Hotel television systems

Hotel TV Hotel Television today is generally available in two forms:

• Free to Guest (FTG) services.

FTG services in general use today are local channels and satellite or cable programming. Satellite & Cable programming can include more than 100 channels with providers such as DIRECTV now providing more than 100 HD channels for Hotel guests.

• Video on Demand (VOD) or paid services.

In general use today VOD consists of movies and adult content.

In some cases hotel TV also means a bundle of interactive services that are made available on a guest's TV screen including:

• a hotel welcome screen with hotel information
• hotel services – check out, room service, laundry, bill viewing, wake up calls, etc…
• an information portal with weather, news & local attractions
• video games & fun
• internet applications such as Twitter, Facebook & other social media
• internet television or movie rental services NetFlix or Hulu
• order & shopping for the hotel’s amenities as well as products & services from local and national companies

These services may be free for the guest or paid, depending on the service and the individual hotel's or hotel chain’s policy. Generally these services are controlled by using remote control

Hotel TV Systems

Hotel TV systems are divided into several categories

• L-Band distribution systems
• Pro:Idiom or digitally encrypted for high definition Satellite TV (DIRECTV & Dish Network) programming
• IPTV based http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPTV
• Free to Air (FTA)

Satellite TV for Hotel Systems

Commonly a Headend System distributing satellite television signal is known as a SMATV (Satellite Master Antenna TV) system.

In an L-Band distribution system TV signal is sent from a headend system to a set top box in each room via a coaxial network.

For High definition Satellite TV signal from DIRECTV & Dish Network the signal is encrypted to prevent piracy and then distributed via a Com1000, Code Plus or other similar Headend systems to each room via a coaxial network.

In an IPTV (internet protocol television) system all video, voice and data are transmitted over an internal hotel IP network.

Cable TV for Hotel Systems

In a Cable TV system signal is distributed via a coaxial network to a set top box in each room.

Signal Distribution

Satellite TV, Cable TV and FTA signals can be distributed via L-Band, Com1000 & Code Plus Headend, or IPTV distribution systems. In most hotels a TV signal provided by a Satellite TV or Cable TV provider or FTA antenna is transmitted over a hotel co-axial cable network. Most hotels today are wired just with coaxial cables, a big obstacle for implementing IP based hotel TV systems (IPTV). Some newer hotels are pre-wired with UTP, which enables IP based hotel TV services. For hotels wired with coax cable, technology has emerged recently which enables some to take advantage of IP based signal transmission over coax cables.

Hotel TV Services

Common Hotel TV services that are available on most Headend or IPTV based systems are:

• TV channels

TV channels can be distributed to the hotel via satellite, cable or free-to-air

• Video on demand

Video On Demand (VOD) allows guests to browse a movie catalogue using the TV remote control and watch a chosen title in room. Usually the guest has to pay for each movie, but it depends on hotel policy.

• Welcome screen

Personalized welcome message can be displayed on the TV set and welcome the guest upon arrival.

• Information Portal, Weather & News

Hotels can publish their essential information, weather, news and promote local attractions.

• Ordering & Shopping

With Ordering & Shopping the hotel can promote their amenities over the room's TV set. Guest can browse the catalogue and choose desired services & products via remote control.

• Games & Fun

Games which can be played on the TV are one of the most popular hotel tv services.

• Bill Viewing system

Guests can view their account balances and be up-to-date with their expenditure.

• Wake-up system

Wake-up systems allows guests to set their wake-up call or time on the TV screen.

• Internet, messaging & e-mail

Using the hotel TV system, guests can browse the Internet and receive or send e-mail messages. Some systems also include internal messaging between hotel reception and the guest in-room.

External links

[*http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/content/business/hotels/overview DIRECTV for Hotels]

[*http://commercial.dishnetwork.com/solutions/hot/default.aspx Dish Network]

[*http://itsallaboutsatellites.wordpress.com/what-we-do/tv-for-hotels TV for Hotels]

[*http://worldcinemainc.com Hotel TV]

[*http://www.innview.net Hotel TV]

[*http://purehd.com Hotel TV]

[*http://lodgenet.com Hotel TV]

[*http://www.at-visions.com Hotel TV]

[*http://www.airwave.tv/hotel_tv.php Hotel TV]

[*http://www.nevron.eu/products/middleware-products Hotel TV]

[*http://www.lgsolutions.com/proidiom Pro:Idiom Encryption for HD Hotel TV]

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