By Stuart Thomson
Comcast-owned TV app store specialist Metrological has unveiled its Lightning Partner Programme, an initiative designed to provides. TV operators and content providers with a worldwide network of resources to help bring Lightning-based TV apps and UXs to market faster and more cost efficiently.
Metrological said it believed its programme would further drive Lightning as a global standard for TV app and UX development.
Lightning is Metrological’s open-source framework and Software Development Kit (SDK) for developing UX and TV apps.
It provides native-like user experiences for browser-based TV apps on set-top boxes, according to the company, reducing the complexity of designing, developing, onboarding, and maintaining apps across devices.
The Lightning Programme consists of two tracks: the Lightning Partner Programme and the Lightning Developer Programme. The former is for select app development firms, recognized by Metrological to have displayed consistent expertise with the Lightning development framework and SDK. The programme has launched exclusively with its first two Lightning Community Partners – TV2Z and Amdocs. Additional companies are expected to gain accreditation in the coming months.
Inclusion in the Lightning Partner Programme is by invite-only. Companies must have successfully deployed Lightning-based apps in the Metrological App Library and contribute new Lightning apps annually. Additionally, companies must have at least one Lightning-Certified Developer employed or under contract and meet Metrological’s quality standards.
The Developer Programme track is designed for individual developers. Those participating will gain recognition as a Metrological Certified Lightning Developer, demonstrating their ability to develop optimized TV apps.
Individuals will be able to receive accreditation by completing a three-day training programme, led by Credersi, Metrological’s Lightning Training partner.
“We are extremely excited to launch our Lightning Programme, beginning with Community Partners Amdocs and TV2Z, and an existing talent pool of more than 100 individual developers. The programme creates a specialized community of trusted and experienced TV app development firms and app developers. Our TV operator and content provider customers can leverage this network to speed up development for Lightning-based apps and reduce development and maintenance costs. As such, we are pleased that TV operators will be able to source more state-of-the-art Lightning-based TV apps from the Metrological App Library as the community grows,” said head of the Lightning Partner Programme for Metrological, Greg Riker.
