Arqiva builds cloud-based metadata management for Freeview Play

Communications infrastructure and media services provider Arqiva has built a cloud-based metadata management system for Digital UK, the outfit that leads the development of UK digital-terrestrial platform Freeview.

According to Arqivia, the system supports the migration of the Freeview Play service information platform to a public cloud infrastructure, and aggregates, manages and delivers service and programme metadata from multiple sources for Freeview Play guides on connected TVs and set-top boxes, enabling viewers to navigate between live TV and on-demand content.

Arqiva’s said that its cloud-orchestrated technology will enable Freeview to trial, adopt and integrate new services, as well as supporting Freeview Play’s growth.

Arqiva provided and operated the original metadata management system for Digital UK for Freeview Play since its launch in 2015. Since last year Arqiva has been working with Digital UK on designing, developing and testing the new cloud-based platform, with the full migration process completed on July 20.

James Jackson, technology director at Digital UK, said: “Providing an enjoyable, flexible and intuitive viewer experience is central to what we do. This Metadata Management system now allows Digital UK to adapt to future changes quicker and allows us to efficiently scale up as the platform grows rapidly over the coming years. Arqiva’s experience and depth of understanding of Freeview’s requirements has ensured that these systems can fully meet the expectations of viewers, broadcasters and our manufacturer partners.”

Laurie Patten, director of products and strategy at Arqiva, said: “As Freeview Play continues to grow in popularity, it’s more important than ever that Freeview has the right support in evolving its hybrid service towards a virtual environment. The new cloud-based metadata management system will mean Freeview can offer all its new and existing users a seamless viewing experience. Enhancing the viewing experience is always front of mind for our customers, and this highly-scalable and flexible system will allow them to bring new ideas to market sooner.”