Pace Micro Technology plc (LSE:PIC), the leading independent developer
of digital TV technologies for the global payTV industry, today
announced a new family of next-generation MPEG-4 advanced video
compression set-top boxes for cable operators in North and South
America. The announcement was made at the cable industry’s
premier convention, The Cable Show – ’08,
being held May 18–20 at The Ernest Morial
Convention Center in New Orleans.
The Pace family of MPEG-4 set-top boxes provides cable system operators
with solutions to meet their subscribers’
increasing demand for both linear HD (high definition) channels and
bandwidth intensive HD VOD (video on demand). These next generation
set-tops support numerous video compression formats including MPEG-2 and
MPEG-4, while enabling operators to deliver content via SDV (switched
digital video), ADS (all digital simulcast) or a pure all-digital
network.
Embedded support for IP content delivery using DOCSIS channel bonding
future proofs these new platforms. With operators in various stages of
readiness for tru2way™ (OCAP), Pace has
developed these units to provide cable systems with the flexibility to
deploy into either a tru2way network or a traditional cable network with
existing native applications like TVGuide, Aptiv, etc.
Pace’s new family of products will be a
welcome addition to any operator’s video
product. With a new sleek look and feel, these units provide subscribers
with a device that easily fits into the modern home entertainment
center. The units all have an industry-leading micro-footprint and
advanced thermal control design to keep energy usage and heat to a
minimum. Subscribers and cable company installers will find all of the
connectors they are looking for on these boxes including a working
external SATA port for hard drive expansion, audio ports to support
Dolby Digital, HDMI, and external IR receiver input, to name a few.
Pace Micro Technology Americas’ VP of Product
Development, Bruce Gureck commented, “Available
for deployment later this year, our Pace MPEG-4 family of boxes enables
cable operators to effectively manage the transition from MPEG-2 to
MPEG-4 originated content delivery and prepares them for the increasing
demand of high-bandwidth programming and services that are experiencing
rapid growth today, including HD, SDV and VOD.”
The all-digital, MPEG-4 Advanced Video Compression series includes:
Aspen– dual-tuner, high-definition DVR
CableCARD host set-top
Apache– high-definition CableCARD host
set-top
Denali– standard-definition CableCARD host
set-top
Key features of Pace’s MPEG-4 family of
set-top boxes include:
MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 capable
OCAP™/tru2way support
Full proven compatibility with existing networks, encryption, out of
band signaling, VOD, SVOD, switched digital video, and billing systems
Ready to deploy with commonly used interactive cable television
applications from TVGuide, Aptiv, GuideWorks, TVA, Seachange, Arris,
Concurrent, Tandberg, Integra 5, and others
Advanced DSG capable with downstream channel bonding to handle next
generation applications and two way messaging
Next generation front end tuning technology for up to 1 Gigahertz of
range
About Pace Micro Technology
Pace Micro Technology plc (pic.l) is a leading technology developer for
the global payTV industry, working across satellite, cable, IPTV and
terrestrial platforms.
Pace has one of the world's most experienced specialist engineering
teams, developing intelligent and innovative products and services for
both payTV operators and retail markets across the world.
Following the acquisition of the set-top box and connectivity solutions
business of Royal Philips Electronics in April 2008, Pace employs over
900 people in locations around the world, including France, the USA,
India and Hong Kong. Pace's international headquarters are in Saltaire,
West Yorkshire, UK.
For more information on Pace, please visit www.pace.com.
CableCARD, tru2way and OCAP are trademarks of Cable Television
Laboratories, Inc.
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