Wyplay taps V-Nova for video compression

TV software provider Wyplay has tapped V-Nova to provide compression technology for a major European TV operator, understood to be Sky in Italy. 

Though V-Nova could not reveal the details of the tier-one operator, the partnership comes in the same week that Wyplay announced that its Frog By Wyplay software solution is powering Sky’s new broadband HD TV decoder in Italy, which it is offering in partnership with Telecom Italia.

Under the Wyplay-V-Nova agreement, V-Nova’s Perseus video compression technology will be integrated into the set-top box platform, which will also run Frog Client middleware.

V-Nova, which has been operating in stealth mode for the last five years, unveiled its Perseus compression technology at a press conference in London earlier this month.

V-Nova claims its will revolutionise video distribution by permitting the delivery of UHD quality at current HD bitrates, HD at SD bitrates, and SD video at audio bitrates.

The company says its proprietary technology can provide compression or the order of a factor of two or three over existing MPEG technologies, including HEVC, H.264 and – for contribution applications – JPEG2000.

Telecom Italia struck a wholesale TV deal with Sky last year and the partnership went live this month.

The agreement allows Telecom Italia customers to gain access the full Sky television offer through its high-speed broadband network.

Sky are providing the My Sky HD decoders, specially created for internet TV, to power the offering, with the deal allowing it to expand its pay TV sales base and appeal to potential subscribers who cannot install a satellite dish.

The Sky-Telecom Italia offer is available at an equivalent price to Sky’s existing satellite service in Italy, and will include the same content.

Telecom Italia said last year that the Sky offer will be primarily directed towards customers who have a fibre-optic connection, and will be a driver for the development of ‘ultrabroadband’.