Media, Technology and Telecommunications

Trusted by the world’s leading Pay TV, media and OTT operator’s brands, we’re a consulting partner that provides technology development services across the delivery platform.

From strategy, design, and embedded systems to cloud solutions and platform security, we’ll make your vision a reality.

Your trusted development partner

Be future-ready
For two decades, we’ve been innovation partners to some of the world’s leading media brands, helping them to be at the forefront of technology in the home.

In this dynamic and rapidly changing market, we use the latest technology innovation to help TV, media and OTT providers embrace market developments and tap into IoT opportunities such as smart, connected homes.

Working in partnership
Our way of working is joined up – we work in close collaboration with you and your teams to get the job done. Not only can we do the blue-sky thinking and build your strategy, but we’ll design, integrate and deliver your technology solutions too.

Total development support
Through the technology development cycle, our project support and delivery means you don’t have to grapple with managing multiple teams and suppliers. We have the capability and flexibility to conduct strategic research, architect and develop the solution, and integrate it with your continuous delivery system.

Our role? To be a secure, discreet and reliable partner who works hard in the background, making sure everything is done on right and on time.

Track record
We’ve built our reputation working with the some of the world’s largest TV, media and OTT operators, helping them become leaders in their field; digital media powered by our technology development is currently used in more than 30 million homes around the world. We apply the same passion, imagination and expertise to your business needs.

I want to...

  • Make my products compliant

    With 15+ years of experience working with major tier 1 operators in the media space, we have in-depth knowledge of various consumer electronic products. We’ve tested STBs, TVs, LNBs, remote controls, cables, satellite dishes, MDUs, hospitality systems, and more. We can put your product through industry compliance testing and advise on the outcomes, helping you identify causes of failure and fixing issues. We also can independently verify your self-certified testing regime or put your proposed product through pre-compliance testing.

  • Migrate to RDK

    As one of the most experienced RDK solutions provider in the industry, we support our clients all the way from initial planning to deployment. Giving you the unique opportunity to innovate and differentiate your offering at the application and services layer. We’ll help you define your strategy, identify which parts of the RDK toolbox are right for your needs and undertake a total cost of ownership analysis. We’ll create a roadmap for implementation, setting out a timetable for the migration.

  • Adopt Android

    We can then help you deliver your vision and create a TV application and fully integrate it, or help you partner with an ODM and assist in the integration of the full Android TV platform into your current ecosystem to give you complete freedom to grow or innovate in the way you need.

  • Integrate an OTT application

    We have years of experience in porting many OTT applications onto the most successful broadcast Operator platforms, adding premium streaming OTT services like Netflix, YouTube, Prime & DAZN, or upgrading to Cobalt or NRDP. Whether you need to assess the impact on your current service delivery, want integration support, help to add new services or application porting advice, our team can provide the resource and expertise without the time and cost of hiring and training new people.

  • Have security peace of mind

    Whether it is integrating CA or DRM, or advice about secure by design for connected devices, we have wide experience of the security requirements of the Pay TV world and IoT. Our long history in set-top box design and OTT services means we are a safe pair of hands and impartial partner for your security needs. In IoT, we understand that security is not just an add-on, but an integral part of the system that needs consideration from day one. We have decades of experience securing systems and can analyse end-to-end (e2e) security.

  • Create custom hardware

    Whether you’re an operator looking to vertically integrate, or a company wanting help with a new product introduction, it’s important to find a partner with a track record in design for manufacture at scale. We’ve over 15 years of experience working with the Pay TV industry; our hardware designs are deployed in more than 30 million set-top boxes in homes around the world. We can deliver a custom, cost-effective full product design solution from PoC and MVP to scalable solution. Simply put, we’re an experienced, safe pair of hands to look after your design project from start to finish.

  • Research my hardware and software options

    Whether it’s developing a new product, or connecting and integrating existing devices and systems, there are a myriad of options and trade-offs you’ll need to think about; device selection, single source constraints, dependencies between hardware and software, operating system selection, the total cost of ownership, how you’ll implement it, time to market, product lifetime, and planned maintenance of the product. We can help you set a strategy for success.

Middleware Solutions

Accelerate your deployment

Android TV is attractive in a number of markets and our experienced experts are here to give you responsive support pre and post-launch, reducing risk and accelerating integration whether that’s on the device, headend or both.

We’ll help you navigate pitfalls, swerve device vendor lock-ins and open up flexible delivery options.

Having our extensive experience by your side can avoid setbacks and overcome the complexities of implementation and configuration.

Realise the possibilities

While Android brings the opportunity of fast innovation and state-of-the-art features at an attractive price, several complications can stand in the way of success.

Operators will need more than just an application to get started, you may also need a broadcast stack, CA and PVR. This all adds up in time and money, but we can reduce your time to market and your total cost of implementation.

We simplify the process, fix the snags, and help you solve problems so you can focus on making your customers happy.

We can then help you deliver your vision and create a TV application and fully integrate it, or help you partner with an ODM and assist in the integration of the full Android TV platform into your current ecosystem to give you complete freedom to grow or innovate in the way you need. Or, we can augment Android TV with exciting features, for example, data and analytics to improve the customer experience.

More control for growth

In order to retain subscribers, and attract new ones, the flexibility of your offer is key. Lack of flexibility can be an issue when locked into contracts with middleware providers.

RDK-V provides the potential for you to gain back some control with a royalty-free solution, enabling you to take ownership of your own proprietary user interface and STB management. This means you can improve the quality of your offering, creating subscriber loyalty and customer satisfaction.

Helping you innovate

If you’re looking for an alternative to proprietary middleware solutions, Consult Red is here to help.

We bring over two decade’s of experience in media, working for some of the biggest names in Pay TV.

As one of Europe’s largest RDK teams in the industry, we support our clients all the way from initial planning to implementation. Giving you the unique opportunity to innovate and differentiate your offering at the application and services layer.

Cost-effective solutions

We ensure unique solutions delivered on time and within budget, with sustainable cost savings in the future where you are free from royalty fees.

From the start, we offer a feasibility study and coordinate all partners and third parties, fully managing the process from design and development to deployment.

Harness the power of RDK

To generate better end-user experiences, operators often desire more control of their broadband termination. But vendor lock-ins and lifelong contracts can stand in the way.

RDK-B allows you to undertake the development and delivery of your own broadband router, with management of everything from the interface to the backend. This means you can tailor the offering to your subscribers, delighting the customer and boosting revenue streams.

As one of the leading RDK solutions providers for the media industry, we have the experience and expertise to develop unique solutions that put you back in the driving seat.

Royalty-free solutions

We have capabilities to take you through every stage, from planning and design to implementation and delivery of RDK-B projects.

You’ll have control of the entire process and will direct every aspect of the software delivery. With a royalty-free broadband network, you’ll also have better control over costs and you can focus on driving quality and performance for the end-user.

If you’re looking for an alternative to proprietary communications equipment solutions, get in touch with Consult Red today to discuss your vision.

Assess your options

As the media space changes and customers have growing demands, customisation and innovative new features will be vital elements in your strategy. When it comes to Middleware, you may feel that you need to seize control over your ‘software destiny’, or you may have a vision but are unsure whether to add functionality to your existing Middleware solution, or embrace new technology.

We can assess your options and develop a strategy to manage, integrate and optimise your middleware solution.

Develop your own middleware

We can implement a project to plan, design, develop, integrate and maintain your own middleware, or work with Android TV, RDK-V and RDK-B, to give you control of your offering or remove costly supplier dependencies.

From the user interface to backend functions, we can help you create a tailored solution that delights your customers and helps your business thrive.

Consult Red has years of experience customising and creating bespoke products for some of the largest media operators. We’ll work with you from planning to integration and can seamlessly coordinate with any third-party partners.

Let us help you lower costs and provide a quality solution with complete ownership and freedom.

Get to market, fast

The addition of YouTube, Spotify, DAZN and Netflix or other OTT services can be a great way of providing customers with choice and convenience. Instant access to their favourite channels and apps is what the digital users of today demand.

Whether you need integration support, help to add new services or upgrade to Cobalt or RHoL, or application porting advice, our team can provide the resource and expertise without the time and cost of hiring and training new people.

A track record of porting OTT

We have years of experience in porting many OTT applications onto the most successful broadcast Operator platforms. The complex nature of porting means that the process can be protracted.

But with our help, our clients have been able to cut costs, integrate faster, and focus on delighting their customers. We also manage and achieve certification on behalf of clients.

The world’s leading operators turn to us time and time again, and they benefit from our in-depth knowledge of operator platforms, our responsive support and being able to tap into talent as and when they need.

Product Development Support

Deliver quality products to market

At Consult Red, we manage the full product lifecycle, giving you an end-to-end hardware service including embedded hardware design, security, compliance, finding manufacturing partners, licensing and support. We’ve got the expertise to make significant cost savings for clients and get the optimum delivery.

Our goal is to deliver a cost-effective full product design solution. Simply put, we’re an experienced, safe pair of hands to look after your design project from start to finish.

From proof-of-concept to scale

Whether you’re an operator looking to vertically integrate, or a company wanting help with a new product introduction, it’s important to find a partner with a track record in design for manufacture at scale.

We’ve two decade’s of experience working with the Pay TV industry; our hardware designs are deployed in more than 30 million set-top boxes in homes around the world.

If you don’t want to be hit with the expense of OEMS and high royalty streams, or you don’t have all of the in-house skills or capacity to turn your ideas into volume products, our team can help.

Rapid route to market

Our product architecture services adapt to your current needs. No matter where you are on the journey, our expert team can support you. Whether you are considering a business case for a solution or developing a proof of concept, we can bring context and capabilities to get things moving faster.

With over two decade’s of experience of architecture cutting edge solutions for tier 1 operators and an exceptional network of contacts, we’ll get you to market quicker with lower costs and greater impact.

Instant access to talent

Our team of solution architects have expert knowledge in RF technologies, all the major cloud platforms, as well as a vast range of embedded software solutions and application environments.

We offer an independent perspective with years of experience working with different clients, and the flexibility to match your organisation’s exacting needs with our vast range of skills and talent.

Our ability to shift from architectural concepts to seamless implementation within a single discussion saves time and tests assumptions, ensuring you get to the right solution.

Designing with scale in mind

We can act as a design house, giving you access to some of the best talent in product design and development, leading and managing your project from start to finish. Our product design experts are skilled in solving challenges and can create complex products at scale.

With our in-depth knowledge of Pay TV and the media industry, we’re able to guide you on the best route forward and take your idea from design to product manufacture.

This knowledge of Pay TV systems also means we are uniquely placed to make sure new products integrate seamlessly with your overall TV and smart home applications, creating a joined-up experience for the customer.

Help the way you want it

We tailor our product design services to fit your need – perhaps for some established products you want to optimise your supply chain by dealing directly with contract manufacturers rather than using an OEM – our service can ensure a smooth transition.

Or, maybe you have a new product concept and want help bringing it to market in volume – if so, we offer an experienced and dependable path.

Issue and dispute resolution

One of the most significant issues faced by our clients when managing a product launch is not being able to resolve problems fast enough. If you have in-field issues that are hardware or software related, having an independent, experienced partner to work with you can often accelerate the progress to a solution.

We’ve got the expertise and experience to step in and investigate.

Tap into our talent

Consult Red has a long track record in product launch, in-field investigation, triage and analysis in projects that sometimes require complex stakeholder relationship management. We have worked for the largest media companies in the world, helping them get to the bottom of issues quicker and giving them a fresh perspective as an independent consultancy firm.

Our experts can help with middleware debug and issue scrub and will get to the root cause, taking your product to launch in a timely way.

Tap into our talent as and when you need with tailored teams targeted precisely at your needs. This reduces your overheads and gives you access to the right talent when you need it.

Understand the user experience

Product analytics and diagnostics are essential tools to gain better insight into how things are working and how customers are engaging with your product. Whether you want to reduce high customer support costs or boost subscriber retention, it pays to know what’s going on.

If you need to improve your customer user experience but are not clear where to start, Consult Red can help you begin the journey.

Custom, real-time insight

In our work with operators, we’ve developed and helped them build telemetry, analytics and diagnostic systems involving Android, RDK-WebPA, Conviva, TR-069 and other technologies, and connected to several backend systems including NewRelics and AWS.

We can help you get real-time metrics on easy-to-use in-field dashboards so staff at every level can access the information. With live updates on things like WiFi performance, your customer services team can be better informed when handling calls, meaning they can resolve customer issues faster.

With in-field STB analytics and live video diagnostics, you can deal with problems before they arise.

Specialist Services

A core component of any pay TV system

Secure by design is now the catchphrase for cybersecurity, Consult Red has been working this way for decades. From the integration of Conditional Access and DRM on operator’s platforms to exploring the attack surfaces of IoT devices, we have long experience in securing systems and analysing end-to-end security.

As systems of connected devices are built from complex mixtures of technology, having a partner that has experience of this challenging area can provide access to the latest knowledge and shorten the time to market. Security is not an add on but an integral part of the system that needs consideration from day one.

As an independent consultancy working across all types of media, we have broad knowledge of the integration of various aspects of CA and DRM. This makes us a great partner for any security integration and means we are a safe pair of hands in the implementation of a core aspect of content delivery.

Our experience of hardware and software platforms and the many options for security implementation means that we can offer independent advice, strategic research, integration services and testing.

End-to-end security solutions

Whether you are looking to evolve your traditional cable or satellite offer or you are developing a new OTT service we can advise on the end-to-end security landscape and support your decision making.

By your side

Whether you’re creating a new proposition or undergoing significant change in architecture, Consult Red is there to support you every step of the way. We work collaboratively, and that means we’ll be by your side in integration projects.

As an independent service provider, we’re an impartial partner that can mobilise a team of trusted experts to accelerate your integration or manage existing third parties and internal stakeholders through the program.

Avoiding delays

We’ll handle integration testing and all the nitty-gritty of multiple sub-systems from internal or external sources. And with years of experience managing integrations for leading media companies, we’re quick to spot potential issues ahead of time and get things moving avoiding unnecessary delay on projects.

Working closely with your team, we can bring all your software and hardware together while reducing risk and bringing you fast and efficient systems integration solutions.

Comply with regulations and directives

In this rapidly changing landscape, operators must have tighter controls with product compliance, Radio, Eco, RoHS, emissions, immunity and safety testing. Hardware validation from a certified body is required to ensure compliance with legal requirements.

By bringing in an external conformance specialist ahead of final testing you can review your designs, indentify design and manufacturing issues,  and complete pre-compliance testing which will all ensure you get the best results from final testing at a Certified Body, saving you a great deal of stress.

Tailored product validation

With over two decade’s experience working with major tier 1 operators in the media space, we have in-depth knowledge of various consumer electronic products. We’ve tested STBs, TVs, LNBs, remote controls, cables, satellite dishes, MDUs, hospitality systems, and more.

And we know first-hand what it’s like to be both the supplier and tester, giving us unique insight into the whole process.

Quick mobilisation

Not only can we offer a flexible service, with tailored performance assessment and supplier auditing, but we can also give you recommendations on how to improve products for manufacture and high-volume deployment.

Maintaining older devices

As technology advances at an increasing pace, you may be left with a number of legacy devices or software stacks that are no longer supported, but still want an effective way of managing these for existing customers.

If you don’t, then chances are you’ll be hit with high call centre traffic and pressure to replace outdated technology – both of which are costly.

Software support

At Consult Red, we help broadcast and broadband operators with an alternative solution.

With outsourced software support and software maintenance, you can keep old and new customers happy.

Whether a past supplier is no longer able or willing to support you, or you’re running out of resource to deal with bugs and complaints, our expert team can step in.

Keep your focus on the future

We provide skilled legacy product support, giving you innovative solutions to uphold the value of your legacy base.

This not only saves you money, but it also saves you time so you can focus on developing new products and keep your business moving forward.

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