is for service providers to invest heavily in the technology. It is useful to distinguish in this context between multiscreen or TV everywhere servic- es that are delivered by a pay TV service Visit us at www.digitaltveurope.net 12