SAFFRON DIGITAL AND KDDI LAUNCH NEXT GENERATION OF VIDEO PASS ON GOOGLE CHROMECAST
Latest version of the market leading multi-platform SVOD service to drive greater viewer engagement
London, 10 July 2014 – Saffron Digital has further strengthened its relationship with KDDI, one of Japan’s largest mobile carriers, with the launch of a new and improved version of Video Pass, which has also launched on Google Chromecast. Designed and developed by Saffron Digital, KDDI’s premium video on demand service has been given a complete overhaul with a richer interface to give users a simpler and more visual experience across multiple devices.
The enhanced service, which will now be available across eight platforms including Google Chromecast, Android smartphone and tablet, iPhone, iPad, web, set top box and set top box stick, is designed to increase user engagement with a more attractive and simplified user experience, improved navigation, richer metadata, more editorial, and enhanced recommendations.
Video Pass has been hugely successful with Japanese audiences since its launch two years ago and is constantly evolving to meet consumer demand.
“With this next generation Video Pass service, we have listened to our customers and made it easier for them to discover and watch content on any device,” said Hidenori Shima, Deputy Director au Smart Pass Business Department, Advanced Business Development Division, Business Development Sector, KDDI. “Saffron Digital has done a great job with the new service which now surfaces more of the great Japanese and Hollywood videos available on Video Pass. We want to make it easier for users to find the content they like and come back to watch more. Supporting Google’s Japanese launch of Chromecast has been a real honour for us and what a great way to show off our new service.”
A consistent navigation bar now spans the top of the new service letting users jump straight into different categories, like “Unlimited plan” “PPV, “My page” and “FVOD”. Like the home page, these deeper layers of the site are also a lot more image-led and editorially curated to highlight the best of what is on offer.
Peter Bellamy, Director of Client Services, Saffron Digital said, “This is a perfect example of KDDI’s continuing commitment to innovate and improve the overall service it provides to its Video Pass users. We have listened to customer feedback and worked closely with the KDDI team to determine the most idealistic and user friendly application. This launch not only highlights Saffron Digital’s ability to adapt and build UI/UX to suit specific markets and users, but the launch on Chromecast shows our ability to quickly update and expand a live service like Video Pass for the latest technology and devices.”
The new service is already live on Chromecast, iOS devices and Android smartphone and will roll out across all other platforms accordingly.
About Saffron Digital
Founded in 2006, Saffron Digital creates innovative multiscreen premium film and TV services that enable device manufacturers, carriers, broadcasters, studios and retailers to increase revenue and build viewer engagement. Using its secure online video platform, Saffron Digital combines content preparation, content management, storefront design, flexible payment and a secure player to give subscribers a compelling video experience across any or all devices.
Saffron Digital simplifies the management and delivery of a premium video service. Its modular platform enables operators to integrate individual components into their existing systems and workflows or it can deliver a complete end–to–end solution that includes content preparation, a content management system, application and storefront development and a secure video player. Saffron Digital has been running cloud based locker and DRM domain services since 2009 and the latest platform is UV ready out of the box.
With offices in Europe, Asia and the US, Saffron Digital powers end-to-end premium video solutions on a global scale for clients including KDDI, Sky and HTC. It has received international recognition for its work and has won multiple awards including: The Mobile Entertainment Award for Best Video and TV Service Provider (2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012); Guardian Top 100 Tech Media Invest Companies in the UK; MEFFYS 2011 Best TV & Video Service and the Media Momentum Award 2010, 2011.
