DVD (Blu-Ray, HD DVD, DVD-Recorder, …) News

IDT Introduces 'Vida' HQV Video Processor
Jul 22, 2009 – IDT (NASDAQ: IDTI) has premiered the latest offering from its Hollywood Quality Video™ (HQV®) video processing line. The new chip, the IDT HQV Vida™ processor, transforms standard-definition sources to HD quality and makes HD look even more detailed.
News categories: IDT, DVD, ICs, Semiconductor, Streaming

Blockbuster and Samsung Sign Agreement to Deliver BLOCKBUSTER® OnDemand Services to Select Samsung HDTVs, Home Theater Systems and Blu-ray Players
Jul 14, 2009 – Blockbuster (NYSE: BBI, BBI.B) and Samsung (Seoul: 005930) have announced they are joining forces to enable consumers to access Blockbuster's library of premium digital entertainment via Samsung HDTVs, home theater systems and Blu-ray players.
News categories: Samsung, Blockbuster, Blu-ray, Smart TV, Streaming, USA

Spain - July DTT monthly update released
Jul 9, 2009 – According to Impulsa-TDT, DTT equipment sales in May were 884,076 units. The cumulative number of DTT tuners sold since the beginning of the transition process in Spain is now over 19 million units.
News categories: Impulsa-TDT, DVD, Market Research, Peripherals / Accessories, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Spain, Terrestrial

MPEG LA Reduces MPEG-2 Royalty Rates
Jul 6, 2009 – MPEG LA has announced the offering of a new MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License that will provide uninterrupted coverage for the life of the MPEG-2 essential patents at reduced royalty rates beginning January 1, 2010.
News categories: MPEG LA, Digital TV, DVD, Licensing, Patent, Set Top Box, Smart TV

Spain - June DTT monthly update released
Jun 16, 2009 – According to Impulsa-TDT, April's sales of DTT equipment in Spain were 615,000 units, bringing the cumulative sales figure close to 18.2 million. 49% of the DTT receivers sold in April were either LCD or flat-screen TV sets.
News categories: Impulsa-TDT, DVD, Market Research, Peripherals / Accessories, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Spain, Terrestrial

Blu-ray unable to halt DVD sales slump
Jun 15, 2009 – The global video business lost more than $2.6bn in 2008 due to a combination of a fall in both DVD purchase and rentals by consumers. The figure, which equates to a downturn of 4.8% globally, is published in the latest report from Screen Digest.
News categories: Screen Digest, Blu-ray, Digital TV, DVD, Market Research

Game Consoles to Remain Preeminent Device for Web Video on TV in the U.S.
Jun 15, 2009 – The range of connected consumer electronics devices delivering web video into the living room is growing. Networked video game consoles are currently the most utilized devices and will remain so through 2013, reports In-Stat.
News categories: In-Stat, Blu-ray, Digital TV, Gaming, Market Research, Optical Disc Recorder, Set Top Box, Smart Home, Smart TV, Streaming, USA

AACS Finalizes Managed Copy for Blu-ray Discs
Jun 12, 2009 – The AACS licensing authority has finalized specifications that would allow consumers to make legal copies of Blu-ray content, but that will require new hardware.
News categories: AACS, Blu-ray, Digital TV, DRM, Gaming, Smart Home

Sonic Solutions Selects Widevine for Video Optimization and DRM
Jun 8, 2009 – Widevine® and Sonic Solutions® (NASDAQ: SNIC) have announced that Widevine adaptive streaming, interactive DVD/Blu-ray features and DRM will help facilitate Roxio® CinemaNow® digital entertainment on broadband-enabled consumer electronics.
News categories: Widevine, Sonic Solutions, Blu-ray, Content Protection, Digital TV, DRM, DVR, Gaming, Media Player, Smart TV, Streaming, Tablet, USA