Telstra are pumping $100 million to upgrade its media infrastructure to deliver “broadcast-quality video streaming services” over any device, it announced today. This is part of its Digital Media Business, announced today, which will see Foxtel, BigPond TV, Music , Movies and Games, IPTV (including T Box), Sensis Yellow pages, Trading Post all under the one umbrella.
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CEO David Thodey emphasised the importance of online video content for tabs, smartphones and in home entertaiment in the future where consumer demand for online streaming across devices will soar, at its annual update for institutional investors today.
“As digital media and video content continues to grow it is important that we build network infrastructure to meet this demand,” Mr Thodey said.
Video currently accounts for around one third of Telstra’s total web traffic, he also revealed.
“We will also continue to integrate this content, making it available to our customers across multiple channels including mobiles, tablets, home entertainment systems and the internet.”
This comes as Telstra T Box has come up against stiffening competition in the Internet TV space of late in the form of OptusMeTV, in partnership with US operator fetchTV and OptusTV Now service for smartphones.
Quickflix also just launched an on demand streaming service in Australia.
Telstra Digital Media will be headed by Rick Ellis, former chief executive of Television New Zealand.
