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Hospitality IPTV offers entertainment, information and communication services designed or setup to be used in private facilities such as in hotels, cruise ships or college campuses. This month we have the opportunity to interview Rick Sailor from Amino who shares with us some key requirements for private IPTV systems, ideas on how to provide cost savings and some new revenue producing services.
Hospitality IPTV services include television, on demand media, high speed Internet access, interactive applications, telephony, and Hospitality IPTV systems commonly use a ruggedized version of an IP set-top box (STB) with hospitality-specific added features. Because most hotels have existing television systems, they sometimes implement hybrid IPTV solutions using existing RF equipment and cabling for the transmission of popular broadcast channels while using IP data networks to delivery IPTV on-demand programming.
Key Hospitality IPTV Benefits
The key benefits of using IPTV for private systems (such as in hotels) include reduced equipment cost, simplified operation and new revenue producing services. IPTV Hospitality systems use standard Internet protocol data net
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works to setup, deliver and manage video services. Because IP data communication equipment is available from many vendors, the cost of standard IP datacom and supporting equipment can be much lower to purchase, install and maintain than customized RF systems.
IPTV television programming sources usually include the standard network program channels. Fully configured Hospitality IPTV systems have the potential to offer thousands of channels (or more) which means that Hospitality IPTV systems can offer many new international and specialty programming choices.
Because each IPTV STB can select and play programs through its own data connection to media sources, users can select, watch and control the playing of movies at any time. Hospitality IPTV systems can offer real video on demand services providing instant access to more programs.
IPTV systems use digital media that can be stored and accessed from reliable sources such as memory storage, hard disk drives or DVDs. The use of all digital media provides more standard and improved digital quality. Using IPTV systems, it is also possible to provide an unlimited number of high definition (HD) channels. The use of digital storage systems can eliminate the use of mechanical systems such as video cassette records (VCRs), which will increase the reliability and reduce the ongoing maintenance of the system.
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The ability to direct connect Hospitality IPTV systems through Internet data connections permits remote configuration and control, enabling remote monitoring and remote diagnostics to rapidly repair failed or poor performing equipment. Remote monitoring also permits the revenue assurance which corporations and content providers require ensuring their content is paid for when actually used.
Content for Hospitality IPTV systems can be distributed through the infrastructure used for Internet data connections, By using encryption (data scrambling), content can be securely transferred from content providers into the Hospitality IPTV system. This allows for more rapid and cost effective distribution of content.
IPTV systems use a single type of data connection for television, data and telephony services allowing the IPTV system to use a single set of cabling. Because of the ability of IP data systems to automatically reconfigure, even this single set of data cables can be very reliable.
Figure 1 shows some the key benefits of deploying hospitality IPTV systems. This table shows that Hospitality IPTV systems have many benefits ranging from standard and shared data distribution systems to the potential ability to offer instant selection and control of an unlimited number of programs.
Hospitality Set-Top Box
Hospitality STBs are devices that convert IP data into television video signals, which may also be used to connect other types of device that are located in the room. These include data ports (Internet connections), telephones and other accessories such as game controllers and video cameras. The STB becomes the portal that allows other devices
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such as game controllers, computer data connections and telephones to be connected through a single data communication system.
Rick discussed that STBs used in the hospitality industry need to be ruggedized and difficult to steal. Hospitality STBs may be bolted underneath or behind furniture to make them less accessible to users. To allow operation with a remote control that requires line of sight, hospitality STBs may use a remote infrared receiver, which is mounted near the television and connected by wire to the hospitality STB. When the STB also provides Internet access for the user, it can limit the available bandwidth so the quality of the digital video signal to the room is unaffected (and to control whether they watch video directly through Internet).
Figure 2 shows the Amino AmiNET130H IP STB that can be used in hospitality systems. This image shows that the AmiNET130H IP STB is a ruggedized device that can be mounted (bolted) to the wall or cabinet away from the television.
Hospitality IPTV Configurations
Hospitality IPTV systems may exist in various configuration formats. An ideal scenario is to have an all IP system that provides voice, data and video services over a single broadband data system (such as wired data cabling). To save money, hospitality TV system owners may choose to mix existing coaxial distribution for popular network channels and IPTV for on demand and specialty programming services. Rick explained that while it may be technically possible to convert existing telephone or coaxial wiring in hotels for IPTV systems, he had not seen any hotels with those options. Older wiring systems use cables that are not capable of transmitting high-speed data (not
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twisted pairs). He also explained that while wireless LAN systems can provide a few video channels, they are not yet capable of providing hundreds of simultaneous channels in the same area.
Content Sources
One of the key issues for hospitality systems is where to get content. Content distributors commonly charge hotels a daily fee per day per room regardless of whether it is occupied or not. Popular content owners (such as movie studios) are protective about where, who and how users view content.
IPTV systems can accurately track and record exactly who (or what room) watched what programs and when they were watched. This is a great way to provide revenue assurance for content providers and to control costs for unused rooms.
Hospitality IPTV systems commonly receive network channels from either cable television or satellite connections. They also may connect receivers to antennas to get free local broadcast (off air signals) channels.
In addition to traditional programming sources, new content providers can stream or download new channels through the Internet that can be made available to the IPTV system. These include international programs (such as international sports events) and specialty
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channels. On demand entertainment, especially adult entertainment, offers relatively high margins and it can be a big part of hotel's television service revenues.
Local information channels and advertising are emerging revenue generating services offered by Hospitality IPTV systems. While the technology applied to insert ads locally is still evolving, there is significant potential for capturing revenue from advertising.
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 Rick Sailor brings 33 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, (9 last years of which have been in IP-based solutions), to his role as VP Americas for Amino Communications LLC. His background includes members of the communications value chain such as DSLAMs, outside plant facilities, FTTH and central office infrastructure.
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