I don't think you need an encoder for this, but Pace/NDS put a hard drive in a box.......................
newsalert.com
September 10, 1999 12:24
NDS and Pace deliver the next generation of consumer devices with XTV-TM
AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 10, 1999--At IBC today, NDS Ltd. and Pace Micro Technology plc announced that they have joined forces to bring NDS' extended television concept - XTV - to market. The result of the partnership is an integrated digital TV set-top box that includes a large amount of local storage. The new product is set to change the TV experience forever for viewers, broadcasters and advertisers.
With NDS' XTV, the viewer doesn't have to wait for favorite TV shows, the shows are waiting for the viewer. The smart software within XTV selects and stores programs that the viewer is likely to want to watch, by interpreting meta-data inserted by the broadcaster at the distribution end and comparing it with viewer preferences. In addition, XTV enables personalized playout so that the menu of both live and the stored content are in the order most likely to match the viewer's taste and habits.
"The launch of Pace-branded XTV boxes is an important step in our mission to be the leading provider of advanced consumer devices in the new digital age. NDS' XTV technology goes beyond the much talked about personal digital VCRs, bringing a new TV experience that gives control of the schedule to the viewer, enables advertisers to closely target messages and protects the studio's content and, thus, the broadcaster's revenues," says Malcolm Miller, CEO of Pace.
NDS and Pace have collaborated to bring XTV to market, each contributing its own expertise and skills set. NDS has pioneered the XTV concept and worked with Pace to architect and implement the technology into the set-top box. Pace's set-top box expertise is supported by the company's strong track record in manufacturing and bringing new technology concepts to market.
"By working with Pace to develop the first XTV product we are demonstrating that when two companies combine their expertise you can deliver the future, faster. Pace's track record in developing digital set-top box technology, combined with NDS' technology vision and conditional access leadership is producing a TV experience that will benefit the viewer, the broadcaster and the advertising community," says Dr. Abe Peled, CEO of NDS.
Features of XTV:
- An XTV enabled set-top box is controlled by the viewers'
remote control and delivers a richer viewer experience
without the consumer having to learn new skills. In default
operation, XTV will be much easier to use than the present
VCR. Smart software learns the viewer's habits and records
the programs most likely to be requested, without the
consumer even picking up the remote control.
- Meta data describing programming and scheduling inserted at
the distribution/transmission end means that smart software
selects and stores programs the viewer is likely to want to
watch
- Content meta data allows content enhancement giving the
viewer a far richer experience than available today
- Broadcasters can ensure that advertisers are not bypassed
with creative interactive techniques encouraging advertising
viewing
- Advertising can be broadcast in many new ways. For instance
pre-recorded and pre-cached advertisements can be played
while the pause function is on, or targeted premium ads can
always be run before a major film is played from the XTV's
local storage device.
- Digital content is protected by NDS' VideoGuard(R) advanced
digital conditional access on the hard disk within the
set-top box. Content can be further protected by
fingerprinting, watermark and copy protection techniques.
XTV can store encrypted movies on its hard disk which can be
decrypted and played back on demand, so that broadcasters
control the way that content is paid for. A music clip can
be paid for each time it is viewed, a movie could be half
price if viewed a second time, or a TV show could be
recorded and viewed for free as per the present VCR model.
- XTV generates a rich database of customers and their
preferences and viewing habits. This data can be leveraged
for cross promotions, targeted advertising and to enhance
viewer loyalty programs. Broadcasters and advertisers can
use this data without it leaving the XTV device and without
the identity of the viewer being known explicitly by the
advertiser.
- XTV allows a broadcaster to make the most of the available
bandwidth by transmitting programming and advertising to the
STBs local storage during off-peak hours. Advertisements can
be broadcast only once using the STBs storage to enable
multiple playouts as agreed with the advertiser.
About Pace Micro Technology
Pace Micro Technology plc is Europe's largest manufacturer of integrated digital receiver decoders, the set-top boxes necessary to receive digital broadcast and value added services. The company is actively involved in all digital TV platforms - satellite, terrestrial, cable, xDSL and MMDS - and has played a key role in the creation of the digital pay television market worldwide. By January 1999 Pace had manufactured over 2,000,000 digital set-top boxes that were delivered to 19 international broadcasters in the UK, Europe, Latin America, Australasia and the Far East.
This landmark was reached less than four years after Pace delivered the world's first MPEG-2 digital boxes in volume to Australia in August 1995. The company has also manufactured 6.5 million analog set-top boxes since it entered the pay television market in1987. Pace's head office is based in Shipley in West Yorkshire. The company's shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange. For further information, please visit Pace's web site at www.pace.co.uk.
About NDS
NDS provides open solutions that enable the delivery of entertainment and information to TVs and PCs. The company supplies the leading technology, products and services to enable businesses to profit from the emergence of interactive digital television and its intersection with the Internet via data broadcasting and e-commerce. NDS' solutions are built on its recognized leadership in smart-card based security, encryption, video compression and digital software control and management systems, and are supported by its extensive systems integration and customer support capabilities.
NDS, headquartered in the UK with offices worldwide, is providing its advanced technologies, products and services to a number of the current and planned cable, satellite and terrestrial broadcasting systems around the world. Over 14 million subscribers around the globe use NDS conditional access systems to receive Pay-TV satellite and cable services. The company continues to make a major commitment to R&D, with a number of employees dedicated to pioneering development work at research centers in Israel, the U.S. and the UK.
NDS is a subsidiary of News Corporation (NWS), a leading global media company. NDS is on the Web at: nds.com.
CONTACT: Patricia Mozzillo
TSI Communications
212.320.2252
pmozzillo@tsicomm.com
or
Margot Field
NDS
+44 (0)181 476 8158
mfield@ndsuk.com
or
Helen Kettleborough
Pace
+44 (0)1274 538005
helen.kettleborough@pace.co.uk |
