United Group’s third-generation entertainment platform, EON 3.0, puts an AI-driven electronic programme guide at the centre of the experience, on a faster Smart Box or on an app that requires no installation
United Group, the leading telecommunications and media group in Southeast Europe, launched the third generation of EON, its cloud-based television and entertainment platform, across the region. The platform is built around an AI-driven engine and a redesigned electronic programme guide, and the full experience is now available on an app as well as on a set-top box.
The platform upgrades the entertainment offering of operators across United Group’s markets, reaching customers through the brands they already know. It provides a common technology platform for Vivacom, Nova and Telemach allowing each operator to offer the service under its own brand.
The rollout is taking place market by market:
• Slovenia, where the platform is already live with Telemach
• Bulgaria: officially launched with Vivacom on September 16
• Greece, where the platform will be available under the Nova brand
• Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, where Telemach will roll out the platform over the coming months
Stan Miller, CEO of United Group, said:
“This is the best cloud-based pay TV platform we have ever given our operators and our customers, with an AI-driven engine and a new electronic programme guide at its heart. It comes with the best set-top box we have produced, and with an app that now does everything the box does. The app will remove the need for a set-top box in many homes, which is a real advantage for our operators and for their customers, who can be watching within minutes instead of waiting for an installation.
“The leading pay TV platform in our markets is built by our own technology team, with our customers in mind. I am proud of what they have delivered, and it will reach every market we serve.”
Asen Velikov, CEO of Vivacom, said:
“This is a step change for our television customers in Bulgaria, which further strengthens Vivacom’s TV and entertainment offering. Our customers get a programme guide that learns what they watch and puts it in front of them, which transforms how households interact with the platform and access content.”
A redesigned EPG
The electronic programme guide has been rebuilt as the centre of the experience. The design is dark-first, with content at the centre of the screen, and a single Home screen brings live TV, radio, movies and series together. Search now works by title, genre or actor, and customers can browse the full catalogue before signing in.
An AI-driven engine
An AI and machine-learning engine adapts recommendations to each profile in a household, based on viewing habits. Skip Intro and Next Episode cut the gaps between episodes.
Personalisation follows a privacy-first approach and can be switched off in the platform’s privacy settings.
Television as an app
The platform is available as an app on smart TVs, phones and tablets, carrying the same AI recommendations, the same electronic programme guide and the same content as the set-top box. There is no installation and no engineer visit, so a customer can be watching within minutes of signing up, on any screen in the home and away from it.
The app is a strategic shift rather than an additional feature. Set-top boxes remain part of the offer and the new Smart Box is the most capable United Group has built, but the Group expects a growing share of its television customers to arrive through the app, which also takes hardware and installation out of the cost of a new connection.
A faster Smart Box
The platform runs on a new generation of Smart Box, up to 50% faster than its predecessor, more compact and supporting Wi-Fi 6. Smart TVs can be activated from the mobile or web app, including by QR code.
Accessibility has been improved with support for multiple audio tracks and subtitles, in line with the European Accessibility Act.
The platform carries premium sports, live television, movies and series, with a Video Club of more than 67,000 titles and more than 1,500 channels.
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