Broadcast (Cable TV, DTH Satellite, Terrestrial) News

Czech Republic to begin DVB-T2 trials
Nov 29, 2010 – The Czech Telecommunications Office has commissioned the Czech Metrology Institute to run trials prior to the introduction of DVB-T2 digital terrestrial television broadcasting in the country.
News categories: Český telekomunikační úřad, ČMI, Content Distribution, Czech Republic, Digital TV, DVB-T2, Set Top Box, Terrestrial

Rovi G-Guide and Connected Platform Integrated in Buffalo's New Digital TV Tuner
Nov 29, 2010 – Rovi Corporation has announced that the company's G-Guide Electronic Program Guide (EPG) and media networking solution, Connected Platform, have been incorporated in Buffalo's new DTV-X900 multi-functional digital TV tuner.
News categories: Rovi Corp, Buffalo, ISDB-T, Japan, Middleware, Satellite, Set Top Box, Smart Home, Terrestrial

Anatel opens up Brazil's cable TV market
Nov 25, 2010 – Brazil's Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações (Anatel) has decided to remove regulatory restrictions that prevent new entrants from emerging in the country's cable TV market.
News categories: Anatel, Brazil, Cable TV, Digital TV, IPTV

SADC ICT ministers adopt DVB-T2 for digital terrestrial
Nov 24, 2010 – The ministers responsible for ICT in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have approved recommendations that Member States should adopt DVB-T2 with MPEG-4 compression as the digital terrestrial standard for the region.
News categories: SADC, Angola, Botswana, Digital TV, DRC, DVB-T2, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Terrestrial, Zambia, Zimbabwe

NorDig releases Unified IRD specification Ver. 2.2.1
Nov 24, 2010 – NorDig has released the NorDig Unified Requirements for profiles Basic TV, Enhanced and Interactive, for IRDs and relevant parts of IDTVs for use in cable, satellite, terrestrial and IP-based networks, version 2.2.1.
News categories: NorDig, Cable TV, DVB-S2, DVB-T2, IPTV, Satellite, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Terrestrial

Over the Top (OTT) Video Is Slowly Making Its Way to Set-top Boxes
Nov 24, 2010 – According to ABI Research, MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) set-top box shipments surpassed MPEG-2-only set-top box shipments for the first time in 2010. Despite the support for advanced encoding, pay-TV operators worldwide have been slow to support interactive features.
News categories: ABI Research, Cable TV, Digital TV, DVR, Gateway, IPTV, Market Research, Satellite, Set Top Box, Streaming, Terrestrial

Worldwide set-top box shipment volumes to fall in 2010
Nov 23, 2010 – According to Screen Digest, worldwide set-top box (STB) shipment volumes will fall to 180m in 2010, down from 195m in 2009. The fall is due to the reduction in sales of free-to-air DTT boxes after the conclusion of analogue switch-off in the USA.
News categories: Screen Digest, Cable TV, Digital TV, DVR, IPTV, Market Research, Satellite, Set Top Box, Terrestrial

Siano Launches Integrated Receiver Chip for Latin America Digital TV Market
Nov 23, 2010 – Siano Mobile Silicon has announced the launch of a new product targeting the digital TV markets of Latin America and Japan. The SMS2270 supports the ISDB-T high definition DTV technology, also known as ISDB-T 'full-segment'.
News categories: Siano Mobile Silicon, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Digital TV, ICs, ISDB-T, Japan, SBTVD, Semiconductor, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Terrestrial

German CE Market Grows by 5.5% in First Three Quarters of 2010
Nov 23, 2010 – Results from Q1-Q3 2010 of the Consumer Electronics Market Index (CEMIX) are available for download. The German CE market continued to grow with a plus of 5.5% within the first nine months of the current year, compared to the same period last year.
News categories: GfK, Digital TV, DVD, Gaming, Germany, Market Research, Peripherals / Accessories, Satellite, Set Top Box, Smart TV