The latest happenings from around the world of IPTV

HickoryTech launches IPTV service in two Minnesota towns

HickoryTech has launched its digital TV service rounding out a triple-play service offering including high-speed DSL and telephone service in North Mankato, MN, and Janesville, MN.

The company spent nearly $4 million in the two Minnesota communities to roll out the IPTV network.

For more information, visit: www.hickorytech.com.

Narrowstep completes $10.5 million equity financing

Internet TV company Narrowstep has completed a private placement of its common stock and warrants resulting in gross proceeds to the company of $10.5 million, the company said last week. RENN Capital Group acted as lead investor in this transaction.

For more information, visit: www.narrowstep.com.

VBrick Systems names Graziani to CEO post

Vince Graziani has been appointed chief executive officer of network video appliance maker VBrick Systems.

Graziani most recently served as senior director, business development and strategic alliances at Broadcom.

For more information, visit: www.VBrick.com.

KDDI selects Seachange on-demand TV platform

KDDI, which provides VoIP-phone, backbone Internet and other IT services to more than 60 cable television operators across Japan, has turned to SeaChange International for a fully managed, end-to-end on-demand platform that will let cable operators across Japan quickly launch their own on-demand services.

SeaChange is providing its MediaCluster on-demand servers and Axiom Core management software as well as the TV Backend System software for end-to-end management of promotions and business rules. Panasonic is providing the front-end interface solution for Japan’s deployed cable television set-top boxes.

For more information, visit: www.schange.com.

KT relies on NDS content protection solution

Korean broadband operator KT has selected NDS to be the provider of content protection solutions for Mega TV.

KT, which serves more than over 6.51 million subscribers, has launched the “Mega TV on Demand” TV service via broadband. The telecom giant will initially offer the on-demand service in Seoul, Gwa-Cheon, Dong-Tan and other selected cities.

For more information, visit: www.nds.com.

IMAKE, EDS, Tech Mahindra partner on IPTV solution

IMAKE Software & Services has partnered with systems integrators Electronic Data Systems (EDS) and Tech Mahindra to deliver a scalable IPTV solution based on IMAKE’s OpenVision product suite with Sun Microsystems’ Sun Streaming server.

EDS and Tech Mahindra will bring advanced service management and delivery expertise to the partnership. IMAKE’s solution suite for IPTV is being installed at Tech Mahindra’s lab in Pune, India, and at EDS’s lab in Plano, TX.

For more information, visit: www.imake.com.