Freesat selects ARRIS as partner to launch generation 3 set-top box

Freesat, the UK’s leading free-to-air digital satellite TV provider, has announced that it will partner with ARRIS, a global leader in networking technology, to produce Freesat’s new Generation 3 (G3) set-top box. 

The new box, to be launched in 2019, will allow Freesat to offer the best in ultra-high definition content, and provide users with the latest On Demand services. Using the KreaTV software platform from ARRIS, Freesat leverages the OTT framework for services including Netflix, Amazon, YouTube and many more. The new line-up will feature four feature-packed devices with 500GB, 1TB and 2TB hard drive options for DVR, plus one option without a hard drive.

As the traditional barriers to broadcast are broken down, Free TV in the UK is in a stronger position than ever before, with the number of free-to-air (FTA) channels having more than doubled in the last decade. However, to keep up with the digital TV landscape, broadcasters need to innovate their business models to offer a flexible platform with a broad range of capabilities that can be easily tailored to fit specific operator requirements.

Alistair Thom, Managing Director of Freesat, says:

"This is a very significant move for us, because for the first time we will control the entire supply chain for our set-top box. It will be a great product, allowing us to offer customers ultra-high-definition viewing while continuing to provide viewers with access to the TV they want, when they want and in the format that they prefer."

The partnership also has plans to offer end-to-end TV solutions to expand into further international markets across Europe. The combination of Metaphor full stack, and ARRIS KreaTV middleware provides a platform for growth that can evolve to keep pace with the changing nature of modern TV provision and consumption.

Anthony Zuyderhoff, ARRIS SVP and GM of International CPE agrees:

"We’re thrilled to be working with Freesat and entering the dynamic retail space in the UK. Looking ahead, the combination of Metaphor and KreaTV has great potential. It will allow us to deploy cutting-edge television to global customers through a hybrid platform that is quick, flexible and cost-effective to install, delighting viewers and advertisers alike."

Freesat and ARRIS will be exhibiting at the IBC 2018 exhibition in Amsterdam, which runs from 13th –18th September.