Tiered Licensing Brings New Services

ServTouch benefits from lower-cost temporary IPTV licence.

IT was a brilliant idea: an innovative video delivery platform that

Co-Space TV's trial was made possible by MDA's IPTV Tiered Licensing Framework.

would broadcast video footage of local events on the Internet. Called Co-Space TV, it would feature both live and recorded events such as Chingay parades, library seminars and even school events. But first, ServTouch, the interactive multimedia solutions company behind the idea, had to test if it was feasible. For that, it would need a broadcasting licence.

A full commercial licence would not have been cost-effective for a trial. Thankfully, ServTouch could apply for a Temporary Subscription TV Licence at a lower cost, under MDA's Tiered Licensing Framework for Internet Protocol Television (IPTV).

"This was an affordable licence that allowed us to move forward with more aggressive plans for expansion with other partners and service providers," said Mr Kelvin Tan, Vice-President, New Media, ServTouch.

Conducting a live trial enabled the company to link up with additional providers to bring more content onboard, he added. MDA introduced the tiered framework in 2007, as part of its efforts to keep policies business-friendly and to encourage innovators to launch new media services like IPTV.

Mr Kelvin Tan, Vice-President, New Media, ServTouch.

This framework distinguishes service providers targeting niche markets from those serving the mass market. The licence for niche service providers is cheaper and less restrictive, while companies conducting trials can apply for a lower-cost temporary licence.

Ultimately, consumers benefit from a livelier broadcasting scene because more players can enter the market offering a wider range of IPTV services and content.

Several other companies have rolled out IPTV services under the framework, including SingNet (mioTV), VeeV Interactive (education content services), and Singapore Press Holdings (Razor TV).

Read more about the IPTV Tiered Licensing Framework here.

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