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

36 bidders for South Africa's DTT STB tender
May 9, 2012 – South Africa has announced the results of its tender for the production of set-top boxes to be provided to subsidised households. Bids were received from 36 STB manufacturers plus 4 service providers offering to facilitate the migration process.
News categories: Digital TV, Set Top Box, South Africa, Terrestrial

Zero Growth in Overall TV Shipments in 2012; 3D TV Shipments to Soar 90%
May 9, 2012 – TV shipments to developed markets, especially Western Europe and Japan, are expected to be down 11% Y/Y in 2012, offseting the forecasted 8% Y/Y growth in emerging markets, according to DisplaySearch.
News categories: DisplaySearch, Digital TV, Market Research, Metaverse, Smart TV

Harmonic Transcoding Powers Multiscreen OTT Services for ZON
May 9, 2012 – Harmonic Inc. (NASDAQ: HLIT) has announced that ZON Multimédia (Lisbon:ZON) has chosen Harmonic's portfolio of transcoding solutions as the enabling technology for a range of new multiscreen services being offered on ZON Online.
News categories: Harmonic Inc, ZON Multimédia, Content Distribution, DRM, Portugal, Smart TV, Streaming, Tablet

US Flat-Panel TV Prices Surge in Early 2012 as Brands and Retailers Shift Strategy
May 8, 2012 – Although flat-panel TV shipments are expected to decline in the U.S. this year, the sophistication of features used in the sets is on the rise, causing a rare, sharp increase in pricing during the first four months of the year, according to iSuppli (NYSE: IHS).
News categories: iSuppli, Market Research, Smart TV, USA

SeaChange Innovates Cable's Deployed Set-Top Boxes with Nitro Now™ Subscriber Experience
May 8, 2012 – With the goal of improving the consumer experience on all video-enabled devices, SeaChange International (NASDAQ: SEAC), has released its Nitro Now™ subscriber experience set-top software. It will be demonstrated at The Cable Show 2012.
News categories: SeaChange, Cable TV, Middleware, Set Top Box

Only 20% to 30% of European connected TVs are actually online
May 7, 2012 – The European Commission has presented a report on the application of its Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). The report says that although many of the TV sets sold in Europe are connectable, only 20% to 30 % are actually online.
News categories: European Commission, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Digital TV, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Market Research, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Smart TV, Spain, Streaming, Sweden, UK

EchoStar Reports First Quarter 2012 Financial Results
May 7, 2012 – EchoStar (NASDAQ: SATS) has reported total revenue of $765 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, a 59 percent increase compared with $480 million for the corresponding period in 2011.
News categories: EchoStar, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Results, Satellite, Set Top Box, USA

Ghana Issues Free To Air DTT Receiver Minimum Requirements For Comment
May 3, 2012 – Ghana's National Communications Authority has published a draft standard for DTT receivers to ensure that all DTT receivers sold on the Ghanaian market conform to a minimum standard. The consultation expires on 25th May, 2012.
News categories: National Communications Authority, Digital TV, Ghana, Regulation, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Terrestrial

TechnoTrend Görler Launches User Interface for Oper­ator Advertising and Customer Service at ANGA Cable
May 3, 2012 – TechnoTrend Görler (TTG) is to show its new middleware and user interface at ANGA Cable in Cologne. The in-house development allows customisation of the user interface using company logos, advertising and customer service pages.
News categories: TechnoTrend, ANGA COM, Middleware, Set Top Box