Comcast’s quiet acquisition of Dutch technology company Metrological was a strategic move intended to bolster its RDK Management consortium and put competitive pressure on Android TV in the U.S. and European set-top business.

So said the UK’s Rethink Research, which said Comcast “acquired a gem of a vendor with a revered team capable of boosting RDK recognition in Europe while defending the ranks against Android TV's belated invasion into the U.S.”

Related: Android TV’s U.S. Invasion Has Officially Begun

Comcast confirmed news originating out of the IBC Show in Amsterdam this week that it had purchased the local technology company. It also confirmed that Metrological’s staff would report to Steve Heeb, Comcast's VP and GM of licensing and strategic development.

Notably, Heeb is also in charge of RDK Management, a consortium run by Comcast, Liberty Global and Charter Communications. RDK Management is the umbrella org for the Reference Design Kit, a pre-designed software stack that powers pay TV set-tops, broadband gateways and other operator CPE.

For its part, Metrological had been employed by Comcast and Liberty Global to natively embed apps including Netflix into video systems like X1. And more broadly, RDK has been working with Metrological since year to provide pay TV customers access to the Metrological App Store, which has more than 300 OTT apps.

Over the last 24 months, RDK has watched as Google’s Android TV platform has become a preferred set-top software base in Europe, with operators looking for an inexpensive means to provide their customers access to popular OTT apps. Android TV lets users shop the Google Play store for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and hundreds of other OTT apps.

In April, Google told MCN that Android TV had been deployed with more than 140 pay TV operators worldwide, and that it was starting to make traction in the U.S.

For its part, Metrological had been looking at ways to get involved with Android TV, too. But the Comcast deal has the potential to swing the momentum back in RDK’s favor.

“Presumably the [Comcast] acquisition signals the end of Metrological’s exploration into the Android TV operator tier arena,” Rethink Research analyst Thomas Flanagan wrote. 

Comcast has acquired Metrological, the Dutch technology company responsible for natively integrating apps including Netflix and YouTube into the cable operator’s X1 video platform.

Comcast and Metrological haven’t formally announced the deal or disclosed any of the terms. The pact was first reported out of the IBC Show in Amsterdam by analyst Colin Dixon. The companies have since confirmed the agreement.

Comcast told Light Reading that all Metrological employees will report to Steve Heeb, Comcast's VP and GM of licensing and strategic development. Heeb is also president and GM of RDK Management LLC

Metrological has been a key partner to RDK Management, the tech consortium managed by Comcast, Liberty Global and Charter Communications. RDK’s set-top box software stack has been competing with Android TV in the market for hybrid software platforms that give pay TV operators the ability to simultaneously deliver both managed and OTT services.

For its part, RDK Management lacked the ability to offer its customers an app store, a la Google Play, until Metrological built one for it. Metrological’s app store offers more than 300 OTT apps.

Rotterdam-based Metrological was founded in 2005 and has fewer than 50 employees.

Looking to serve a vendor market that wants to deliver agile, OTT-capable set-tops to pay TV operators, Broadcom and RDK Management have jointly announced the RDK Accelerator Program.

The new initiative will deliver chip sets that are pre-integrated with the Reference Design Kit software stack, which includes access to the Metrological App Store. Much like the Google Play Store that’s integrated into set-tops built around the rival Android TV operating system, these RDK set-tops have access to Netflix, Hulu and many other popular OTT apps distributed through the Metrological App Store.

The Broadcom chipsets have actually been around for a while now.

Released January, Broadcom’s BCM72180 is the latest generation of Advanced HDR Ultra High Definition (UHD), high-security system-on-chip (SoC) devices for set-tops. It delivers with 50% higher performance and 50% lower power than the prior generation. Newly integrated technologies include the streaming optimized AV1 UHD IPTV video codec, personalized Far-Field Voice (FFV) control, and 2x2 Wi-Fi 6 for significantly better streaming performance, higher security, and lower power consumption. Meanwhile, the BCM72180 supports hybrid (cable, satellite and terrestrial) and traditional IPTV designs, with and without FFV.

Developed jointly by Comcast, Liberty Global and Charter Communications, RDK is an open source software platform for the connected home that standardizes core functions used in broadband, video, and IoT devices.

“Broadcom has always been committed to RDK, and this new effort is aimed at the growing demand for RDK-based video solutions from global OEMs and service providers,” said Rich Nelson, senior VP and general manager for Broadcom’s set-top box and cable modem division, in a statement “By creating pre-integrated chipset platforms, our customers can create compelling new RDK-based STB designs and products and get to market quickly and effectively.”

Added Steve Heeb, president and general manager of RDK: “Thanks to Broadcom, OEMs seeking to deliver turnkey RDK video products can now build, test and deploy a range of STBs to meet the various needs of service providers around the world. We’re very pleased with their expanded support for the RDK Video Accelerator program and look forward to future collaborations.”

Vodafone Germany has hired Rotterdam-based tech vendor Metrological to integrate OTT apps into its GigaTV pay TV service.

Metrological has worked with a number of cable operators, including Comcast and Liberty Global, to enable the integration of popular OTT services including Netflix natively on the set-top.

The Metrological Application Platform includes a back-office product suite for onboarding, monetizing and optimizing the life cycle of web and native apps across set-tops. The platform supports features including unified search, contextually and second-screen support. Vodafone Germany is also able to source content from the Metrological App Library, which offers more than 300 OTT apps.

Related: RDK Partners with Metrological for Easier OTT App Integration

“Vodafone Germany’s next-gen GigaTV offering gives TV-subscribers easy access to premium OTT services and niche, personalized content. This aligns with Metrological’s vision to integrate the TV and app experience in one single view,” said Thijs Bijleveld, senior VP of sales and marketing of metrological. “Vodafone Germany recognized early on the value of delivering a universal search capability across their full content library. We are very honored Vodafone Germany selected Metrological as their OTT partner.”

Recognizing that its pay TV constituents need a quick, effective way to provide customers with apps to popular over-the-top services, RDK Management has partnered with Metrological to create a two-pronged solution for integrating apps into RDK set-tops.

The announcement was made at the IBC Show in Amsterdam.

The first approach involves the new RDK App Framework, which allows service providers to create HTML5 and native applications on set-top boxes using the RDK Firebolt App SDK. The solution also provides on-boarding and life cycle management tools, and enables app portability across various set-top box models.

Driven by the RDK open source community, with key contributions from Metrological, RDK App Framework provides a complete development, build and test environment for web and native apps across RDK-based set-top boxes. Service providers now have a common technical framework to support native premium video apps, such as Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video, along with a wide-variety of niche or third-party HTML5 apps. Technical details are available at: https://wiki.rdkcentral.com/display/RDK/Firebolt.

Related: RDK Rides the Adoption Wave

For service providers seeking a more turnkey solution, Metrological’s App Store was named as the first RDK pre-integrated app store. Metrological’s App Store includes access to a library of of more than 300 apps. In addition, the App Store can be used to launch premium video apps such as Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video; local and regionalized apps; and all of the back-office tools needed to launch and manage the lifecycle of an app store. Content providers are able to reach over 40 million households across operator networks by uploading a single app onto the Metrological App Library.

“Our community also includes many operators who simply want their own white-labeled app store that works across RDK set-top boxes,” said Steve Heeb, president and general manager of RDK Management, in a statement. “To support them, we’re pleased to name Metrological as the first RDK pre-integrated app store. It’s a clear testament to Metrological’s capabilities and ongoing contributions to the RDK community.”

RDK Management is an open source consortium, led by Comcast and Liberty Global, that manages the Reference Design Kit (RDK), an open source software platform for the connected home that standardizes core functions used in broadband devices, set-top boxes, and IoT solutions. It enables operators to manage their devices; control their business models; and customize their apps, UIs and data analytics to improve the customer experience and drive business results. The RDK community is comprised of more than 350 companies including: CPE manufacturers, SoC vendors, software developers, system integrators, and service providers.

RDK Management is moving fast to provide flexibility to pay TV operators, who have turned to solutions including Android TV to provide OTT apps to consumers.

Metrological enables operators to integrate premium OTT services and niche content into a single TV viewer experience. The Metrological Application Platform delivers a product suite for on-boarding and managing the lifecycle of web and native apps across set-top boxes and devices. Content providers are able to reach over 40 million households across operator networks by uploading a single app onto the Metrological App Library. Metrological works with cable and telecommunications companies such as KPN, Liberty Global, NOS, beIN, Tele Columbus, and Ooredoo. Founded in 2005, Metrological is based in The Netherlands with offices in the U.S. and Europe.

beIN Media Group, the unit behind the beIN Sports network, has tapped Metrological to deliver a new integrated TV app experience for several types of set-top boxes.

beIN is using Metrological’s framework to bring its TV app experience to satellite and IP legacy and newer OTT-based set-tops for consumers in the Middle East, Turkey and North Africa.

“Metrological has made it painless for us to bring compelling OTT services and app content to our viewers on our set-top boxes,” Mohammed Al Subaie, executive director of commercial affairs, at beIN Media Group, said in a statement. “Consumers want the ability to watch what interests them the most and relates to their own viewing experience. Metrological ensures we now have the flexibility to enrich our exclusive services with related content based on personal preference, regional relevance or target group to the content line up, all integrated on the big screen.”

RELATED: Liberty Global Taps Metrological for Netflix Rollout

Metrological uses an app platform and application framework that features an open source browser and software plugins. Other MVPDs and service providers working with Metrological include Comcast, KPN, Liberty Global, NOS, Tele Columbus, Delta and Ooredoo. 

Metrological and ActiveVideo, a joint venture of Arris and Charter Communications, said they are working together on a platform that enables pay TV operators to integrate OTT fare on existing set-top boxes.

Read More: Complete coverage of Cable-Tec Expo 2017

The technology link-up, they said, will give service providers the ability to deploy OTT content and advanced interfaces to older set-tops that “have limited resources and lack full HTML5 support.”

Early on, two operators in the Caribbean and Latin America region plan to launch the integrated solution next year, they said. They didn’t identify those operators, but Liberty Puerto Rico is among ActiveVideo’s existing customers in that region. Metrological, meanwhile, has already teamed up with Liberty Global to help the operator bring Netflix to IP-capable set-top boxes. Comcast has a similar agreement with Metrological. 

RELATED: Liberty Puerto Rico Socializes The UI

The vendors said the coming joint solution will tie together ActiveVideo’s CloudTV product with the Metrological Application Platform. They plan to demo the joint offering at this week’s SCTE•ISBE Cable-Tec Expo at the Metrological booth (#1638). 

“By leveraging the cloud to virtualize CPE functions, we enable operators to quickly deploy and easily manage new OTT services on the millions of STBs that already are in the field,” Joroen Ghijsen, Metrological’s CEO, said in a statement.

 “Working with Metrological gives operators a new way to unify the customer experience across their entire CPE footprint, by using cloud-based technology to bring the latest OTT content and applications to their subscribers,” added Jeff Miller, president and CEO of ActiveVideo.

Add NOS, Portugal’s major cable operator, to the list of MSOs that is embracing OTT.

NOS, which serves more than 1.6 million video homes in Portugal, is working with Metrological to integrate a variety of OTT offerings, via a TV apps store, for its new UMA TV platform, which includes a 4K-capable box made by Arris that is powered by the Reference Design Kit (RDK), a pre-integrated software platform being managed by Comcast, Liberty Global and Charter Communications.

RELATED: NOS Rolls RDK-Based Hybrid Platform in Portugal

Under the agreement, NOS will integrate OTT alongside its traditional pay TV offering using Metrological’s Application Platform, WPE (Web Platform for Embedded) browser and WPE cloud architecture.

NOS hasn’t revealed which OTT apps will be offered on its platform, but Metrological has already helped two other RDK champions – Comcast and Liberty Global – integrate online services such as Netflix on their respective set-top boxes.

RELATED: Liberty Global Taps Metrological for Netflix Rollout

Pedro Bandeira, head of development at NOS, said it’s important to employ an architecture that ensures that OTT services are not delivered to set-tops in in separate silos, but are seamlessly integrated into the operator’s interface/navigation and search platform.

“It’s a full experience, a full package,” Bandeira explained, adding that NOS’s new hybrid set-top box platform “offers us the flexibility to do such a move.”

Metrological’s approach, added company SVP of sales and marketing Thijs Bijleveld, doesn’t replace anything on the box’s middleware stack, but employs an open-source browser that can efficiently onboard apps.

Metrological said Technicolor has signed on to use its browser architecture in 4K-capable hybrid cable and IP set-top boxes that will enable MVPD partners to more easily integrate over-the-top services.

Under the agreement, Technicolor is adopting Metrological’s Application Platform and Web-Platform for Embedded (WPE) for those boxes, holding that it will simplify the onboarding of premium OTT content and support a unified framework for IP-based video delivery for operators. Metrological’s app platform and WPE include an open source browser and  framework architecture with software plugins.

Technicolor, which acquired Cisco Systems’ set-top and CPE business in 2015, has not announced any operators that will take advantage of the set-up with Metrological.

Liberty Global and Comcast, which has integrated OTT services such as Netflix and YouTube on its X1 platform, are among MVPDs that have adopted Metrological’s technology.

RELATED: Comcast Starts to Test YouTube App on X1 Set-Tops

Metrological and Technicolor said they will demo the joint offering at IBC 2017, set for Sept. 15-19 in Amsterdam September 15-19. 

RELATED: Liberty Global Taps Metrological for Netflix Rollout

“Operators are making major investments in new generation STBs supporting OTT as one of their main differentiators,” Mercedes Pastor, president of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Technicolor Connected Home, said in a statement. “This is creating demand for new, flexible and innovative solutions that engage subscribers and generate new revenue streams. By bringing open solutions to the operator community, Technicolor and Metrological are creating opportunities to literally think outside the box by opening the door for new ways to engage with subscribers, while simplifying and integrating how consumers interact with existing services.”

“We are excited that Technicolor and Metrological share a common goal to ensure that operators have the full range of options for delivering compelling content and integrated TV-experiences to their customers,” added Thijs Bijleveld, SVP of sales and marketing at Metrological. "This open, browser based, approach allows operators to integrate apps and Premium OTT content into a single viewer experience. We are proud that Technicolor is adopting our Application Platform and WPE allowing their customers to leverage modern browser based technologies.”

OwnZones Media Network, a provider of VOD services for multiple platforms, is in position to extend a video bridge to MVPD set-top boxes and expand its international reach following a partnership with Metrological, a TV apps company with ties into operators such as Liberty Global and Comcast.

Under the agreement, OwnZones is a “preferred” provider for Metrological’s Application Platform, which brings apps and OTT content to operator devices and touts a footprint reach of more than 40 million homes and agreements with other providers that include KPN (the Netherlands), Tele Columbus (Germany) and Ooredoo (Qatar).

RELATED: Liberty Global Taps Metrological for Netflix Rollout

The addition focus on MVPDs expands OwnZones’s reach on platforms such as Web browsers, Roku, Hulu, LeEco, and Amazon for a variety of SVOD services that include 10 Minute Meals with  Aarti Sequiera ($1.99 per month), My Fight Gym ($4.99 per month), DOX:  Top Documentaries ($2.99 per month), Warriors & Gangsters: Action Movies ($2.99 per month), and Horror Film Network ($2.99 per month).

Of recent note, OwnZones inked a deal to distribute The List from E.W. Scripps.

OwnZones, which also counts Comcast, DirecTV, Verizon, PlayStation Vue and T-Mobile among its network partners, was founded in 2010, with the idea of creating an OTT service/aggregation site with SVOD channels and offer them a la carte across multiple platforms.

Dan Goman, CEO of OwnZones Media Network, admits that the first few years were spent struggling to find and monetize content for OTT distribution.

“Being a pioneer sounds fun after the fact but not so much when you are the pioneer,” he said, noting that the platform the company developed removed complexity out of the equation for OTT distribution, and that eventually attracted content partners such as Magnolia Pictures that were trying to go online to engage more directly with their audiences.

Though much of the content supported by the company’s platform is for SVOD services, it also supports other business models, including transactional and ad-based offerings, Goman said.

The Metrological deal will help Beverly Hill-based OwnZones and its content partners expand and market internationally, he said.

“OWNZONES Media Network recognizes the opportunities that are available with international distribution of OTT content,” added Robert Cloudt, head of content management and strategy at Metrological, in a statement. “We are excited to team up with OWNZONES to bring even more great content to our operator partners globally.”

Looking to strengthen the ties between social networks and live TV, Metrological is introducing a new service that ties a Twitter experience to the set-top box and the big screen. 

Metrological, a Netherlands-based company that specializes in TV apps, said the cloud-powered “Watch with Twitter” offering will deliver a tight integration of both sides.

“The core goal for us is to integrate the TV and app experience,” Robert Cloudt, head of content management and strategy at Metrological, said, noting that his company is using Twitter APIs to enable a “lean back” TV-focused capability.

Metrological said its approach is managed by a browser-based implementation of the Metrological Application Platform.

Among the features, he said the implementation will show trending tweets, including tweets with embedded video, alongside the show being watched. Metrological’s Twitter tie-in will also enable the viewer to pull up a carousel view of trending programs that are based on Twitter data, Cloudt explained.

He said Metrological has deployment commitments for Watch with Twitter for next year, but couldn’t be more specific than to say that rollouts are being targeted for next year. Comcast, Liberty Global and Ooredoo, a telecom company based in Qatar, are among Metrological’s announced partners.

In that group, Comcast already offers a trending guide view and a trending now icon that is native to its X1 platform/user interface based on Twitter chatter. In February, Liberty Global announced a “Watch with Twitter” app for its Horizon TV platform.

RELATED: Metrological Scores with Comcast and Liberty Global

And there are other recent examples. At last month’s Apple product event, Twitter showed an app for the Apple TV that puts the Twitter feed/conversation alongside the live feed of a live NFL game being streamed on Twitter that tied in tweets, stats, and polls, and real-time “reactions” that are associated with the matchup.

“We are delighted to be working with Metrological on this integration that will allow operators to bring Tweets together with broadcast TV live on the set-top box,” Brenda O’Connell, director of business development for Twitter in EMEA, said in a statement. “This app gives people the best of both worlds - the ability to sit back and watch TV, while incorporating the immediacy of Twitter. Viewers will be able to instantly see for themselves what all the buzz is around a particular piece of content.”

Metrological, a TV apps company based in the Netherlands, teed up plans for next week’s INTX event in Boston that will focus on a device and software “agnostic” application platform that will include ways for operators to use open source browser technology to boost app performance and to create next-gen user interfaces.

Metrological (booth 1641) noted that it will demo “contextual” app experiences that merge live TV and over-the-top content, enabling operators to present a unified app that mixes all content types on one screen.

Also on show will be an app store that allows MSOs and other partners to launch device-independent, operator-branded TV app stores on set-tops and other connected devices. The company said more than 300 apps are available to operators that tap into Metrological’s Application Platform.

Also on show will be its Dashboard, which provides real‐time business intelligence and analytics for operators and content providers, and an App Manager, that helps operators monetize OTT content and personalize the scheduling of content. For example, daytime programming can highlight children’s apps while evening hours can highlight news app content.

Last year, Metrological announced that Liberty Global and Comcast were using a new, open-source browser enhancements for set-tops that rely on the RDK software stack. Metrological and RDK Management LLC, the joint venture of Comcast, Liberty Global and Time Warner Cable, introduced an RDK App Emulator last year.

Metrological, a TV apps specialist based in the Netherlands, is applying more focus on the Americas regions with the hiring of Greg Riker, an industry vet who is late of ActiveVideo, the cloud video company acquired last year via a joint venture of Arris and Charter Communications.

Riker joins Metrological as senior vice president of sales, Americas. He’ll be based in Denver and be responsible for expanding the company’s existing sales and business development activities, and for pursuing strategic partnerships.

 Prior to this post, Riker was SVP of sales for cloud video solutions at Arris, and, before that, was SVP, worldwide sales at ActiveVideo, and held a similar role at Synacor.

Last year ,Metrological announced that Liberty Global and Comcast were using a new, open-source browser enhancements designed to provide a performance boost to IP-based services and apps for set-tops that rely on the RDK software stack. RDK Management LLC, the RDK joint venture, and Metrologicalintroduced the RDK App Emulator last year.

“Greg is an energetic and tremendously talented sales executive with deep experience in partnering with service providers to bring new media technologies to market,”Jeroen Ghijsen, CEO of Metrological, said in a statement. “At Metrological, we strongly believe apps and OTT should be integrated with the TV viewing experience, allowing for better search and offering contextual programming without leaving the main screen. We look forward to working with Greg to continue our commitment to making the app world work for the entire ecosystem of consumers, service providers and content owners.”

Metrological, a TV apps specialist based in the Netherlands, said it is shoring up expansions into North and South America with the appointments of industry vet Michael Pohl as strategic advisor and Wouter van Boesschoten to the post of vice president of technology.

Pohl, the company said, will aid Metrological’s business development activities in the region, while Wouter will lead the company’s technology development and head technical support for “key customers” in North America.

Pohl is currently on the board of Ascent Capital Group  and ThinkAnalytics, and advised Cross MediaWorks following its acquisition of advanced ad firm BlackArrow last year. Pohl, previously chairman of BlackArrow and BigBand Networks (now part of Arris) and a board member at Imagine Communications, also was president and CEO of VOD tech pioneer nCube, which was sold to C-COR in 2004 (Arris subsequently acquired C-COR in 2007). Wouter van Boesschoten is late of VOD and video software company SeaChange, heading up solutions architecture for its set-top box/consumer premises equipment platform, Web apps and Reference Design Kit middlware.  He joined SeaChange via its 2009 acquisition of  eventIS.

Of recent note, Metrological announced that Liberty Global and Comcast were using a new, open-source browser enhancements designed to provide a performance boost to IP-based services and apps for set-tops that rely on the RDK software stack.  Liberty Global has been adding those new elements to its RDK-based Horizon TV platform, with Comcast committing to test the browser enhancements on X1, a platform that also uses the RDK.

RDK Management LLC, the RDK joint venture, and Metrological introduced the RDK App Emulator last spring.

“Michael and Wouter have the right skillset to help us serve our existing base in the Americas and to take advantage of the tremendous opportunity for Metrological in the region,” Metrological CEO Jeroen Ghijsen said, in a statement. “The future of TV is app centric and multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) are coming to us to take the next steps in their TV app strategies. They are adopting application framework technology that streamlines app deployment and gives them the flexibility to deliver personalized TV app experiences on any device.”

Metrological has introduced a set of TV app store management tools that enables pay TV operators to customize app store lineups based on live events and household viewing habits as well as integrate app billing and transactions.

The new elements are now part of Metrological’s Dashboard product, part of the Metrological Application Platform, which provides full lifecycle support for operator branded TV app stores. The Dashboard provides insights on TV app store operations, including key performance indicators such as top performing apps, average viewing times, number of app views and number of transactions.

Among the new capabilities, the Dashboard provides automated app scheduling, allowing operators to personalize the scheduling of content based on time of day. For example, daytime programming can highlight children’s apps and evening hours can highlight news app content.

“Operators can now personalize app experiences to reflect consumer viewing habits and local content, which is an important tool in strengthening the customer relationship,” said Jeroen Ghijsen, co-founder and CEO of Metrological, in a statement. “Using our intuitive platform, operators can tailor app store content to viewers based on a number of filters, such as audience segments, live events, red button apps and time of day to automatically change the apps being offered in each market or household.”

Metrological will show its new wares at IBC, set for September 11-15 in Amsterdam.

Of recent note, RDK Management LLC, the RDK joint venture, and Metrological introduced the RDK App Emulator in April. Metrological combined its application framework with the RDK to create the app emulator, which enables developers to prototype, create and test RDK apps remotely on a laptop without the need for a physical RDK device or set-top box. In June, Metrological said it had certified mor ethan 250 apps for the RDK, a preintegrated software stack for IP-only and hybrid video devices and broadband gateways is being managed by Comcast, Liberty Global and Time Warner Cable.

Video software and TV apps specialist Metrological said its RDK App Emulator has tested and certified more than 250 apps for set-tops and other devices that run the Reference Design Kit, the preintegrated software stack for hybrid and IP-only boxes and gateways being managed by Comcast, Liberty Global and Time Warner Cable.

RDK Management LLC, the RDK joint venture, and Metrological introduced the RDK App Emulator in April. Metrological combined its application framework with the RDK to create the app emulator, which enables developers to prototype, create and test RDK apps remotely on a laptop without the need for a physical RDK device or set-top box. 

Al Jazeera and Euroenews are among the content developers that have downloaded Metrological’s RDK App Emulator. 

Certification means those apps are deemed deployment-ready for the RDK platform.

Update: A Metrological official said that apps that have been certified for RDK span gaming, weather, social media and news, and include YouTube and Facebook. 

“It has been extremely valuable to affirm that apps are running smoothly on the RDK set-top box software stack without needing modifications or adjustments,” said Albert Dahan, co-founder and CTO of Metrological, in a statement. “We are very pleased to offer this testing tool to the video development community. Open technologies like the RDK, are changing the pace of innovation, opening up development of video services to any developer at web deployment speed.” 

RDK Management LLC, the joint venture running the Reference Design Kit for IP and hybrid set-tops and gateways, has launched a remotely-accessible app development and test environment in partnership with Metrological, a TV application company based in the Netherlands.

Metrological combined its application framework with the RDK to create Metrological’s RDK App Emulator, which will help developers build prototypes and test RDK apps remotely without requiring a physical RDK device or set-top box. Metrological will administer and distribute the new emulator to developers looking to create apps on top of the RDK, regardless of whether they are RDK licensees, the companies said.

RDK Management is a joint venture of Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Liberty Global, and has more than 200 licensees, including other MVPDs, chipmakers, set-top makers, system integrators, and test and measurement firms.

Metrological joins other vendors that have close ties to the RDK. In 2013, RDK Management tapped itaas (now part of Cognizant) to oversee community support services and technical support and training for licensees of the RDK, and S3 Group to handle J.V.’s code management function. 

Metrological was announced as an RDK licensee last year. UPC Hungary, a unit of Liberty Global, offers apps from Metrological on the MSO’s high-end IP-based video platform and has  adapted some to run on older non-IP set-tops.

“Supporting app developers to create apps on top of the RDK is a very important part of the RDK mission,” said Steve Heeb, president and GM of RDK Management. “Thanks to Metrological, the RDK can attract an even larger base of app developers that can provide apps to operators. Our long term goal is for the app developer community to view the RDK as the premier platform that brings new levels of innovation to the video industry.”

“This new developer environment gives app developers of any size the ability to develop and test new RDK applications on their own laptops, which will help extend innovative new app experiences to the TV,” added Metrological CTO Albert Dahan. “Metrological is proud to play such an important role in supporting the growing RDK app development community.” 

UPC Hungary, along with vendor partners ActiveVideo and Metrological, shared the Cable Europe Innovation Award, presented Thursday at the Cable Congress event in Brussels.

Cable Europe announced the selection on Twitter. 

Cable Europe also announced that Stephen Kelly, communications architect at Liberty Cable, won the the Cable Europe Fellow Award, recognized in part for his role in the launch of the Virgin Media London Underground Wi-Fi solution, deployed in advance of the 2012 Summer Olympics, and, more recently, for defining Liberty Global’s Pan European Wii Architecture. He is has also been a key contributor to CableLabs’s development of industry-wide WiFi specifications and standards, Cable Europe said. 

UPC Hungary, ActiveVideo and Metrological, meanwhile, were recognized for the recent launch of a cloud-based platform that enables the MSO to offer a wide range of apps, including YouTube, on legacy, non-IP set-top boxes. The set-up is supported by StreamCast, a new component for ActiveVideo’s CloudTV system that converts interfaces, video and other content from Web formats to versions that can be rendered on older set-tops, and Metrological’s app platform. Watch this video for more.

According to the awards entry, UPC Hungary launched the offering to 520,000 set-tops in two phases, noting that 68% of subs have tried the service, and 83% have returned for additional views, and that customers are streaming more than 1 million minutes per day of YouTube content.

Other finalists for this year’s Cable Europe Innovation Award included a cloud video engine for the real-time generation of interactive channels by R, R, Syntheractive & Cinfo, and OptimizAIR 2.0, a system from Celeno Communications that Telenet is using to turn home routers into community WiFi hotspots.