HP. Long time CUBE customer......................................
Monday April 7 11:34 AM EDT
Space TV Systems Selects HP MediaStream Broadcast Server For Its First Digital Direct-To-Home Satellite TV Service
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 7, 1997--Hewlett-Packard Company today announces that Space TV Systems, Inc. has selected the HP MediaStream Broadcast Server as its on-air solution for the world's first global direct-to-home (DTH) satellite service featuring Chinese programming. The satellite service is expected to provide programming to China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Australia in May and to North America in August. The announcement was made here at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention.
HP MediaStream Broadcast Server, which delivers up to six channels and 50 hours of high-quality video, will be housed in Space TV's broadcasting center in Taipei. The server will be used for regionalized spot insertion to create localized programming for each individual market. The center also will be equipped with the DiviCom MPEG-2/DVB encoder system and the Louth automatic playout system. Space TV will use four transponders on three satellites located at different orbit spots to deliver eight channels of Chinese video and 10 channels of Chinese audio to subscribers in each market.
"Because Space TV Systems is dedicated to delivering the next generation of in-home entertainment for Chinese viewers around the world, we actively sought out the best and the brightest in digital technology," said James Y.C. Tzeng, executive vice president of Space TV Systems. "We were particularly impressed with HP's video-server technology expertise and track record of success. HP MediaStream Broadcast Server is the best choice for video quality, expansion capacity and system reliability to fit our business direction."
Space TV Systems said that by late 1998, it plans to expand its direct-to-home satellite service to include Southeast Asia, Latin America, Europe and Africa. Using nine transponders on seven satellites and additional MediaStream Broadcast Servers, services are expected to include pay-per-view and/or near-video-on-demand playback.
"We have had a great response from our international customers because we have taken the time up front to ensure that our products meet their on-air needs for performance and reliability," said Debra Dunn, general manager for HP Video Communications Division. "We look forward to growing with Space TV as its presence expands around the world."
The HP MediaStream Broadcast Server, as well as the new compact HP MediaStream Disk Recorder, provide high reliability for a worry-free broadcast. Both are based on field-proven computing hardware and a robust, real-time operating system that uses an ultra-reliable architecture, in addition to RAID (redundant arrays of independent disks) protection and hot-swappable disk drives. The servers and disk recorder also are designed with Fibre Channel capabilities, an open architecture and industry-standard MPEG-2 video compression.
Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global manufacturer of computing, communications and measurement products and services recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 112,800 employees and had revenue of $38.4 billion in its 1996 fiscal year.
CONTACT: Hewlett-Packard Company
Christine Martino, 408/553-3945
fax: 408/553-3001
cmartino@sc.hp.com
OR
Space TV Systems, Inc.
David Chao, 886-2-999-2959, Taipei
OR
Golin/Harris for HP
Chris Olmstead, 213/623-4200
fax: 213/623-9476
colmstead@golinharris.com |
