Only Company Mass Deploying Digital Cable Systems...
NEXTLEVEL SYSTEMS REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 1997 RESULTS
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Cable television operators have been upgrading their networks with digital technology to offer advanced entertainment, interactive services and Internet access to their customers. NextLevel Systems is the only company in the world mass deploying digital cable systems to fulfill this need. In the quarter, NextLevel shipped more than 250 digital cable headends--which will pass 9 million homes--and 200,000 digital cable terminals. Between the first shipments in the summer of 1996 and September 30, 1997, NextLevel has shipped a cumulative total of 320 digital cable headends--which will pass 16 million homes--and 500,000 digital cable terminals. Shipments have been made to broadband network operators including TCI, Comcast, Shaw, GTE and Bell Canada, who are all deploying in markets across North America.
NextLevel offers cable operators a cost-effective family of four open-standards digital terminals with analog program capabilities as well. These terminals range from a lower-cost, broadcast only digital terminal for entry-level and second- and third-set applications, to the DCT-5000--a highly capable, real-time two-way interactive terminal with a built-in high-speed cable modem enabling personal computer connectivity and interactive sessions over a dedicated return path. The DCT-5000 supports a broad variety of operating systems and home communications software packages, such as Microsoft's Windows CE, Network Computer, Inc.'s Navio, Sun's PersonalJava and Microware's DAVID for the enhanced delivery and reception of video, audio and Internet/data services, along with state-of-the-art DigiCipher access control.
On September 19, 1997, TCI announced the new digital programming lineup for its Headend In The Sky (HITS). Using NextLevel's 14 to 1 digital compression system and DigiCipher access control, HITS offers more than 120 MPEG-2 digital video channels along with 40 digital music formats to cable systems throughout the United States. With the digital headends and programming now in place, TCI and other cable operators using HITS programs can increase the deployment rate of digital cable services using NextLevel's digital cable television system. |
