C Spire to soon offer customer-inspired next generation TV service

Telco and technology services provider C Spire today announced it is launching a new content delivery platform that eliminates the need for set-top boxes by utilizing the most popular streaming devices

C Spire announced plans today to introduce a new service that promises to dramatically change the in-home television viewing experience with a new, rich content delivery platform that eliminates the need for traditional set top boxes.

The Mississippi-based diversified telco and technology services firm, which operates the nation's sixth largest mobile communications unit and provides consumer Gigabit speed Internet access, super  HD TV and digital home phone service to thousands of customers, made the announcement at the American Cable Association and National Cable Television Cooperative annual show here.

The company is the first in the U.S. to develop a new IP video delivery platform in partnership with MobiTV.  The service enables television content consumption across the most popular streaming devices, including Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, select smart TVs, Android, iOS and online using a new, cutting-edge app that works on smartphones, tablets and laptops.

"Since the service relies on in-home streaming and mobile devices, it eliminates the need for traditional set top boxes.  This next generation service leverages our long-standing history of providing customer-inspired wireless experiences and will look and feel more like an app than your standard cable TV service with features such as in-depth search, personal recommendations and catch up TV," said Suzy Hays, senior vice president of Consumer Markets for C Spire. 

Hays said C Spire expects to begin beta testing the new service in November, incorporating customer input through popular retail channels prior to commercial launch.  The new service features a full linear TV line up, including local stations, video on demand, cloud digital video recording and catch up TV for up to 7 days.

Future plans for C Spire TV also include skinny channel packages, according to Hays.  These smaller, economical packages will address a common consumer desire to only subscribe to the networks they want.  

"At C Spire, our inspiration is to bring premium viewing experiences that deliver tailored TV content to consumers based on the devices they love," Hays said.  

Source: PR Newswire