Verizon teams up with Clearleap for localized VOD
Verizon will use Clearleap's cloud-based content management and advertising tools to deliver localized content to its Fios TV customers.
Verizon Communications has integrated a new cloud-based content management and advertising platform from a company called Clearleap for its Fios TV service.
Clearleap announced the deal Monday. Verizon will initially deploy Clearleap to add local content and advertising to its FiOS 1 channel, which offers subscribers local content including news, sports, traffic, and weather.
Clearleap will also help Verizon offer video on demand (VOD) on its Fios 1 channel. Specifically, professional sports teams in a given market will be able to deliver content on demand directly to Fios TV subscribers. For example, on Long Island, N.Y., and in Washington, D.C., Verizon is using Clearleap's Web-based management tools to help Fios 1 producers upload content from anywhere, process it centrally, and redistribute it to targeted local markets.
Clearleap's technology is being used by several paid TV providers, including six of the top 10 U.S. cable operators, the company has said. But Clearleap's ambitions go beyond that of helping only paid TV providers tailor TV content to audiences.
The company is also working with over-the-top Internet providers. Last month, it announced a deal with Roku to bring free and paid video-on-demand content over the Net to consumers who don't want to subscribe to expensive paid TV packages.
Roku offers an inexpensive set-top box to consumers that allows them to watch movies and TV shows from the Internet on their TVs, providing an alternative to traditional paid TV services. Roku has partnered with content companies and distributors, such as Netflix and Amazon. And the deal with Clearleap should make it easier for the set-top box maker to deal with individual content owners who want to distribute their TV shows and movies via the Web to TVs.