MbTV Networks and C-Cube to Collaborate on Digital Video Recorder Reference Platforms
MbTV Networks to Integrate Personalized Television Software on C-Cube's Hardware
July 26, 1999 08:31 AM
FREMONT, Calif., July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- MbTV Networks, a division of Metabyte, Inc., today announced a strategic relationship with C-Cube Microsystems, Inc. CUBE to develop MbTV-enabled Digital Video Recorder (DVR) products using C-Cube's DVxplore single-chip MPEG-2 CODEC.
The companies intend to develop both set-top box and PC-based reference designs featuring MbTV Networks' personalized television software and C-Cube's real-time video encode/decode hardware. These products will enable "time-shifted viewing," or the ability to watch favorite television shows at the viewer's convenience, rather than just when the shows are broadcast.
Conventional VCRs have incomprehensible programming interfaces and are notoriously inconvenient. Digital Video Recorders, or Personal Video Recorders (PVRs), are vast improvements. These products can be made smart enough to anticipate desirable programs and record them automatically. MbTV Networks is focused on software that helps viewers navigate and manage the increasing variety of broadcast content, and time-shifting is essential to this effort.
"People are busy," said Andy Fischer, MbTV Networks Director of Marketing. "They don't want to be limited to viewing only what's on when they're in front of the television. MbTV will have viewers' favorite programs waiting for them when they decide they have time to watch ... it's 'Bandwidth for Brains(TM).'"
The proliferation of broadcast content creates a need for personalized presentation of that content. On the Internet, users equipped with search engines go find the "programming" that interests them. In contrast, television watching is a relatively passive activity where viewers expect to be presented with a manageable selection of options. The challenge in finding preferred content on television will become increasingly difficult, requiring the help of smarter Electronic Program Guides (EPGs) than are available today.
"C-Cube and MbTV Networks have a common goal to drive broad adoption of Digital Video Recorders," said Tim Vehling, Director of PC/CODEC Marketing for C-Cube Microsystems, Inc. "By offering a solution that brings together our industry leading MPEG-2 technology with MbTV Networks' personalized television application software, we will enable OEMs to deliver feature-rich products while improving time to market."
MbTV automatically learns its viewers' television watching tastes and creates personalized profiles that can be used to provide a variety of services. The MbTV client software for set-top boxes can suggest desirable programs from an Electronic Program Guide (EPG), automatically record suggested programs, and enable targeted advertising and e-commerce product catalogs.
MbTV Networks, a division of Metabyte, Inc., develops software for personalized television products ranging from digital VCRs to targeted advertising and personalized TV portals. MbTV Networks is committed to bringing people what they want to see on television. Contact MbTV Networks at 39350 Civic Center Drive, Suite 200, Fremont, CA 94538. Phone: 510-494-9700. Fax: 510-494-9100. metabyte.com.
SOURCE Metabyte, Inc.
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