GlobalSat, Entropic Communications, and Rovi Team to Deliver Multimedia Packed Hybrid Set-Top Box

Saturday, September 8th, 2012

High-Performance Entropic SoC Featuring DivX Plus HD Powers Latest GOOSAT Platform for Service Providers

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — IBC2012, Entropic Meeting Suite G106/107 — GlobalSat, a leading Chinese manufacturer of satellite and terrestrial products, today announced it is collaborating with Entropic Communications (Nasdaq:ENTR), a world leader in semiconductor solutions for the connected home, and Rovi (Nasdaq:ROVI) to deliver an advanced hybrid set-top box (STB). The GOOSAT S1-44HD helps seamlessly merge the delivery of entertainment from broadcast and broadband sources and supports a range of advanced functionality including built-in Wi-Fi™, picture-in-picture, and auto time-shift.

Entropic’s PNX8471 system-on-a-chip (SoC) powers the STB, bringing enhanced performance, security, as well as support for over-the-top (OTT) video delivery. Entropic is also planning to integrate support for Rovi’s DivX Plus® HD into this advanced SoC family. DivX Plus HD Certified devices are able to play back both personal and protected premium video content in the DivX (.divx, .avi and .mkv) format, offering stunning visual quality with video resolutions up to 1080p. In addition, DivX® Certified devices contain digital rights management technology to enable the secure playback of premium content in DivX formats via optical disc, USB drive, or streamed over a home network using DLNA.

Alvin Sun, vice president, World Sales and Marketing, GlobalSat stated, “DivX technology further enhances the advanced digital entertainment experience of Entropic SoCs and we greatly value working with Entropic and Rovi to enable the innovative features on our set-top box.” He added, “With the integration of DivX Plus HD, GlobalSat’s STB will bring more flexibility for consumers, who will be able to enjoy their personal content collections on their set-top box.”

Entropic’s PNX8471 SoC solutions are ARM® Cortex™-A9-based and include the major building blocks needed to develop next generation STB and client applications. Key highlights include: superior video and audio quality, best web browsing through the ARM Cortex-A9 CPU, an advanced 3D GPU, flexible content decoding, advanced 3DTV processing, efficient power management, and support for Linux and Google Android® operating systems.

“GlobalSat’s new set-top box empowers the consumer to take advantage of the convergence of broadcast and IP entertainment in the home – all in HD quality,” said Mark Samuel, senior vice president and general manager, Set-Top Box Group, Entropic Communications. “Our highly integrated SoC delivers power efficiency, media-rich navigation, and online networked video content with planned support for DivX Plus HD technology – bringing new levels of flexibility to how consumers engage and enjoy their multimedia content on their set-top box.”

“We are pleased to be collaborating with Entropic and GlobalSat to enrich consumers’ entertainment experience by seamlessly connecting them to the best of Web and broadcast video content in the highest possible quality,” said Matt Milne, executive vice president, Worldwide Sales and Marketing, Rovi. “By integrating DivX Plus HD, Entropic SoCs will help unlock a number of rich features and provide greater entertainment flexibility to consumers who will be able to enjoy their personal and premium video collections on their set-top box.”

GlobalSat has identified the fast growing HbbTV (Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV) market as a target for its next generation of connected STBs. The Company is working with Entropic and Rovi on a HbbTV solution, planned for availability in Q4 2012.