Dialog Television Completes Major OTT Service Upgrade with UniqCast’s IPTV/OTT Platform and Professional Services

Zagreb, Croatia – September 10th, 2024 – UniqCast, a leading provider of end-to-end IPTV/OTT solutions, today announced the successful upgrade of Dialog Television's OTT platform. Dialog Television, Sri Lanka’s #1 Pay-TV service provider, delivers a diverse array of entertainment to 1.7 million households nationwide, offering over 130 local and international channels through a range of tailored packages.

Driving Innovation with a Modern, Feature-Rich Platform

Dialog Television sought a modern, future-proof OTT platform to enhance the user viewing experience, improve service efficiency, optimize costs and enable future expansion and they selected UniqCast due to their ability to meet Dialog's specific needs and UniqCast’s OTT platform with its advanced features.  

Ranga Kariyawasam, Group Chief Technology Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC said, "We are committed to leveraging advanced technology to provide our customers with a seamless and superior viewing experience. The successful upgrade of our OTT platform, in collaboration with UniqCast, reflects our dedication to innovation and the importance of strong partnerships in delivering state-of-the-art digital entertainment services."

UniqCast Delivers a Comprehensive Solution

UniqCast's solution encompasses a complete suite of services, including client applications with premium user experience (UX) for Set-top Boxes (STB), hybrid and pure OTT, HDMI sticks, mobile devices, and web browsers, alongside hospitality applications and backend services. Backend services include content and subscriber management system (CSMS), TV analytics (Statia), Video on Demand (VOD) ingesting, service monitoring, and offline video transcoding for VOD.

This unique platform is designed to give operators a competitive edge while delivering an unmatched TV experience to subscribers. Beyond standard video playback on a single device, it allows seamless casting of content between users' devices, enabling viewers to start watching on one device and continue on another. Whether on a smartphone, tablet, or TV, subscribers can enjoy their favorite shows across multiple screens. Additionally, Dialog Television's subscribers can benefit from a seamless service, with automatic switching to OTT streaming when the DVB signal is unavailable on hybrid STBs.

Seamless Migration, Exceptional User Feedback

UniqCast seamlessly integrated all of Dialog Television's existing client OTT devices, including hybrid DVB-S STBs. At the backend, a complete integration with Broadpeak's CDN service and NPAW's Youbora analytics platform were achieved. Additionally, UniqCast's Statia and central monitoring services were incorporated alongside Google's Firebase for efficient monitoring to simplify daily operations. Statia includes monitoring of content consumption, user behavior and tracking of API, application and player errors. The platform also integrates with Dialog's CRM system, enabling diverse business models and service bundling options for prepaid and postpaid subscribers.

The new platform was deployed and ready for acceptance within three months, followed by subscriber migration in less than six months. The migration process was designed to ensure a smooth transition for existing users, eliminating the need for re-registration. User feedback has been exceptional, with subscribers praising the platform’s intuitive UX, features like thumbnail-based video scrubbing and catch-up TV, benchmarked against industry leading streaming platforms. 

Future-Proof Platform Poised for Growth

Looking ahead, Dialog Television and UniqCast plan to further expand the platform’s capabilities, including an advanced voice-based search, support for Smart TV devices and server-side ad insertion.

"The upcoming platform expansion with server-side ad insertion opens exciting possibilities for targeted advertising," said Marko Hiti, CMO at UniqCast. "This will allow Dialog Television to deliver relevant advertisements to selected audiences using cutting-edge AI technology, ultimately enhancing the viewing experience and creating opportunities for new revenue streams."

Lim Li San, Group Chief Operating Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC remarked "This upgrade significantly elevates the quality and reliability of our IPTV/OTT services, offering our customers a more immersive and enriched viewing experience with features such as cross-device playback and customized playlist creation. This cutting-edge platform enhancement also allows us to address our customers’ evolving expectations and entertainment needs, further solidifying our position as Sri Lanka’s #1 Pay-TV service provider."

About UniqCast

UniqCast empowers Telcos, ISPs, Broadcasters, OTT, mobile, and DVB operators, and content owners to effortlessly launch and scale captivating IPTV/OTT/DVB services. Our comprehensive, single-source solution combines technology, expertise, and unwavering support, minimizing your project risks and ensuring a fast and successful deployment. We design, develop, and deploy your TV service across all devices, from STBs to Smart TVs and mobile apps, all while optimizing your costs and time to market. As your sole point of contact, we handle everything, from concept to launch and beyond. With proven success across 5 continents and deep industry expertise, we tailor our approach to your unique needs and vision. Contact us today at sales@uniqcast.com and discover how UniqCast can be your trusted partner in multi-screen success.

About Dialog Axiata PLC

Dialog Axiata Group, a subsidiary of Axiata Group Berhad (Axiata), operates Sri Lanka’s Leading Quad-Play Connectivity Provider. Dialog Axiata PLC, listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange, is the market leader in Mobile, Digital Pay Television, Fixed Telecommunications and International Services sectors, along with a robust footprint and market presence in Digital Services, Financial Services, and IT Services. Dialog Axiata Group is Sri Lanka's largest Foreign Direct Investor (FDI) with investments totalling USD 3.25 Billion. Dialog has been ranked as the Most Valuable Brand in Sri Lanka from 2019-2023 by Brand Finance, UK.

The Company delivers advanced mobile telephony and high-speed mobile broadband services to a subscriber base of over 20 Million Sri Lankans. As the market leader in Pay Television and Home Broadband sectors, Dialog provides world-class entertainment services and superior fixed connectivity to millions of households across Sri Lanka. The Company also has a strong international footprint, including roaming partnerships with over 650 operators across over 200 destinations and investments in multiple subsea cables across Asia.

The winner of six Global Mobile Awards, Dialog has had the distinction of being voted by Sri Lankan consumers as the ‘Telecommunication Brand of the Year’ for a record thirteenth year at the SLIM-KANTAR People’s Awards 2024. Dialog is certified for ISO 9001 Quality Management System, ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System, and ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System. The Company became the first telecommunications service provider in the country to be awarded the ISO 27701 certification for Privacy Information Management Systems. Dialog has received numerous local and international awards, including the National Quality Award, Sri Lanka Business Excellence Award and the ACCA Sustainability Award.