How can cable compete with those encoders? Maybe they need to buy some themselves..............................
December 17, 1999 08:16
DiviCom Wins Digital Channel Expansion of Time Warner Cable System in New York; TWC Turns to DiviCom For Second Integration, Deployment With Cable Operator's Existing System
MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 17, 1999--DiviCom Inc., a C-Cube (Nasdaq:CUBE) subsidiary and the world's leading provider of open solutions for digital television, today announced that it has again been selected by Time Warner Cable for a New York City area channel expansion after DiviCom successfully integrated and deployed its digital head-end technology with the cable operator's existing system earlier this year.
"The ease of installing and operating DiviCom's equipment and the quality of its systems were key factors in our decision to turn to the open solutions provider for further expansion," said Larry Pestana, Time Warner Cable's Vice President, Engineering Manhattan. "We've found DiviCom's digital head-end technology an attractive solution that allows us to compete at the performance levels we need to achieve going forward."
DiviCom will deliver digital encoders that interoperate with Time Warner Cable's existing set-top and conditional access system (CAS) technology. Earlier this year, Time Warner deployed DiviCom's digital head-end solution to deliver 44 digital channels to its subscribers in New York, home to the operator's largest cable system. The upcoming deployment will enable Time Warner Cable to again combine its existing analog cable programming with an expanded tier of digital service.
Momentum Toward More Open Systems Builds
"Time Warner Cable's choice again shows the vital importance of open architecture in allowing a variety of suppliers to integrate equipment to deliver digital television services," said Tom Lookabaugh, President of DiviCom. "It also comes on the heels of the deployment of our head-end solution for MediaOne in Jacksonville, the nation's first end-to-end open architecture system. That deployment is truly a watershed, showing that the U.S. cable market is more than ready for open architecture."
"Momentum toward more open systems is clearly building," Lookabaugh added. "Since open architecture is the key to making set-top boxes available at retail stores and, in turn, bringing innovative features such as Internet interactivity and video-on-demand to the home, American consumers will benefit dramatically from this trend."
In delivering superior picture quality and streamlining total hybrid fiber-coax (HFC) bandwidth usage, the compression, multiplexing, and network management components deployed by DiviCom in the first Time-Warner expansion mirror those to be used in the second. Those components include the following:
-- The MediaNode MN20 Multiplexer: This technology is the core of
the digital cable head-end system. The MN20 enables the combining
and grooming of custom multiplexes of broadcast audio, video, and
associated data programming. The MN20 also acts as a gateway from
DigiCipher II(TM) and ATM networks. Additionally the MN20
supports DVB and DES scrambling.
-- The DiviCom MediaView Encoder Family: A comprehensive family of
variable bit rate and constant bit rate MPEG-2 video compression
systems. These systems represent four generations of breakthrough
video encoding technology offering three tiers of standard
definition compression solutions. All systems offer MPEG-2 video
compression, audio and data channels; use sophisticated signal
pre-processing and noise reduction, and are compliant with
OpenCable, DVB, ATSC, and ISDB standards.
-- The THESYS Integrated Network Management Solution: A modular
suite of user-friendly software packages that provide integrated,
advanced element and network management. Included are tools for
centralized network management, bandwidth management, control and
monitoring of the components that comprise the digital video
network.
-- DiviSys(SM) Systems Integration Support: The DiviCom integration
team, with over 55 specialists, is experienced in digital video
networking and offers its unique understanding of the
communications and broadcasting applications. Support options
include the following:
-- Program management
-- Budget analysis, site design, planning and preparation
-- Equipment installation
-- Interoperability testing and certification
-- Parts inventory and management
-- Signal reception and transmission integration
-- End-to-end system testing
About DiviCom
DiviCom, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of C-Cube Microsystems Inc. (Nasdaq:CUBE), provides open solutions for digital television including audio/video encoders, multiplexers, network management systems and IP gateways as well as data broadcast solutions and integration and support services. Based on the MPEG-2, DVB, ATSC and OpenCable international standards, DiviCom products allow digital video to be broadcast over various networks including satellite, wireless, fiber and cable.
As announced on October 27, C-Cube Microsystems has entered into a definitive agreement to combine DiviCom with Harmonic (Nasdaq:HLIT), and to spin off or sell its semiconductor business prior to the closing of the transaction. The deal is expected to close in Q1 2000.
C-Cube is the leading provider of digital video silicon solutions for the communications, consumer electronics and computer markets. Both companies are based in Milpitas, Calif. C-Cube can be reached at 1.408.490.8000 or www.c-cube.com and DiviCom at 1.408.490.6700 or www.divi.com.
DiviCom and MediaView are trademarks of DiviCom, Inc. C-Cube and the C-Cube logo are trademarks of C-Cube Microsystems Inc.
CONTACT: C-Cube Microsystems Inc.
Mike Hall, 408/490-8471 (Public Relations)
mike.hall@c-cube.com
or
Time Warner Cable
Gerri Warren-Merrick, 212/420-4850
gerri.warren@twcable.com
or
Steven Horwitz, 408/490-8561 (Investor Relations)
horwitz@c-cube.com |
