United Group, one of the leading telecommunications and media groups in Southeast Europe — of which Nova is a member — is launching the third generation of EON, its cloud-based television and entertainment platform, across the entire region. The new platform is powered by an AI-driven recommendation engine and a fully redesigned electronic program guide, and now delivers the complete viewing experience through both an app and a set-top box.
United Group: The new third-generation TV & entertainment platform
The platform upgrades the television and entertainment experience offered by providers across the markets where United Group operates, reaching customers through the brands they already know. It provides the technological foundation on which Nova, Vivacom, and Telemach can tailor the service to meet the specific needs of their own customers. The new EON experience is being rolled out gradually across each market, namely in:
- Slovenia, where the platform is already available through Telemach
- Bulgaria, where it launched via Vivacom on September 16
- Greece, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, where it will follow in the coming months
“The best cloud-based pay-TV platform we have ever offered”
Stan Miller, CEO of United Group, stated: “This is the best cloud-based pay-TV platform we have ever offered to our providers and customers, with an AI-powered recommendation engine and a new electronic program guide at the heart of the experience. It comes with the best set-top box we have ever built, as well as an app that now delivers the full functionality of a set-top box. The app eliminates the need for a set-top box in many households, which is a significant advantage for both our providers and their customers, who can start watching TV within minutes — without having to wait for installation.”
“The leading pay-TV platform in our markets has been developed by our own technology team, with our customers’ needs at its core. I am proud of what our team has achieved, and of the fact that the platform will be available across all markets where we operate.”
A fully redesigned electronic program guide
The electronic program guide has been rebuilt from the ground up and now sits at the center of the overall experience. The design adopts a dark-first aesthetic, with content taking center stage on screen. A single home screen brings together live TV, radio, movies, and series. Search can now be performed by title, genre, or actor, and customers can browse the full content catalog even before signing in.
AI-powered recommendation engine
An artificial intelligence engine tailors recommendations to each profile within a household, based on individual viewing habits. The Skip Intro and Next Episode features allow seamless transitions between episodes with no unnecessary interruptions.
Personalization is built on a privacy-first approach and can be disabled at any time through the platform’s privacy settings.
TV as an app
The platform is available as an app on smart TVs, smartphones, and tablets, delivering the same AI-powered recommendations, the same electronic program guide, and the same content as the set-top box. No installation or technician visit is required, meaning customers can start watching within minutes of signing up — on any screen, at home or on the go.
The app represents a strategic shift, not merely an added feature. Set-top boxes remain part of the offering, and the new Smart Box is the most advanced United Group has ever built. However, the Group expects a growing share of TV customers to opt for the app, which simultaneously eliminates hardware and installation costs from a new subscription.
A faster Smart Box
The platform runs on a new generation of Smart Box that is up to 50% faster than its predecessor, features a more compact design, and supports Wi-Fi 6. Smart TVs can be activated through the mobile app or the web app, including via QR code.
Accessibility has been significantly improved, with support for multiple audio options and subtitles, in compliance with the requirements of the European Accessibility Act.
The platform offers premium sports content, live TV, movies, and series.
