Swisscom adds Opera TV Store to set-top boxes

Swiss telco Swisscom is set to add the Opera TV Store app platform to its set-top boxes, marking the first customised, co-branded deployment of the store. 

Opera said that the deal was also the first time that a European pay-TV operator had added the store to its own service and came as “operators embrace over-the-top content.”

“The addition of the Opera TV Store to our IPTV services empowers Swisscom to better compete with retail offerings,” said Dirk Wierzbitzki, head of convergent and wireline experience, Swisscom.

The HTML5-based store was customised to match Swisscom’s branding and features hundreds of apps encompassing video, games, music, social media and news.

“Record numbers of subscribers are flocking to IPTV, and pay-TV operators are determined to secure for their viewers an application platform that is entertaining and engaging,” said Aneesh Rajaram, senior vice-president for TV and devices, Opera Software.

“Swisscom is one of the first operators to realise that it cannot afford to wait much longer to enable these experiences, and we’re keen to help Swisscom achieve this vision. Swisscom leading the way for IPTV operators, with a new-generation platform that offers a great opportunity to deliver HTML5 services seamlessly.”