CTAM Helps Consumers Get the Real Story on On Demand Programs

The Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM) On Demand Consortium will demonstrate its EPG Simulator – an innovative online tool to ease the process of authoring On Demand program descriptors – at the CTAM Summit. The Simulator was released to ODC members today.

The EPG (electronic program guide) Simulator was developed by the Quality Subcommittee of the On Demand Consortium and Anystream to ensure that consumers see clear and consistent information about movies and television programs presented by cable On Demand. For programmers, the Simulator solves some of the problems tied to the authoring of metadata, the computer code that encompasses textual descriptions and graphic depictions of On Demand content. The On Demand Consortium includes most cable companies, programming networks, studios, technology companies and suppliers.

“This tool will enrich the consumer experience with cable On Demand,” said CTAM President and CEO Char Beales. “The EPG Simulator will enable programmers to make their cable presentations of On Demand program choices crystal clear.”

Working together with EPG companies from around the industry, CTAM and Anystream have created an online platform that will allow cable networks to view their On Demand metadata exactly as it will appear on customers’ EPG screens, over a variety of EPG platforms used by cable companies. At a glance, over a secure Internet connection, copywriters and graphic artists can use the EPG Simulator to see whether and where they need to adjust language, abbreviations, copy and design formats in order to make their creations look and perform perfectly across the entire cable On Demand universe.

“The Anystream and CTAM partnership to create the EPG Simulator enables programmers to preview the program descriptors as seen through the eyes of their customer, thereby creating a rock-solid viewing experience,” said Anystream VP of Products Russell Zack. “An Electronic Program Guide helps subscribers decide which program they’ll choose to watch. But with differing EPG layouts and formats, cable networks can’t ensure that all programs contain the same targeted message because of the lack of presentation consistency of the set top.”

CTAM Summit attendees can see a demonstration of the EPG Simulator at the Anystream display in the Digital Media Lab #125. Additionally, members of the CTAM Corporate Fund now have access to the Simulator via a password-protected link featured on the CTAM Web site.

CTAM, the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing, is dedicated to helping the cable business grow. As a non-profit professional association, CTAM provides marketing education and networking opportunities to more than 5,500 members, through conferences, consumer research, publications, www.ctam.com, a network of regional chapters, and the CTAM Executive Management Program at the Harvard Business School. CTAM also facilitates unified, national cooperative marketing efforts on behalf of its corporate members, such as the Cable Movers Hotline (SM), Business Services Initiative, and On Demand Consortium. Consumers can learn about cable’s advanced services and see offers from their local providers at the CTAM-supported www.ThisIsCable.com (SM). Anystream As the number of outlets and devices to consume video content grows, Anystream enables media companies and educators to innovate and experiment with new media to reach their consumers and students where, when, and how it’s convenient for them. With the bragging rights to over 600 media deployments and more than 150 higher education institutions, Anystream is the known leader for on demand video solutions. The company’s scalable, enterprise rich media solutions can be found from MIT to MTV and beyond. Anystream’s honors include the Frost & Sullivan Market Leadership Award, Presentations Magazine’s Standing Ovation Award, PC Magazine’s Technical Excellence Awards finalist, COMDEX Best of Show awards finalist, Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Hot 100” list and Deloitte & Touche’s “Fast 50.” Contacts: Diana Cronan, CTAM, Director, Communications and Media Relations, 703.837.6575, diana@ctam.com Melissa Lee, CTAM, Communications Coordinator, 703.837.6577, melissa@ctam.com Matthew Dornic, Anystream, Manager, Media Relations, 703.948.3076, mdornic@anystream.com