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

Amino to close Swedish office early in 2013
Dec 4, 2012 – Amino Technologies has released a trading update for the year ended 30 November 2012.The Company has decided to focus its R&D capabilities at its Cambridge headquarters and plans to close its Swedish office early in 2013.
News categories: Amino, IPTV, Results, Set Top Box, Sweden, UK

GMM Z satellite TV platform launches in Thailand
Dec 3, 2012 – GMM Grammy plc, Thailand's largest entertainment company, has launched its GMM Z satellite pre-pay TV service. Customers with a GMM Z set-top box can receive the 14 channels (3 free-to-air) after purchase of a GMM Z smart card.
News categories: GMM Z, Digital TV, Satellite, Set Top Box, Thailand

Over half of US multichannel video households have a DVR
Nov 30, 2012 – Leichtman Research Group (LRG) has found that 52% of households in the US that subscribe to a multichannel video service have a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), compared to 4% for those do not subscribe to a multichannel video service.
News categories: Leichtman Research, Cable TV, Digital TV, DVR, IPTV, Market Research, Satellite, Set Top Box, USA

1 in 25 Irish households invest in a set-top box during October
Nov 30, 2012 – Ireland's move to Saorview saw almost 1 in 25 households buying a set-top-box in October. According to GfK, set-top-box volumes sales have increased by 1800%, while volume sales of television sets have been growing by 80% year-on-year.
News categories: GfK, Digital TV, Ireland, Market Research, Set Top Box, Terrestrial

Espial Signs Agreement to Acquire ANT plc
Nov 30, 2012 – Espial (TSX: ESP) has announced that it has entered into an agreement pursuant to which Espial has offered to acquire all of the outstanding shares of ANT plc. The offer values the issued ordinary share capital of ANT at approximately £5 million.
News categories: Espial, ANT plc, HbbTV, MandA, Middleware, Set Top Box

Batelco BlackBox Pioneers Broadband TV in Bahrain using Oregan Digital TV Middleware
Nov 30, 2012 – Oregan Networks has announced that Batelco, the largest telecom operator and ISP in Bahrain, has based the country's first broadband video service on set-top boxes using Oregan's technology.
News categories: Oregan Networks, Batelco, Bahrain, Digital TV, IPTV, Middleware, Set Top Box

Cable ONE Selects TiVo to Provide Advanced Television Experience
Nov 28, 2012 – TiVo (NASDAQ: TIVO) and Cable ONE have announced that Cable ONE has selected TiVo as its exclusive software provider for all new DVRs purchased starting with TiVo's whole-home and multi-screen suite of products.
News categories: TiVo Inc, Cable ONE, Cable TV, Digital TV, DVR, Middleware, Set Top Box, Smart Home, USA

Smart TVs purchased in 2012 effectively obsolete by 2015
Nov 28, 2012 – With their long lifecycles, TVs are not the right device to be the hub of the digital home. Instead, devices that are regularly replaced will be the key devices in the digital home experience, according to Informa Telecoms & Media.
News categories: Informa Telecoms & Media, Digital TV, Market Research, Smart TV, Streaming

LG Smart TV App offers alternative to Verizon FiOS TV set-top box
Nov 28, 2012 – LG's (KSE: 066570) Smart TV platform is the first to allow Verizon (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) FiOS TV customers to enjoy 75 broadcast channels, serving as a set-top box alternative within the home.
News categories: LG Electronics, Verizon, Apps, Digital TV, IPTV, Set Top Box, Smart TV, USA