General Instrument Demonstrates End-to-End High Definition and Standard Definition Digital Television Solutions at NAB Convention
PR Newswire - April 06, 1998 09:08
LAS VEGAS, April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- General Instrument Corporation
(NYSE: GIC) today demonstrated its end-to-end solutions for broadcasters
seeking to convert from analog to digital television broadcasting.
GI's booth here at the National Association of Broadcasters' annual
convention demonstrated equipment embodying the four steps in the chain of
content delivery for digital television broadcasts:
-- Network signal origination;
-- Local affiliate re-transmission and local content origination;
-- Studio-to-transmitter links, and
-- Consumer reception.
GI's digital exhibition includes both High Definition (HDTV) and Standard
Definition (SDTV) television as well as hybrid SD and HD networks. The
multi-channel Standard Definition system is based on a proven technology, with
more than 3,000 shipped. GI's patented Statistical Multiplexing techniques
ensure that all available bandwidth is used to maximize digital picture
quality.
By extending current technology with ATSC compliance and HD picture
formats, GI makes it possible for broadcasters to complete a smooth and easy
transition to digital.
"We realize that the timetable and scope for moving from analog to digital
will vary according to the business goals of individual broadcasters," said
John Glass, vice president/business manager of advanced video networks for
GI's Satellite Data Networks Systems. "We have designed our solutions to show
broadcasters how GI technology can easily be tailored to their first steps in
implementing digital TV. Since we first started digital TV development years
ago, we've been working and positioning our digital platform for the day when
we could help launch the digital revolution."
General Instrument invented the all-digital HDTV system in May 1990 and
has been a leader in U.S. HDTV standards development, winning five Emmy(R)
awards for technical innovation and excellence along the way. The company's
leadership and technology are the basis of the Grand Alliance (GA) and the
ATSC digital television standard. GI's DTV encoding system is fully ATSC
compliant and backward compatible with the company's current standard
definition MPEG-2 system, which is widely deployed around the world and
provides a natural growth path for current users. As such, GI's encoding
system is a proven platform for new customers to launch high definition,
standard definition or a mix of both services.
The DTV encoding system, developed by the company's San Diego-based
Satellite Data Network Systems business unit, compresses and multiplexes both
SDTV and HDTV signals in a single, ATSC-compliant, integrated encoding and
transmission system for DTV applications in terrestrial broadcast, satellite,
microwave and fiber network transmission.
GI's DigiCipher(R) II ATSC encoding and transmission systems offer
broadcasters a multi-stage, cost-effective and flexible approach to move from
NTSC to SDTV as well as HDTV. They allow broadcasters to start from one
service and move to another or to mixed services while preserving the value of
initial investment and avoiding the expense of completely changing system
architecture. In addition to ATSC compliance, the new encoding system
supports the standard interfaces approved by broadcast industry groups such as
the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE).
General Instrument Corporation (NYSE: GIC) is the world leader in analog
and digital systems that provide video, audio and high-speed Internet/data
services over cable and satellite TV networks. GI's cable and satellite TV
operations have approximately 7,000 employees and annual sales of
approximately $1.8 billion.
Visit the General Instrument website at www.gi.com
SOURCE General Instrument Corporation
/CONTACT: Media, Greg La Brache, Dir., Communications, 619-404-3967, or
glabrache@gi.com, or Dick Badler, VP, Corporate Comm., 215-323-1618, or
dbadler@gi.com; or Investors, Dario Santana, VP, Investor Relations,
215-323-1213, or dsantana@gi.com, all of General Instrument/
/Web site: gi.com
(GIC) |
