Broadband ISP TalkTalk UK Sign Netgem Deal to Launch 4K TV Service

Budget UK broadband ISP TalkTalk has today officially signed a contract with pay TV solutions provider Netgem, which will see the provider launch a new “TV 4K” product for their 4.2 million customers that will be powered by the Netgem TV platform and an apparently “frictionless ‘end to end’ operating model.”

The decision, which was first hinted at late last month (here), marks a significant step away from the provider’s long-running use of the YouView (IPTV) platform (something they originally helped to develop alongside BT and the BBC etc.). Such a move wasn’t entirely unexpected, as the ISP has recently been rolling back their interest in existing Pay TV products (here).

Netgem TV’s box and service have already been widely adopted by a growing number of UK ISPs, particularly smaller alternative networks that lack the funding to develop their own bespoke platforms. The set-top-boxes that they provide – Netbox HD and Netbox 4K – tend to be similar to some of those supplied by rival video streaming companies, including the usual array of premium content (sports), apps (Amazon, BTSport, hayu, Rakuten TV, YouTube etc.), live TV channels (Freeview) and catch-up content.

However, TalkTalk appears to be going one step further by adopting Netgem’s new managed “Content as a Service” platform, which will be able to operate across a wider range of devices. Last year, we noted that the provider’s name had been attached to an Android based TV box from Technicolor (UZW4054TTG), which could be one of the possible approaches they might take.

Mathias Hautefort, CEO of Netgem, said:

“This new contract with TalkTalk Group demonstrates the relevance of Netgem’s unique positioning in the fast-growing connected entertainment market. Netgem, thanks to its fully operated NetgemTV platform already market-tested with several operators in Britain in particular, and its expertise for running agreements with the main TV channels and the rising number of OTT content providers, intends to continue to expand its Content-as-a-Service model with Tier 1 operators.”

At the time of writing, Netgam could only confirm that a contract had been signed, but no details of what TalkTalk will actually offer to customers have been revealed. The new service looks set to be targetted at customers of their latest Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based ultrafast broadband (100Mbps+) packages, although it seems plausible that customers of their “superfast” (FTTC / VDSL2) products may also be included.

At present TalkTalk’s existing Pay TV service costs an extra £4 per month and the ISP is understood to be keen on retaining that price point via Netgem’s platform.