Hardware (DVD, TV, PMP, Set-top Box, …) News

India reduces set-top box import and excise duty rates
Mar 1, 2016 – India's Finance Minister, in his annual Union Budget, has announced changes to the rates of taxation for set-top boxes and their components. The government has reduced both import duties and excise duty.
News categories: Cable TV, Digital TV, India, Regulation, Satellite, Set Top Box

GS Group begins sales of game console-STB combo
Mar 1, 2016 – GS Group has announced the start of sales of the first Russian game console with HD set-top box functions – GS Gamekit. The device is available from General Satellite authorized dealers and Tricolor TV service providers.
News categories: GS Group, Tatiana Mikhalevskaya, Digital TV, Gaming, Russia, Satellite, Set Top Box

HbbTV 2.0 test suite to be available before the end of the summer
Feb 29, 2016 – The HbbTV Association has announced that it has received all the test material for the first release of a test suite for HbbTV 2.0 implementations.
News categories: HbbTV Association, Klaus Illgner, Digital TV, Europe, HbbTV, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Worldwide

Foxtel selects Unified Streaming to power live and on demand streaming
Feb 25, 2016 – Unified Streaming has announced that it has been selected by Foxtel to create and optimise Foxtel’s streaming platform enabling delivery of Foxtel’s premium live and on demand programming across multiple devices.
News categories: Unified Streaming, Foxtel, Simon Westbroek, Brett Paton, Australia, Content Distribution, Digital TV, DRM, Mobile, Set Top Box

Nigeria takes delivery of first DTT set-top boxes
Feb 25, 2016 – Nigeria's National Broadcasting Commission has announced that, ahead of its digital TV switchover trial, it has received the first batch of DTT Set-Top-Boxes, from SMK Engineering Limited and Gospell Digital Technology Limited.
News categories: National Broadcasting Commission, Gospell Digital Technology, Alheri Saidu, Digital TV, Nigeria, Set Top Box, Terrestrial

STBs for Botswana DTT service expected in June
Feb 25, 2016 – According to the Botswana Government's Daily News, the target date for first availability of set-top boxes for the country's ISDB-T digital terrestrial television service is June this year.
News categories: Botswana, Digital TV, ISDB-T, Set Top Box, Terrestrial

Heartland Cable upgrades with Pico Digital headend and STBs
Feb 24, 2016 – Pico Digital has announced that Heartland Cable, a cable operator serving a dozen rural communities in North Central Illinois, is upgrading to digital with Pico Digital's CONDOR end-to-end headend broadcast cable TV system for small operators.
News categories: Pico Digital, Heartland Cable, Andrew Isherwood, Steve Allen, Cable TV, Conditional Access, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Set Top Box, USA

Zenterio releases updated versions of JetUI and Zenterio OS
Feb 24, 2016 – Zenterio has announced the release of a new version of its JetUI user interface with a number of updates and new features. JetUI works either with Zenterio OS or as an independent UI able to run on any TV client device.
News categories: Zenterio, Middleware, Set Top Box, Smart TV, UX, Worldwide

Cable TV digital conversion passes 90% in India
Feb 23, 2016 – India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has released minutes of the 14th Meeting of the country's Task Force on Implementation of digital cable TV. At the meeting the Joint Secretary gave an overview of progress on cable TV digitisation.
News categories: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Cable TV, Conditional Access, Digital TV, India, Market Research, Set Top Box, Subscribers