c-cube and internet: Kirch win:
C-Cube Wins German Pay TV Set-Top Platform
Partnership with KirchGroup Will Deliver Internet-Over-TV to Germany
MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 1999--C-Cube Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CUBE - news) today announced that KirchGroup subsidiary, betaresearch, a major European digital television technology provider, will recommend C-Cube's AViA@TV(TM) silicon platform family to power their second generation d-box(TM) set-top boxes. The AViA@TV platform includes both the audio/video decoder and the graphics transport network processor.
''The C-Cube/betaresearch partnership changes the way European cable and satellite subscribers will view television by enabling the new d-box to deliver enhanced interactive applications through the digital set-top, including home shopping via the Web, stock portfolio management, and email,'' said Gabor Toth, Managing Director of betaresearch.
betaresearch's d-box, an integrated set-top receiver, is a multifunctional, multimedia and entertainment terminal for the consumer's home. The d-box is available for both cable and satellite systems and provides access to hundreds of radio and television channels. The betaresearch product portfolio includes system software components, an application programming interface (API), conditional access (CA), subscriber management and scheduling head-end equipment, and complete hardware and software reference platforms for different multimedia applications. d-box technology is digital video broadcasting (DVB) compliant and has been adopted by all digital pay television service providers in Germany.
''With our unique high performance set-top solution for the d-box it is possible to use the full range of multimedia applications in addition to PayTV and interactive television, including Internet, electronic commerce, email, and banking applications. Therefore, betaresearch requires the highest performing platform, which leads them to recommend C-Cube's AViA@TV family of solutions,'' said Umesh Padval, President of C-Cube Semiconductor.
Details on the Partnership
According to the agreement, the two AViA silicon solutions will serve as the preferred core hardware platform for the new d-box technology. The C-Cube standard ensures full compatibility with all advanced services provided by betaresearch and portability of applications among all third party vendors and will support fast penetration of the digital television market.
Two C-Cube Solutions Recommended for the Newest d-box
AViA@TV is the first silicon platform to bring digital television and the Internet to the consumer-priced digital set-top. The following are components of the d-box:
Graphics Transport Network Processor - AViA-iNX: As the foundation of the newest d-box, the AViA-iNX platform delivers market-leading interactive applications and supports the following advanced features:
-- MPEG-2 demultiplexing and DVB descrambling; -- Multi-planar graphics to enable the development of the richest
graphical user interfaces; -- Flicker Filter(TM) dramatically improves the picture quality of
Web pages on television; -- Two-way networking allows cable providers to deliver two-way
interactive transactions through an integrated media access
controller (MAC); and -- High-speed central processing unit (CPU) enables quick rendering
of Web pages over the television.
A/V Decoder - AViA-600 A/V: Targeted at digital set-top applications, the AViA-600 A/V decoder implements MPEG-2 digital video and audio decoding for digital video set-tops. The AViA A/V offers MPEG-2 decoding for all types of standard set-top boxes. It also includes the following sophisticated features and benefits:
-- MPEG-2 audio and video compatibility reduce part count and cost; -- Automatic audio/video synchronization improves overall decoding
performance, reduces overhead on the system CPU, and improves
overall decoding performance; -- Dolby Digital(TM) (AC-3) decoding provides the complete home
theater experience in a set-top; -- Microcoded architecture and API compatibility delivers design
scalability without hardware changes.
About betaresearch
betaresearch, the technology branch of the KirchGroup, develops and markets conditional access (data encryption) technology as well as system software including interactive applications for the d-box(TM) set-top platform. betaresearch is a subsidiary of the KirchGroup, the German media group, which is active internationally in film and television production, distribution and broadcasting. The KirchGroup is a major European supplier of films, series, and classical music children's programming for television. In Germany its interests include commercial channels SAT.1 and DF1.
The KirchGroup's pay TV endeavors include the first digital platform in the German speaking markets, DF1, and stakes in Premiere (Germany) and Teleclub (Switzerland). It also has interests in Telecinco, Spain's commercial broadcaster, and in Mediaset, Italy's television company. betaresearch licenses its technology to Premiere, DF1, Deutsche Telekom AG, other service providers and decoder manufacturers. With plans to expand business to other countries, betaresearch is quickly becoming a leading provider of digital video broadcasting (DVB) technologies. betaresearch is based in Unterfoehring near Munich/Germany and can be reached on the Internet at betaresearch.de.
About C-Cube Microsystems
C-Cube Microsystems Inc. is the industry-leader in the development and delivery of highly integrated digital video silicon and systems solutions. C-Cube's Semiconductor division delivers highly integrated digital video silicon and systems solutions for the communications and consumer electronics markets, including digital set-top boxes, VCD, and DVD. C-Cube's DiviCom division is a leader in the deployment of digital video networks, including broadcast encoders, system multiplexers, and network system management equipment. C-Cube is headquartered in Milpitas, Calif. with offices in North America, Europe, and Asia. Its stock is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol CUBE. C-Cube can be reached at 408/490-8000 or on the World Wide Web at c-cube.com. C-Cube's DiviCom Division is based in Milpitas, Calif. and can be reached at 408/944-6700 or on the World Wide Web
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The C-Cube logo and C-Cube are registered trademarks of C-Cube Microsystems Inc.
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Contact:
C-Cube Microsystems Inc., Milpitas
Melissa Malley, 408/490-8510
mmalley@c-cube.com
or
Steven Horwitz, 408/490-8561
shorwitz@c-cube.com
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