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

Sky Deutschland adds 47,900 customers in 2Q 2013
Aug 6, 2013 – Sky Deutschland has released results for the second quarter 2013. Net customer growth was 47,900 (Q2 2012: 47,100), bringing the total number of customers to 3,453,000 (Q2 2012: 3,132,000).
News categories: Sky Deutschland, Austria, DVR, Germany, Results, Satellite, Subscribers

Hisense, Loewe establish strategic cooperation
Aug 6, 2013 – Loewe has announced that Hisense will provide the company with the latest TV panel and smart TV software technology in a move to assist it in expanding in the premium TV market. In turn, Loewe will offer Hisense a distribution network in Western Europe.
News categories: Loewe, Hisense, Digital TV, Middleware, Smart TV

Redbox Instant by Verizon arrives on Roku
Aug 5, 2013 – Redbox Instant by Verizon is now available as a channel on Roku streaming players. Redbox Instant is a monthly subscription package which includes thousands of movies for streaming, plus four DVD credits to get releases on disc at any Redbox kiosk in the U.S.
News categories: Redbox, Roku, Apps, Set Top Box, Streaming, USA

58% of TVs sold in Germany are now smart
Aug 5, 2013 – According to a survey carried out by GfK for Germany's Federal Association for Information Technology, Telecommunications and New Media (BITKOM), 58% of the televisions sold so far this year in the country are capable of being connected to the internet.
News categories: BITKOM, Blu-ray, Gaming, Germany, Market Research, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Streaming

Cox launches 'Contour' personal TV experience
Aug 5, 2013 – Cox Communications has introduced Contour. Contour offers personal recommendations integrated into an intuitive new guide, a tablet app that serves up relevant content to viewers at home or on-the-go and the only DVR in the country that can record 6 shows at once.
News categories: Cox Communications, Apps, Cable TV, Digital TV, DVR, Gateway, TV Everywhere, USA

Chips&Media delivers AVS+ cores for set-top box in China
Aug 2, 2013 – Chips&Media has announced that it has delivered its CODA966 and CODA988, the first AVS+ enabled cores, to a couple of leading semiconductor companies. The new AVS+ standard is already being used on a trial basis for 3D satellite broadcasting in China.
News categories: Chips&Media, China, Digital TV, Satellite, Semiconductor, Set Top Box, Silicon IP, Terrestrial

Pace and MultiChoice work with South Africa's Vektronix to build DStv Explora
Aug 1, 2013 – Pace (LSE: PIC), in partnership with MultiChoice, has announced that it is working with local South African manufacturer Vektronix to assemble and deliver MultiChoice's new HD PVR decoder, the DStv Explora.
News categories: Pace plc, MultiChoice, Vektronix, Digital TV, DVR, Set Top Box, South Africa

Digital TV Group launches the UK UHD Forum
Aug 1, 2013 – The Digital TV Group has announced the launch of the UK UHD Forum. The group will co-ordinate UK requirements to build a knowledge base for the future interoperability of Ultra HD, and will work hand-in-hand with FAME and other European standards organisations.
News categories: Digital TV Group, Digital TV, Set Top Box, Smart TV, UK

Ofcom releases UK Communications Market Report 2013
Aug 1, 2013 – Huge growth in take-up of smartphones and tablets is creating a nation of media multi-taskers, Ofcom research has revealed, transforming the traditional UK living room into a digital media hub. In addition, seven per cent of TV households had a Smart TV at the end of the Q1 2013.
News categories: Ofcom, Cable TV, Digital TV, DVR, Market Research, Mobile, Satellite, Smart TV, Smartphone, Streaming, Tablet, Terrestrial, UK