AT&T CruiseCast is the breakthrough service that will provide 42 channels of satellite TV and radio to the rear seat entertainment system. Yoel Gat, chairman and CEO of RaySat Broadcasting Corporation, announced the strategic alliance at the Satellite 2009 industry conference. “We will deliver some of the most popular networks in the U.S. and the content providers expect the AT&T CruiseCast service to deliver a high-quality experience while securing their digital content end to end,” Gat said. “It was imperative for us to pick premier vendors that have proven technology, and build upon their expertise, rather than reinvent the wheel.” The suppliers include:
- Intelsat, the leading provider of fixed satellite services worldwide, provides the space segment and teleport services
- ST Electronics provides the circuitry that enables the line-of-sight blockage protection for the service
- Hyundai Digital Technology (HDT) manufactures the in-vehicle receiver used to transmit AT&T CruiseCast service
- NDS provides the Conditional Access System, Middleware and Integration services
- Harmonic provides encoders and other equipment used in the teleport to support the delivery of service
- Synchronoss provides subscriber account management and the service-activation front-end for AT&T CruiseCast service
- RaySat Inc. provides the compact roof-top antennas
AT&T CruiseCast service enables families, commuters and mobile professionals to watch satellite video channels anywhere in the country. The AT&T CruiseCast service will have a robust lineup of 22 TV and 20 satellite radio channels that will include a variety of kids and family, documentary, music, comedy, news and sports programming at launch. The AT&T CruiseCast service uses breakthrough technology that overcomes line-of-sight obstacles such as overpasses, buildings, trees or tunnels to deliver television programming to cars, non-commercial trucks and SUVs. This groundbreaking AT&T CruiseCast service was created through the collaboration of RBC and AT&T. The AT&T CruiseCast service is made consumer-friendly by the scaling down of satellite technology into the small pod-like antenna that affixes to the roof of vehicles. The antenna is paired with a receiver that is mounted in the vehicle and provides all video and audio connections to the appropriate vehicle systems, such as rear seat entertainment, vehicle audio system, etc.
