“Our front line staff put it best, it’s like using 38 apps all at once,” said Eastlink Marketing Vice-President, Dan MacDonald at a press event held on September 8th for the launch of the carrier’s new IPTV platform, Eastlink Stream.
Eastlink TV customers can use the app to view all the online streaming and OnDemand video content their package provides through one app engineered by Cisco Infinite Video Platform, which already powers offerings from media outlets like NFL Sunday Ticket and CBS Interactive.
The vision behind the app is simplicity.
“Discovering and subscribing to video services has become very time-consuming,” said Eastlink CEO Lee Bragg, explaining that the aim of the app is to make accessing video online as easy as possible.
To that end, Eastlink Stream’s strategy is to combine all the apps users might normally use individually — like the apps for HBO Canada or CraveTV — in an extremely intuitive and responsive user interface.
In a quick hands-on with the platform, I found the system speedy, with no hiccups forwarding through shows, and the simple, swipe-based navigation relatively easy to use, especially considering I hadn’t received any guidance previous to my time with the app. The app’s search feature is particularly handy, showing content from across the user’s library of channels and OnDemand services from the first letter typed.
“We feel that this is an application that is a next generation app,” said MacDonald, when asked what makes the platform stand apart from offerings from Bell, Rogers and Shaw, “The way you swipe, the way you search— you’re not going to see this on any of those other apps.”
In total, the app now has 59 live channels and OnDemand services, ranging from TSN to Cartoon Network, with Eastlink noting that the library will grow over time.
The app is available immediately to all Eastlink TV customers excepting those who only have entry level basic TV service, and can be found on iOS, Android and on the carrier’s dedicated Eastlink Stream page, which also has videos showing the core functionalities of the app.
Related: Eastlink says it’s working on a ‘roam like home type solution’
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