- ANALYSIS + RESEARCH—The emergence of connected navigation services such as real-time traffic, live local search and map updates, is prompting many personal navigation device (PND) vendors such as Magellan, Mio, TomTom, and Dash to develop connected solutions with two-way real-time connectivity based on cellular or Wi-Fi technology. By 2013, according to a new ABI Research study, 34 percent of all PNDs will ship with on-board connectivity, which allows PND vendors to offer enhanced navigation experiences through optimized local search, dynamic POIs such as fuel prices, parking space availability and speed traps, real-time traffic and flow data, satellite imagery, online map updates, and even full off-board navigation. Such also makes it possible to launch new services such as location-based social networking applications, and to use PNDs as commercial portable telematics devices for vehicle and asset tracking. The new report, “Connected Navigation Devices”, examines the features, trends, drivers and barriers of connected PNDs and describes all major solutions, applications and business models and includes recommendations to the major navigation players. The study contains forecasts by region for shipments, hardware and service revenues of connected PNDs and services—London, United Kingdom
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EVENT—DisplaySearch, an NPD Group company, is preparing for the 2008 China HDTV Conference. To be held from May 20th through 21st, invited speakers will represent the entire supply chain of the HDTV industry. This includes LCD and PDP panel makers, TV brands and electronics makers, digital TV and industry pros. Additional, DisplaySearch analysts will be in attendance to reveal the most current data and perspectives on the industry. Also during this event will be the 2008 Asia Flat Panel Display Industry Expo. The event will be held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Guangzhou, China. Registration information.
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DELIVERY—Envivio Inc. has introduced two new MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) video encoders and a professional decoder. These products significantly improve bandwidth efficiency and the lower costs for both high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) broadcast contribution applications. All three products, the 4Caster HD30 HD encoder, the 4Caster B30 SD encoder, and the 4View D10 decoder, support traditional DVB-ASI interfaces as well as the Ethernet IP interfaces that are increasingly popular for satellite and terrestrial contribution. The 4Caster HD30 HD encoder enables broadcasters to contribute high quality HD video in the same satellite bandwidth they currently use for SD contribution. End-to-end latencies as low as 300 milliseconds make the HD30 an excellent choice for bi-directional news applications such as studio anchors interviewing reporters in the field. Envivio recently announced that it has specified the Envivio 4Caster HD30 encoder for its new QuickSpot HD satellite news gathering service. The new 4Caster B30 SD encoder has added in the company’s Extreme Compression technology, which allows the B30 encoder to combine the low end-to-end latency performance of its predecessor with newly increased bandwidth savings of as much as 30 percent. The result is the ability to deliver high quality SD news and sports feeds at under 2 Mbps. An independent audio channel capability allows up up four, completely independent audio pairs to be sent alongside the video stream to enable TV and radio feeds to be sent simultaneously over the same link. The 4View D10 decoder enables features a DVB-ASI interface for MPEG-2 transport stream inputs and an Ethernet interface for MPEG-2 over IP inputs. The D10-SD configuration features 2 SDI and one composite output. The D10-HD configuration features 2 HD-SDI and one component output. Check out the goodies at Envivio’s NAB booth SU13205—South San Francisco, California
- BIZ—No Great Walls in China to keep Ericsson away as the company is working with China’s two largest mobile operators. Ericsson now has agreements with China Mobile and China Unicom and they are valued at $1.3 billion and $140 million respectively. The contract with China Mobile designates Ericsson as one of the main suppliers of core and radio network equipment, along with related technical support and services, to expand GSM/GPRS coverage and capacity in 19 regions across China. Then China Unicom’s agreement reveals that Ericsson will be the main supplier and will help expand GSM networks in 10 regions across China, including Beijing where Ericsson had previously not been a supplier. (Swedish Prime Minister Frederik Reinfeldt is currently in China for an official visit—can you hear me now, he asks)—Stockholm, Sweden
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CONTENT + DELIVERYIP-PRIME has added 12 new High Definition programming agreements with local telephone operators. These telephone companies, who launched IPTV service years ago in their communities, have chosen the IP-PRIME HD-4 package to address their subscribers’ increasing requests for HD channels. IP-PRIME’s innovative technology and extensive programming roster allow operators to overlay the more efficient MPEG-4 service atop their existing MPEG-2 service, which would otherwise not have been able to provide HD channels. Within the next few weeks, telco subscribers across the country, from South Carolina to North Dakota, will receive the HD-4 32-channel lineup of news, entertainment and sports programming from ESPN, Disney, Discovery, CNN, Fox News, MTV, and many others. Among the 12 operators who recently signed IP-PRIME HD-4 contracts are Chibardun Telephone Cooperative in Wisconsin, Home Town Cable in Florida and Manti Telephone in Utah. In addition to HD-4, IP-PRIME’s core solution equips a telco to offer a comprehensive television service combining SD and HD programming. Backed by the technological know-how of SES AMERICOM, one of the world’s leading broadcast satellite providers, IP-PRIME is able to deliver the best picture quality available using MPEG-4 encoding for both SD and HD channels. Currently, IP-PRIME has 36 HD channels, more than 260 channels of SD, and more than 100 channels of music—Princeton, New Jersey
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CONTENT + DELIVERY—iriver has debuted their E100 MP3 Multimedia Player, the brand’s first U.S. launch for 2008. With an array of features including stereo speakers, FM radio, Micro-SD Slot, Line In, new D-Click System, a colorful 2.4-inch TFT LCD screen and more, the music and video player packs superb value—$109.99 for a 4G, and $159.99 for an 8G. Available in solid black, white, sky blue and pink, the two-ounce E100 incorporates iriver’s signature simplistic design and unique D-Click controls. The 2.4-inch TFT LCD screen provides a clear picture when you are clicking through the bold option icons, watching videos, viewing pictures, and more. Built-in flash memory provides skip-free playback, and the player is firmware upgradeable with a Micro-SD slot for increased capacity. The E100 has a one year warranty. More product info here…—Irvine, California
- DELIVERY—GlobeCast is updating and enlarging its playout center and MCR in London to increase the capacity of services offered and to provide multi-platform solutions on a worldwide scale. GlobeCast launched its existing playout system in the summer of 2007. The new multimedia center will be IPTV and Mobile TV capable and will provide improvements in graphics and flexibility. GlobeCast can offer clients customized packages which will allow them to combine tapeless digital technology with more traditional formats. The state-of-the-art system will be completed by June, when existing customers such as Arsenal TV and the Poker Channel, will be upgraded. In addition, the upgraded Media Management suite will create an improved, dedicated, purpose-built space to streamline workflows, which allows additional channels to be added more easily and quickly. GlobeCast’s office in the heart of London is one of 18 international locations providing worldwide delivery of permanent channels, coverage of news, and sporting events and a range of value-added services. GlobeCast also offers Media Management solutions from its facility in Sunrise, Florida which it shares with HBO Latin America—NAB, Las Vegas, Nevada
- AWARD + CONTENT—Miniweb Interactive, a United Kingdom-HQ’d company, has been selected as a winner in the Red Herring Europe 100, an award given each year to the top 100 private technology companies based in the EMEA region. This award is in recognition of the pioneering interactive platform Miniweb has developed, which removes the barriers to entry of interactivity, enabling new revenue generating, enhanced TV business models, and the convergence of web and TV content delivery. Red Herring’s annual lists of top private companies identify new and innovative technology companies and entrepreneurs. Red Herring’s editorial staff rigorously evaluated hundreds of private companies through a careful analysis of financial data and subjective criteria, including quality of management, execution of strategy, and dedication to research and development. Miniweb home page…—London, United Kingdom
- CONTENT + DELIVERY—NAVTEQ is working with the Broadcaster Traffic Consortium, LLC (BTC) as the provider of real-time traffic and other location-based information for portable navigation devices and automobile in-dash systems via HD Radio technology. The high bandwidth capacity of HD technology allows NAVTEQ and the BTC to deliver high-quality, up-to-the-minute information including traffic flow and points of interest to consumers when and where they need it most. The BTC is a recent venture of eight leading radio companies. Founding members of BTC are Beasley Broadcast Group, Bonneville International Corporation, Cox Radio, Inc., Emmis Communications Corp., Entercom Communications Corp, Greater Media, NPR and Radio One—Chicago, Illinois
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CONTENT + DELIVERY—NDS, a provider of digital payTV solutions, has announced that Premiere, the largest pay-TV operator in Germany and Austria, will deploy the company’s VideoGuard to secure its pay-TV satellite platforms in those countries. Premiere and NDS will be working closely to smoothly migrate the operator’s satellite platforms and set-top box (STB) population to VideoGuard, which now protects more than 82.7 million active devices worldwide. As part of this process, smart cards currently deployed will be replaced and VideoGuard software will be downloaded to existing STBs (set-top boxes). New STBs will be equipped with VideoGuard. Premiere will deploy NDS’ leading edge security technology to its subscribers seamlessly, with no interruption to reception of programming. In order to facilitate this migration process, Premiere plans to use Simulcrypt technology in collaboration with its incumbent CA provider (London, United Kingdom + Munich, Germany)
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CONTENT + DELIVERY—There’s a plethora of new product information from Network Electronics/VPG, the new company formed from Network Electronics’ acquisition of VPG earlier this year. First up, the new Flashlink MR-TR-3G multi-rate transponder and converter. When used with Flashlink’s DWDM multiplexers, the system is capable of transmitting 40 uncompressed single link 3G HD signals (SMPTE 424M) on a single fiber optic strand. This intro marks completion of the Company’s 2G range of Flashlink modules for the DWDM platform. The joining of Network Electronics and VPG enables one company to serve the industry with transport, routing and signal processing solutions for reliable video transport over short and long distances. The Company is also showing ten additions to its VikinX Sublime router range. The extended line provides flexible, reliable and affordable 32 X 32 and 64 X 64 analog video/audio and SD/HD digital video router solutions to those requiring small and medium configurations, including general-purpose facilities, mobile outside applications, and sophisticated A/V operations. Also debuting are several new modules in the newly combined Company’s Ventura range of advanced products to facilitate the compression, transmission and economical transport of HD signals. The new units, including a JPEG 2000 encoder and decoder, an 8-channel SONET/SDH multiplexer and de-multiplexer, and a universal analog and digital video/audio adapter for fiber optic transport, are available for demonstration in Booth SU10814 at NAB. The Ventura range was developed VPG and targets the telco and broadcast markets. Also being featured at NAB is a new high-quality electrical/optical frame synchronizer (FRS-HD-DMUX) and high-definition down converter (DWC-HD-DMUX) products—Oslo, Norway
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ANALYSIS + RESEARCH—NSR today released its newest market survey and forecast report: Direct-to-Home (DTH) Satellite Services: An Analysis of Ten Emerging DTH Markets. The report provides an in-depth overview of demand trends for payTV services in 10 highly dynamic and promising countries around the globe. The 10 countries analyzed in the study include Brazil, Czech Republic, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Turkey and Vietnam. The report concludes that, from an estimated $4.3 billion in revenue for 2008, these 10 markets combined are expected to generate $13.5 billion in 2015, yielding total revenue of $62.9 billion over an eight-year period. Pay-TV services globally have exhibited tremendous growth over the past two decades, driven by economic growth and increasing levels of disposable income. However, given the current global economic slowdown, particularly in the more traditional consumer markets, emerging markets become attractive havens for investment over the medium-term. Conversely, in an inter-dependent world, one needs to analyze the economic impact of a slowing U.S. economy in order to ascertain demand trends in seemingly attractive Greenfield markets. There is an abundance of opportunity for DTH, and market conditions are dynamic and complex in all 10 countries. Report info here…—Cambridge, Massachusetts
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DELIVERY—Ross is rolling goodies out for NAB that include the addition of a 2RU 20-slot rack frame designed for high-density applications. Ross will also offer a suite of audio solutions including an HD/SD multi-definition, audio mux, demux and an AES audio switch. A new analog video to digital converter, a range of 1×4/1×8 HD/SD SDI distribution amplifiers and an assortment of applications including an HD/SD multi-definition keyer. Dashboard has also been expanded with the addition of DB-VIEW, enabling customers the ability to create customized views of signal paths with signal path alarming. RossGear’s openGear platform also continues to expand with 16 partners, offering a variety of frames, solutions and vendors without having to compromise on a control infrastructure. openGear now has more than 100 core processing solutions for audio, video, and data, all in one platform, under one control system. The openGear terminal equipment platform is based on an open-architecture, 2RU modular frame designed to accommodate up to 10 cards in the DFR-8310 frame and up to 20 cards in the DFR-8320 frame. A wide variety of cards are available from terminal equipment vendors supporting the openGear platform—Iroquois, Ontario
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DELIVERY—SES ASTRA will serve as a major hub for the content delivery and distribution of the UEFA EURO 2008 hosted in Austria and Switzerland in June. (This is no small task, considering the many aspects of UEFA EURO 2008, such as… rowdy crowds.) On the basis of an agreement, SES ASTRA and MEDIA BROADCAST will cooperate in providing a variety of transmission solutions and content delivery packages to help facilitate the TV coverage of UEFA EURO 2008 for a number of European broadcasters. These packages consist of signal delivery, temporary satellite transponder capacity for standard definition (SD) and High-Definition (HD) transmission, as well as uplink and downlink services. SES ASTRA currently delivers broadcast signals to 117 million households across Europe, thereby featuring Europe’s leading Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite system. MEDIA BROADCAST is a member of TDF Group and one of Europe’s service providers in the broadcasting and media industry—Betzdorf (Luxembourg)
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CONTENT + DELIVERY—Elegance in 26-inches, that’s what the new Westinghouse Digital SK-26H570D offers TV viewers. The unit offers a 26-inch LCD TV with a front-slot loading DVD player with 1366×768 resolution. The unit packs in Pixel Direct technology that delivers DVD video to the screen using a direct, and thereby the shortest, path and the least amount of signal processing. The unit also includes AutoSource technology, engineering that automatically turns the TV on and adjusts it when an external source is detected. There are multiple HD input connectors that include 2 HDMI and preset and custom video modes.
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