Global chip maker Intel is set to debut its internet TV set-top box and subscription based TV streaming service.
According to Erik Huggers, general manager of Intel Media the firm’s Internet-based TV service will be available on mobile devices and might be long before it is on multiple platforms. Intel is finally ready to take the next step and capture the African television market by planning to introduce new services called combo cable and TV streaming service.
The giant corporation that is already famous in the computer industry is preparing to enter into an African market it hasn’t tapped before. The expected changes also have many television giants worried as Intel is looking to take their market share.
The Service
The company is planning to come up with a set top box that will be built on Intel’s chips. The set top box is rumored to be designed to deliver a mix of cable and steaming programs to its subscribers in African Continent. It is believed that in the early stages the service will only be available in selected markets. However, Intel might move ahead and introduce it in other areas as well depending on the kind of response it receives.
The service is mainly aimed at viewers in Africa who want to enjoy cable and streaming on one set without having to face the trouble of going to a computer and vice versa. This new service will bring a kind of revolution as it will allow people a luxury they have dreamt of for a long time.
The Plan
Yet, Intel insists that the service is expected to be announces soon. However, it has not given any concrete dates due to which there is ambiguity in the air. Still, the main question is how the service will change the current landscape.
Things changed a little when Google announced Google TV, a service that did not really leave that big of a mark but still made a few dents. However, if Intel is also able to launch the service on a large scale it will surely impact the market in a big way.
The Hurdle
Nevertheless, the chip manufacturers are facing some barriers mainly from the already established corporations in the industry that are trying their best to stop Intel from making a mark in the industry because they are afraid of the impact that may have on their market share.
People already have a connection with Intel thanks to it being a popular name. A great number of television subscribers in Africa may cancel their subscription and switch to Intel not only because of the goodwill it has but also because it is actually offering something new.
The computer chip manufacturer has agreed to offer its service initially in city by city basis. Many content providers are also taking part in this willing to give Intel some control over the content in how it is distributed in selected markets. However, understandably, going full blown with the service all of a sudden is not a possibility because in many areas providers have specific contracts that may not allow distributors to distribute their content to other channels.
Rumors of Intel’s plan were doing the round for a while now with the company looking to become a virtual cable operator. However, the company wishes to leave no stone unturned which is why the service is taking a little longer to be released on a wider scale.
Experts suggest that Intel is taking its time in making sure that it plays its cards right and does not fail because it indeed faces stiff competition from other big players already in the game.
What to Expect
Intel will have to offer a mixture of channels to be able to attract African audience’s attention. There are a good number of Spanish channels on Dish Latino that the company will have to incorporate if it wishes to leave a mark. Nonetheless, one cannot really say how the scenario will change.
Will Intel be able to capture the African market? It is not really possible to give the answer in one word because the scenario is still pretty vague. If it really wishes to do so it will have to make sure it gives the best rates with the best quality and a huge number of channels. Everyone knows that there are a good number of Spanish channels on Dish Latino. Intel will also have to do something similar with its combo and streaming service.
Author’s Bio
Sarah James is a television freak who enjoys all shows on satellite using Dish Latino. She is a big sports fan who also likes to watch all the programs live sometimes on television and sometime via steaming. She recommends that there are a good number of Spanish channels on Dish Latino which are not worth missing.
