ADB Launches into Hungary with HelloHD

Monday, April 28th, 2008
Advanced Digital Broadcast logo

GENEVA, Switzerland — Advanced Digital Broadcast (SWX: ADBN), a leading supplier of digital TV systems and software solutions for interactive television announced today that it will supply high definition (HD) digital video recorders (DVRs) to Hello Platform for the launch of its new television service HelloHD. Hungary’s latest television platform will be launched 1st May 2008 and will primarily target premium consumers receptive to high-end solutions and high quality value-added services transmitted via cable and satellite. The service will be distributed throughout Hungary.

ADB will supply both cable and satellite DVRs, the units will enable Hello Platform to offer a wealth of advanced services including HD premium content – the units are integrated with Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) software, including an innovative PushVoD application, from Osmosys, a leading developer and licensor of open standard middleware and system solutions for interactive television. Push VoD will enable Hello Platform to enhance their service portfolio by offering on-demand services cost effectively, with no additional cost to the STB or substantial bandwidth overhead.

“With the launch of HelloHD the digital conversion really begins in Hungary”, stressed Schmideg András, Hello Platform’s CEO. “We will primarily focus on service quality and for that reason transmit the most popular standard resolution programs, in addition to improved HD quality movies, sport and nature channels to our subscribers. In order to enable us to deliver our compelling mix of services we needed a partner who was experienced in bringing new technologies to market in a very short space of time – we felt that ADB was the perfect choice to meet our requirements given their experience in the cable and satellite sectors and in the Eastern European marketplace”.

The state-of-the-art DVRs will provide access to HD services delivered using MPEG-2 and MPEG-4/H.264 Advanced Video Coding (AVC). The units will be the first of their kind to be launched in Hungary and will enable consumers to record and store television content for viewing at their own convenience, in addition to having access to media delivered directly to the products’ hard disk drive via PushVoD. The unit will enable Hello Platform to optimize their bandwidth use, through AVC, whilst presenting their consumers with the highest quality in sound and vision. The product features an advanced microprocessor, coupled with ADB’s own operating software, resulting in enhanced system performance, including fast channel decoding, HDMI™ interface and swift rendering of on-screen graphics.

“We are delighted to be supplying Hello Platform with advanced digital video recorders for their launch of the HelloHD service – this contract marks ADB’s first entry into the Hungarian market”, commented Jim Lomax, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing. “ADB has a great deal of experience in not only supplying new technology in short lead times, but also in supporting new operators to offer new and advanced services at launch. We anticipate that this new and innovative service will prove to be very successful and contribute effectively to our already strong position in the rapidly-growing Eastern European market. The relationship also highlights the suitability and success of a combined system solution, as marketed by ADB Group, for targeting such rapidly evolving markets”.

Product shipments have already commenced.