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DIGITAL TV BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY & MARKET RESEARCH NEWS
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China adopts EVD as national DVD standard
February 25, 2005 - China’s Ministry of Information Industry (MII) announced on its Chinese-language website on February 23 the adoption of the domestically developed EVD (enhanced versatile disc) as a national DVD-player standard.
MII intends EVD to be a guideline for China-based makers in their development and production of ICs, software, discs and players for high-definition digital video entertainment. MII also intends EVD to be a means of freeing Chinese makers from having to pay DVD royalties to the 3C alliance and the 6C alliance, the local media Xinhua Online pointed out. A number of China-based makers of DVD players, including Amoi Electronics, Nanjing Panda Electronics and SVA Information Industry, are paying a royalty of US$10 per exported DVD player to the two groups of patent owners, Xinhua Online noted.
Elixent expects success in digital TV
February 25, 2005 - Elixent expects the first commercial application for its configurable processor IP to be in a system-on-chip (SoC) device for converting digital TV signals into a suitable format for driving TFT flat panel displays.
The Bristol-based company claims to have a handful of design-ins with consumer firms, but Toshiba is the only customer for its IP to be formally named.
Korea's Jeju Broadcasting Selects SCM Microsystems and Conax to Provide OpenCable CableCARD Solution for Digital Cable TV
February 25, 2005 - SCM Microsystems, Inc. today announced that KCTV Jeju Broadcasting of Jeju Island, Korea has selected SCM's CableCARD(TM) removable security module, incorporating the conditional access (CA) system from Conax AS. In making this selection, Jeju Broadcasting becomes the first independent CATV system operator to build a digital broadcasting system.
Liberty Communications & Coaxsys Deliver "Triple Play" of Voice, Video, and Data Services to Customers in Iowa
February 25, 2005 - Coaxsys Incorporated, the leader in delivering customer premise networking over existing wires, today announced that Liberty Communications Inc., a 100-year-old telco in Iowa, is deploying Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) service to its subscribers using the Coaxsys IPTV 7000 TVnet Network.
Humax Inks Deal With DIRECTV for Digital Satellite Set Top Boxes
February 24, 2005 - Humax, a leading international manufacturer of digital satellite set-top boxes today disclosed it has entered into a development agreement and supply agreement with DIRECTV, Inc. the leading digital satellite TV provider in the United States.
The agreements encompass various set top box models including a portion of the entry-level receivers that will feature interactive services and a HDTV receiver capable of receiving MPEG 4 broadcasts due to ship later in the year. In addition, Humax is producing the new DIRECTV DVR, also due out later this year.
Harris Corporation Is Exclusive Supplier of Transmitters for NTL Broadcast Mobile TV Trial in the UK
February 24, 2005 - Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS) today announced that it has entered into a teaming agreement with NTL Broadcast, a major UK broadcast transmission provider, as the exclusive supplier of broadcast transmitters for a mobile TV trial using the DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld) standard.
The trial, mounted by NTL Broadcast and mobile operator O2, will cover 120 square kilometers in the Oxford area of the United Kingdom, using 10 transmitting sites. At each site Harris will install its DVB-H-ready DTV660 Series transmitters with power between 100W-200W. The DTV660 Series transmitters are based on the highly successful digital television transmitters and single-frequency network products built by Harris' European operations. NTL Broadcast and O2 will test their business model and consumer mobile TV preferences beginning in June this year.
Access Devices announces Q4 2004 trading review
February 24, 2005 - Sales of ADDL’s range of DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcast Terrestrial) and DVB-T with CA (Conditional Access – for premium services) were consistent with the Directors’ expectations.
Over the 12 months, over 165,000 ADDL-designed DVB-T set-top boxes were shipped, bringing the running total since the Q3 2002 launch of Freeview to 600,000 units
In Q4 2004, ADDL shipped 40,000 DVB-T TopUpTV-compatible Freeview boxes, representing approximately 25% of the UK Christmas market
By the end of 2004, ADDL’s designs appeared under five different brand names in the market
ADDL's unaudited Q4 2004 revenues were £1.6 million ($3 million)
ADDL intends to capitalise on its success with the TopUpTV product with similar conditional access products for Europe
Mobile TV - Hype Not Justified by Risk
February 24, 2005 - Strategy Analytics' Wireless Internet Applications service today released, "Mobile TV: Hype not Justified by Demand!" arguing that the vendor-led rush to bring broadcast services to market misses the critical issues of uncertain demand for mobile TV. Additionally, poorly defined costs associated with infrastructure deployment will extend ROI for mobile broadcast networks beyond the currently envisaged two to four years.
Even though services will not launch in Europe and North America until the end of 2006, Mobile TV services, which allow users to watch digital TV channels on their mobile phones, is already the hot industry topic of 2005. Across the globe, numerous trials are being announced to evaluate whether standards and technologies from the world of digital broadcasting can be adapted and married with mobile cellular services for access through converged handheld devices.
Intel Announces Intent To Acquire Oplus Technologies, Inc.
February 24, 2005 - Intel Corporation today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Oplus Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of video processing products and technologies for digital television and digital displays. The acquisition would provide Intel with access to valuable technology, expertise and products that complement the company's offerings of standards-based silicon and software for the growing consumer electronics market segment.
Internet TV for Latvia
February 24, 2005 - The Latvian incumbent telco Lattelekom will launch a TV-via-ADSL service this spring. Majority owned by the state but listing the TeliaSonera-backed company Tilts Communications as a 49% shareholder, Lattelkom has invested at least €700 million in upgrading its infrastructure since the mid-1990s and already offers its subscribers a wide variety of services including ADSL and WiFi.
Malata Selects Microtune’s MT2050 Silicon Tuner and MT1110 Amplifier to Enable TV Reception in Portable DVD Players
February 24, 2005 - Microtune®, Inc. announced today that Malata Group Ltd. (Fujian, China) has selected the MicroTuner™ MT2050 silicon tuner and the MT1110 Broadband Amplifier as radio frequency (RF) components for Malata’s new 9-inch and 10.2-inch personal DVD players. Targeted for Malata’s worldwide original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and original design manufacturer (ODM) customers, the new personal DVD players enable consumers not only to play movies and listen to CDs, but also to watch TV.
Digital consumer electronics will drive the disk drive industry over the next several years, according to an industry analyst
February 23, 2005 — Digital consumer electronics will drive the disk drive industry over the next several years, an industry analyst told the International Disk Drive Equipment and Materials Association. Harry Blount of Lehman Brothers said cable companies like Comcast want to equip set-top boxes with media storage devices. With their experience using storage devices, Apple, Dell and Hewlett-Packard will begin superseding companies like Sony as suppliers of home entertainment equipment, he added.
What's more, said Blount, consumer disk drives will not be immediately subject to the price erosion affecting other applications. For the first time in years, the storage industry can anticipate a 38-percent increase in drive shipments — from 305 million in 2004 to over 400 million in 2005 — along with an 18% increase in revenues.
Gemstar-TV Guide Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2004 Results
February 23, 2005 - Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. announced that for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2004, revenues increased to $186.6 million, compared with revenues of $176.3 million in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2003. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2004 was $1.6 million, or $0.00 cents per share, compared with a net loss of $(491.4) million, or $(1.18) per share, for the fourth quarter of 2003.
Cablevision Systems Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2004 Results. 2005 Outlook Provided
February 23, 2005 - Consolidated fourth quarter net revenues increased 11% to $1.4 billion compared to the prior year period, based on continued strong customer growth in Telecommunications Services as well as advertising and affiliate revenue growth at Rainbow Media's Core Networks. Consolidated fourth quarter operating loss totaled $279.1 million compared to an operating loss of $46.0 million in the prior year period. The higher operating loss results from higher DBS operating losses, as well as $354.9 million in non-cash impairment charges at Rainbow DBS to reduce the carrying value of certain assets.
iO: Interactive Optimum digital video customers up 145,933 or 11% for the quarter and 577,530 or 64% for the year
Media Rights Technologies Announces the Release of Secure DVD Technology Designed to Combat DVD Piracy
February 23, 2005 - Media Rights Technologies, a software company that develops and licenses content-control solutions, has announced the worldwide availability of SeCure DVD, a software- based product that prevents and controls digital ripping, copying and burning. Designed to easily integrate with existing technologies, SeCure DVD has been specifically tailored for the paramount needs of the entertainment and media industries. SeCure DVD mitigates the intensifying issue of DVD piracy while at the same time allowing for a full-quality DVD audio and video experience. MRT's exciting new technology is completely transparent and is only apparent when a user attempts to illegally rip/burn the protected DVD content. To ensure ongoing protection for copyrighted works, SeCure DVD implements an effective dynamic update process, guarding against future ripping applications and technologies.
China Cable and Communication Anticipates Strong Growth in 2005
February 23, 2005 - China Cable and Communication, Inc., a leading China-based cable TV company President and CFO, Mr. Gareth Tang, speaks about the companies objective and focus for 2005.
"As we begin 2005," stated Mr. Tang, "We're encouraged by the progress we made and lessons learned in 2004. In addition to our plans of increasing our equity stake from 49% to 52%, we are investing in CATV system upgrades. These upgrades will allow us to deliver additional value-added services like ''always-on-line" internet access, multiplayer gaming capabilities, video and music on demand, and other broadband content offerings."
ICTV, GlooLabs reach agreement for GlooNet availability on HeadendWare
February 23, 2005 - ICTV™, creator of HeadendWare®, the broadband industry's most powerful platform for the delivery and distribution of compelling interactive content, and GlooLabs™, Inc., a developer of multimedia platforms for the digital convergence market, today announced an agreement for the availability of the GlooNet™ service on the HeadendWare platform.
The agreement will enable subscribers to HeadendWare-powered interactive television services to access via digital set-top boxes personal music, photo and video collections stored on their computers. By simply installing the GlooNet software on any personal computer, subscribers can navigate and play music or view photos and video through their televisions, using standard TV remote controls. In addition, subscribers will be able to share content from their computers with other subscribers to HeadendWare-based services who may not have Internet access or a personal computer.
Philips offers HDMI-compliant receiver and reference design for next-generation high-definition TVs
February 22, 2005 - Royal Philips Electronics today unveiled a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI™) receiver integrated circuit (IC), the TDA9975A, to meet consumer demands for superior image quality in next-generation TVs. A reference design is also available with the new receiver IC. Philips' TDA9975A HDMI receiver will allow TV manufacturers to combine uncompressed high-definition video and multi-channel audio through a single digital interface and a tiny, user-friendly connector. For consumers, HDMI technology not only offers crisp image quality, but the use of a single cable for both audio and video that dramatically simplifies home theater system installation.
Ikanos Communication expands its FX product portfolio to include the first chipset to offer symmetric 100 Mbps over copper
February 22, 2005 – Ikanos Communications, a leading developer of fiber-fast broadband-over-copper solutions, today announced it has added the Fx™ 100100 to its successful family of fiber-extension products. The Fx 100100 is the first programmable silicon solution to provide speeds of up to 100 Mbps in both upstream and downstream directions over a single copper line. Ikanos believes that its new solution enables carriers to increase their revenue stream by offering the same high-speed symmetric bandwidth over existing telephone lines that businesses are used to receiving from their Ethernet LAN today.
Sogecable Consolidated results as of December 31st 2004 - Fourth Quarter of 2004
February 22, 2005 - In 2004, Sogecable cut its net losses by 52.6% in comparison to the previous year. As of December 31st 2004 the Net Loss was –156.2 million euros, in comparison to –329.6 million euros in 2003.
In the fourth quarter of 2004, Sogecable continued to increase its subscriber base, adding 48.000 new net customers to DIGITAL+. As of December 31st 2004, Sogecable has 2,094,000 subscribers. Out of them, 1,653,000 already enjoy the contents of DIGITAL+ through the satellite broadcasting and 441,000 subscribe to the analogue service of CANAL+.
Imagination Technologies Announces Latest Member of the META™ Family of Super-Threaded Processors
February 22, 2005 - Metagence – a division of Imagination Technologies – today announced, at Embedded World, Nurnberg, the availability of the META 122 IP core, the latest version of its multi-million shipping META™ processor family, targeted at multi-function consumer entertainment (CE) products which must provide high performance, both in terms of processing and I/O.
MainConcept and Siemens Collaborate on DSL Video Standard Slimming Cure for Digital Videos
February 22, 2005 - In the future, high-speed DSL lines will no longer be the sole preserve of computer users. The TV set will also become a multimedia device, capable of downloading videos for instant viewing via telephone cables. Up until now the required data volumes have been too large for transmission with good picture quality. Researchers from Siemens and MainConcept have now developed a system applying the latest video standards to compress the huge streams of video data.
Digital Content Protection Will Be $2 Billion Business in 2009, Says DTC
February 22, 2005 - The worldwide digital consumer media content protection market is poised to generate nearly $2 billion by 2009, up from an estimated $928 million in 2005, according to market research firm Digital Tech Consulting (DTC). The analysts say that next generation services and devices -- from HDTV and VOD to iTunes and smartphones -- carry the promise of healthy growth for digital copyright across the digital content value chain.
Alcatel and Microsoft create an industry-leading solution for IP Television
February 22 2005 - Alcatel and Microsoft Corp. today announced a global collaboration agreement designed to rapidly accelerate the availability of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services for broadband operators world-wide. Alcatel and Microsoft expect that this precedent-setting agreement between a leading provider of Triple Play (voice, data, video) solutions and a leading provider of software solutions will help expand the quickly-growing ecosystem of IPTV industry partners and enable telecommunication providers to take advantage of global economies of scale fueled by large-scale IPTV deployments planned across the globe.
Humax Suffers Sharp Drop in Net Profit
February 22, 2005 - South Korea’s leading digital set-top box maker Humax saw its operating profit and ordinary income plunge by 90 percent last year due to the weak U.S. dollar and suspended exports to the United States.
The company Tuesday said its operating profit plummeted by 90.4 percent to 4.2 billion won while its ordinary income fell by 90.5 percent to 4.6 billion won in 2004 compared to a year earlier.
Its sales rose to 387.5 billion won last year, up 6.5 percent from 2003.
Given that Humax’s operating profits topped 10.2 billion won and ordinary profits recorded 14 billion won, the company saw a sizable deficit in the fourth quarter.
``Fourth-quarter profits shrank sharply due to the suspension of exports of digital set-top boxes to the U.S.,’’ Humax spokesman Chang Se-chun said.
SCM Security Modules Certified by Swedish Operator BOXER-TV ACCESS
February 21, 2005 – SCM Microsystems, Inc., a leading provider of solutions that open the Digital World, today announced that Swedish operator BOXER TV-ACCESS has tested and approved SCM’s digital TV security modules for use with BOXER’s DTV broadcast network. BOXER offers individual households or entire buildings access to DTV and interactive services at a low cost using terrestrial broadcasting technology that can be received with a regular TV-antenna.
SCM also announced the company has shipped the first 10,000 security modules to distributors serving the market in Sweden.
New Zealand - Sky TV Posts Record 1H Profit, Strong Growth
February 21, 2005 - New Zealand's Sky Network Television Ltd.'s (SKY.NZ) first-half net profit was almost four times higher than a year ago as it reaped the rewards of years of heavy capital expenditure, enabling it to grow its subscriber base at little cost.
Sky TV said it added 11,979 subscribers during the six months to Dec. 31, more than double the 5,150 it added in the same period a year ago.
Namibia Gets Digital Terrestrial TV
February 21, 2005 - MultiChoice Africa launched the first digital terrestrial television (DTT) broadcast system in southern Africa on Friday last week, with the official opening of its transmission station in Windhoek, Namibia.
Talk to your TV: Opera Software Announces Voice-Enabled Home Media Technology with IBM® Embedded ViaVoice
February 21, 2005 - Opera Software ASA today announced their voice-enabled Electronic Program Guide (EPG) for home media, introducing home entertainment users across the globe to the future of human-computer interaction.
The voice-enabled EPG is a significant breakthrough in the effort to enhance the customer experience. Finally, there is an easier way for people to interact with their DVD players, DVRs and digital TV set top boxes without having to negotiate an array of remote controls.
Pace to Launch World's First DVB Cable PDR for payTV
February 21, 2005 - Pace Micro Technology has commenced deliveries of the world`s first cable-based DVB personal digital recorder (PDR), as part of a new contract with FOXTEL, Australia`s leading subscription television provider. The broadcaster, which revealed details of its revolutionary PDR service today, will offer its subscribers Pace`s ground-breaking cable and satellite PDR set-top boxes as part of its FOXTEL Digital service.
South Africa - Policy vacuum stalls digital broadcasts
February 21, 2005 - A bureaucratic hiatus is stalling plans to bring digitally interactive pay-TV broadcasts to South Africa, while Namibia already enjoys this cutting-edge technology.
The technology is proven also for South Africa, but there is no regulatory framework yet to run things, says broadcast carrier MultiChoice Africa's chief technology officer Gerdus van Eeden.
Motorola Delivers High-Speed Internet Experience to Two Million More Homes in Europe, Middle East & Africa during 2004
February 21, 2005 — Motorola, Inc (NYSE: MOT) continues to lead the broadband revolution in EMEA with two million cable modems shipped in the region during 2004. As the leading cable modem supplier, Motorola is at the forefront of the connected home revolution by bringing together its expertise in broadband with leadership in wireless to create seamless experiences for the consumer.
As enthusiasm for the connected home experience grows, demand for broadband is estimated to increase rapidly. Forrester[1] estimates that by 2010, residential broadband take up is expected to reach 41% of Western European households.
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The latest digital television (DTV) and set-top box (STB) Business, Technology and Market Research news
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