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Pace Micro scores treble with CW agreement
07/31/98
Yorkshire Post
Page 11
Copyright (C) 1998 Yorkshire Post; Source: World Reporter (TM)
PACE Micro Technology, the Saltaire maker of set - top boxes for television, has signed a deal with Cable & Wireless that makes it the only manufacturer to have contracts with all three providers of digital television in the UK.
"We're cock-a-hoop," said marketing director Andrew Wallace, "It's the result of a lot of hard work and is an affirmation of what we're good at."
The initial order is for 100,000 boxes and will enable cable subscribers to receive pay TV and interactive services and log on to the Internet.
Pace already has orders from BSkyB, which will provide digital television via satellite, and ON Digital, the terrestrial network.
Yesterday BSkyB announced a price-cutting package of incentives to attract viewers that included 200,000 set - top boxes that would be in the shops by Christmas and available for either GBP199 or GBP159 to existing subscribers.
Although the set - top boxes are to be made by Amstrad, Grundig, and Matsushita, Pace is the only company currently supplying BSkyB.
Now Pace's 800 employees are working to full capacity as the factory is on a six-and-a-half day week.
Pace has also entered into contract with Toshiba and LG Electronics to develop televisions that have the set - top box built in - known as integrated digital televisions (iDTV).
The agreement with LG Electronics is to have iDTVs that receive BSkyB in the shops by Christmas and to develop ONDigital iDTVs early next year. Toshiba and Pace will produce BSkyB iDTVs for launch in mid-1999.
"This series of announcements couldn't have been better," said one City analyst. "There was concern that Pace would be left out once the television manufacturers were involved and now it's in bed with two major players and it's also ensured that however digital television is transmitted, it can be received through its set - top boxes."
"But their future still depends on the pace of uptake from the consumer and that could be lumpy."
Pace shares rose 11.5p to close at 75.5p.
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