Cisco unveiled Videoscape Unity, its new and expanded Videoscape video services delivery platform, at CES 2013 in Las Vegas. This platform empowers service providers and media companies to deliver new intuitive and synchronized multiscreen video experiences.

These include a multiscreen cloud digital video recorder (DVR), which enables consumers to restart shows, catch up on past programs, and play back DVR-captured content from anywhere, on any screen.

For the first time, video operators will have an agile, open software platform that goes above and beyond "TV Everywhere" services, empowering operators to speed the delivery of immersive multi-screen video experiences that advance their unique service and brand visions.

During Cisco's press conference, Marthin De Beer, senior vice president of Cisco's Video and Collaboration Group, hosted a panel of leading service and content providers for a discussion titled, "The Future of TV: Above and Beyond TV Everywhere," during which they shared their visions for delivering personalized video experiences. Panelists include:

Len Barlik, EVP, chief product officer, Cox Communications

Bill Bradford, senior vice president, Digital Media, Fox Broadcasting

Joe Inzerillo, senior vice president, Multimedia and Distribution, Major League Baseball Advanced Media

Balan Nair, chief technology officer, Liberty Global

Andrew Olson, director of product planning and design, BSkyB

"Consumers expect more choice, freedom and flexibility in what they watch, and when, where, and how they watch it. They want to shape and socialize what is displayed on their own screens. Working with both Cisco and NDS has helped us to evolve our video services platform beyond TV Everywhere to more ‘TV your way,' personalized video experiences, giving our subscribers more of what they enjoy. We are excited about the combination of Cisco and NDS, and the possibilities the new Videoscape Unity portfolio has to offer," said Len Barlik, executive vice president, chief product officer, Cox Communications.

New Preintegrated Offers Enabled by Videoscape Unity IncludeMultiscreen Cloud DVR: Offers cloud-driven video recording with capture and storage in the cloud instead of the end device. Consumers can restart shows, catch up on past programs, and play back DVR-captured content from anywhere, on any screen.Video Everywhere: Broadens the TV Everywhere proposition with unified search, discovery, and viewing functions to allow consumers to watch premium live and on-demand content on any (service provider managed or unmanaged) connected device regardless of location.Connected Video to Any Device in the Home: Cisco's Connected Video Gateway serves as a single entertainment hub, with back-end management of IP and QAM video, for distributing video content and metadata to any IP-connected device in the home, while providing a unified user experience. IP Video over Cable: Gives consumers expanded choice of content and IP video services, with faster delivery of on-demand and interactive offerings, across a wider range of service provider managed devices - with the flexibility to add unmanaged devices.

About Videoscape Unity

Cisco announced its Videoscape TV services delivery platform at CES in 2011. Videoscape Unity was created by integrating Cisco Videoscape with the assets and business model of NDS, the leading video software and content security and experience provider acquired by Cisco in 2012.

The new platform comprises a set of cloud, network and client based components, connected by open interfaces.

The cloud and network components power new, personalized video services and enable multiple screens to be synchronized to create a single unified experience for the subscriber, so things look and feel the same no matter what device they use.

Client components use the Cisco Snowflake interface design model and NDS Media Highway multiplatform clients. This approach enables network operators to design exciting user experiences, engineer them into clients for connected devices and set-top boxes, and quickly deploy them across multiple screens and throughout large service footprints.