Channel 4 switches on to SOA

Channel 4 has opted for a service-orientated architecture (SOA) to power its planned video-on-demand (VoD) services.

The broadcaster will use Cape Clear's Enterprise Service Bus platform to deliver its PC-based VoD services and manage more than a quarter-of-a-million of the broadcaster's digital assets.

The Channel 4 VoD services will let viewers download films, catch-up on episodes of their favourite programmes and preview and archive TV shows.

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Cape Clear will manage the lifecycle of moving Channel 4's videos - each sized up to 1GB - within the PC VoD platform from internal storage to distribution.

Bob Tarzey, service director for analyst house Quocirca, said an SOA allows Channel 4 to change its existing business models for the new VoD services by pulling together old and new applications.

Analysts anticipate a huge increase in the take-up of VoD services, with one-third of the world's TV viewing households predicted to be using VoD services by the end of the decade.