CES 2016: Cisco courts broadcasters, media with more cloud video services

LAS VEGAS---Cisco is once again updating its Internet of Things strategy with a specific focus on courting broadcasters and media companies at the annual Consumer Electronics Show.

Building off its recent acquisition of cloud video startup 1 Mainstream, Cisco is bolstering its Infinite Video for delivering live and on-demand video content to via local network or over-the-top (OTT) TV services.

The networking company is also upgrading its Virtualized Video Processing (V2P) platform for supporting and automating video operations. Cisco's plan is to blend cloud hardware with open source software to streamline and speed up these operations.

Cisco is also getting involved with AT&T's Smart Cities initiative, which the telecommunications giant elaborated on at its Developer Summit across town on Tuesday morning.

Also pulling in resources from Deloitte, Ericsson, GE, IBM, Intel, and Qualcomm, AT&T is expanding a framework pitched toward municipalities, connecting utilities, transit systems and even roadways to the Internet.

Cisco will be contributing elements from its Smart+Connected Communities portfolio for managing connected parking, traffic, safety and security products.

Last year at CES, Cisco announced a partnership with Vodafone-owned Kabel Deutschland (KD), Germany's largest cable operator, to serve as the foundation for KD's on-demand video service. Under the deal, KD's future video service would use Cisco-branded connected devices to establish a "video-hub for the home."

Stateside, Cisco inked a deal with broadband provider Charter Communications. Cisco committed to supply the technology for Charter's upcoming next-generation video platform. Charter said at the time it would shore up its existing systems through an open downloadable security suite that will be deployed to current systems over 2015.