Pace exclusively delivers +LE CUBE, its new HD PVR for Canal+ Group

Europe’s first Satellite / IP hybrid set-top box to use the Ethernet port for VOD services, +LE CUBE, was delivered to the French leading pay-TV operator and Vivendi (Paris: VIV) subsidiary, CANAL+ Group, on November 4th by Pace plc (LSE:PIC), the leading independent developer of digital TV technologies for the global pay TV industry.

Mathias Hautefort, President Pace France said, “As sole supplier for this product, Pace is proud to have been chosen by CANAL+ Group to enable its latest generation of set-top box, using the expertise in the Pace engineering teams in terms of technology, services and design, to introduce new features such as near-silent operation and an innovative gyroscopic detector for the multidirectional LCD, while supporting services including Multiroom and VOD.”

+LE CUBE’s hard disk has been optimised by Pace Engineering for very low audibility, to be less intrusive for the user. This is also the first HD PVR for CANAL+ Group with an internal hard disk drive, with a 320 GB capacity providing the ability to record up to 100 hours of HD programming.

Hervé Mathieu, Vice President Sales, commented, “The development of this technically challenging product, possibly the most advanced set-top box on the market, and its delivery on time was made possible due to the strong cooperation between the Pace and CANAL+ Group Engineering teams. This reinforces the strong partnership between CANAL+ Group and Pace France (formerly Philips’ STB division) established over the past 24 years.”

In addition to Ethernet port, this product supports USB and HDMI and has Dolby Digital audio outputs. The IP connection allows progressive download of VOD whereby content is buffered onto the HDD.

+LE CUBE has a striking new black and white rectangular design which can be placed horizontally or vertically to allow maximum versatility for the consumer. Turning the traditional concept of the front panel on its head, all the interactive elements – the buttons and LCD display – are set in one black corner section of +Le Cube. Here the 128×128 LCD display adapts to whichever aspect the +Le Cube is positioned, thanks to the Pace-designed gyroscopic detector.

+LE CUBE has been designed to support and enable new services to CANAL+ and CANALSAT subscribers, including access to the latest US series, in high definition, less than one week after they have been shown to US audiences. Further features are catch up services, broadband access for interactive services and a recommendation service for viewers.

Pace, with the former set-top box division of Philips, which Pace acquired in April 2008, has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with CANAL+ Group, previously supplying products such as the Mediasat; Mediasat Max and DUALS.