DiviCom broadcasts FIRST live multichannel DTV at NAB. (Maybe Divi should spin off CUBE?)......
newsalert.com
DiviCom Broadcasts the First Live Multi-channel DTV at NAB '98;
Sinclair Broadcast Group and Comark Digital Services Sponsor
Demonstration
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 6, 1998--DiviCom Inc. (NASDAQ: CUBE), a leading provider of compression
systems for digital television, today announced that it will demonstrate a live multichannel DTV broadcast originating from the
show floor at NAB '98.
Sinclair Broadcast Group is using DiviCom ATSC-compliant encoders and multiplexers to broadcast digital television
programming to the greater Las Vegas area. Sinclair Broadcast Group (NASDAQ:SBGI), one of the nation's largest
broadcast groups and Comark Digital Services (CDS), a division of COMARK Communications, are sponsoring the
DiviCom demonstration. The three companies invite broadcasters to see for themselves that cost effective, quality DTV
solutions are available to them, today.
End-to-end Broadcast from the DiviCom Booth No. S3568
Video from several sources is digitally compressed using the new DiviCom MediaView MV40 program encoder, while the
audio information is processed through Dolby AC-3 encoders. The compressed signals are then multiplexed with the DiviCom
MediaNote MN20 unit into a single ATSC multi-program transport stream. Next, a Tandberg Television TT700 module
converts the signal into a form that can be transmitted via microwave link. At that point, a transmitter manufactured by
Microwave Radio Communications sends the transport stream to local station KLVX-TV, where the signal is broadcast live to
the Las Vegas community. The demonstrations will take place in both the DiviCom Booth No. S3568 (Sands) and the CDS
Booth No. 8313 (LVCC).
"We were able to get the multi-channel demonstration up and running quickly with DiviCom encoders and multiplexers," said
Nat Ostroff, Vice-President of New Technology at Sinclair Broadcast Group. "DiviCom products were easy to integrate and
provide us with the quality and reliability we need at such a critical time."
"Because DiviCom is so focused on high-quality, standards-based products, we had no trouble at all integrating them into a full
turnkey solution," said Mark Richer, vice president and general manager for Comark Digital Services.
First Multi-program SDTV on Air in the U.S.
The NAB demonstration is modeled on a similar program from WBFF in Baltimore, where Sinclair is conducting the first
multi-program, multi-station DTV broadcast in the United States.
DiviCom compression and multiplexing systems are in use for Sinclair's standard-definition multichannel broadcast service
demonstration on two channels in the Baltimore, Md. market area. Stations WBFF-TV and WNUV-TV each carry five
channels of compressed digital video programming.
CDS is working with Sinclair to define the overall technical strategy for the demonstration and is responsible for project
management, design, and installation, including the integration of third party components, and testing of the complete system.
"DiviCom and Comark can help broadcasters migrate to digital television today," said Tom Lookabaugh, president of
DiviCom Inc. "Our combined expertise can help broadcasters save time and energy while they are expanding their
transmissions to meet FCC mandates."
Comark Digital Services
A division of COMARK Communications Inc., CDS was formed to help broadcasters develop and implement successful
strategies for digital television. CDS offers broadcasters a variety of services including strategic planning, consulting, systems
design, innovative products, and complete turnkey systems integration. COMARK is an Emmy award winner and recognized
leader in high power UHS terrestrial broadcasting. COMARK is a member of the Thomcast organization, which ranks as the
largest terrestrial broadcasting product and service organization in the world. CDS is based in Alexandria, Va.
Sinclair Broadcast Group
Sinclair (NASDAQ:SBGI) is a diversified broadcasting company that currently owns or programs 35 television stations and
52 radio stations. Upon completion of all pending acquisitions and dispositions, Sinclair will own or program 56 television
stations in 37 separate markets and 51 radio stations in 11 separate markets. Sinclair's television group will reach
approximately 22.5% of U.S. television households and includes ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, WB, and UPN affiliates. Sinclair's
radio group is one of the top ten groups in the United States measured by the total number of radio stations owned or
programmed.
DiviCom Inc.
DiviCom develops and integrates products that make digital video networking possible. Products include audio/video encoding
and decoding systems, and integration consulting and implementation services. Based on the MPEG-2, DVB and ATSC
international standards, DiviCom's products enable digital video broadcasting over a variety of networks including satellite,
wireless, fiber and cable.
DiviCom is a wholly owned subsidiary of C-Cube Microsystems Inc. (NASDAQ:CUBE), and both companies are based in
Milpitas, Calif. C-Cube is the leading provider of digital video silicon solutions for the communications, consumer electronics
and computer markets.
DiviCom can be reached by phone at 408/944-6700, by fax at 408/944-6705, or via the World Wide Web at
divi.com.
CONTACT: DiviCom
Anne Hohenberger, 408/490-6688
anneh@divi.com
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