TV/COM & IBM....
A set-top swap meet
Jack Robertson
04/14/97
Electronic Buyers' News
Page 10
Copyright 1997 CMP Publications Inc.
The South Korean and U.S. TV set-top-box industries last week swapped victories on
each other's home turf.
IBM Global Telecommunications Business Unit, White Plains, N.Y., said last week that
it will use Hyundai Electronics Industries Co. Ltd.'s set-tops in an end-to-end,
video-on-demand digital video network that will be sold to DBS systems. The South
Korean company's set-tops include Motorola Inc.'s 68000-based microprocessors.
In addition, TV / COM International Inc., a San Diego-based Hyundai subsidiary, has
teamed up with the IBM telecommunications unit to provide head-end systems, servers,
and DBS interface systems.
The IBM business unit and Hyundai are in an alliance that sells total end-to-end
hardware and software systems.
Just a week earlier, IBM Microelectronics, Fishkill, N.Y., announced a marketing push to
get its PowerPC microcontrollers designed into more set-tops than it does now.
Meanwhile, General Instrument Corp.'s San Diego-based NextLevel Systems has sold
200,000 digital home set-top boxes to Lotte Data Communications Co. of South Korea
for DBS service. The General Instrument set-tops use Motorola microcontrollers.
The three major South Korean electronics companies - Hyundai, LG Electronics Inc.,
and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. - are aggressively selling set-tops for cable and DBS
systems in their own country and worldwide.
Copyright (c) 1997 CMP Media Inc.
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TV / COM partners with IBM for comprehensive digital broadcasting solution
04/07/97
Business Wire
(Copyright (c) 1997, Business Wire)
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 7, 1997-- TV / COM International Inc., a
subsidiary of Hyundai Electronics America, and a world leader in supplying open
architecture delivery solutions for cable, satellite, PC and terrestrial television networks,
Monday announced it has teamed with IBM as part of IBM's comprehensive solution for
digital broadcasting.
Under the terms of the agreement, TV / COM will supply digital video broadcast set-top
boxes that receive and decode the digitally compressed video, audio and data signals
transmitted by IBM's system.
As part of IBM's digital broadcasting solution, TV / COM 's set-tops will receive the
new data and broadcast services enabled by IBM's system, including near
video-on-demand (NVOD), impulse pay-per-view (IPPV), and future interactive data
services delivered directly to the TV or PC.
"The conversion of video to digital formats is accelerating, enabling new
revenue-generating broadcast services through greater channel capacity, as well as
improving video and audio quality," said Dr. William H. Beckmann, vice president, IBM.
"IBM believes that together with TV / COM , we're in the best position to integrate the
necessary technologies and provide the best solution to the customer."
"By partnering with IBM, we are furthering the progress of industry standards and
specifications for the DVB (Digital Video Broadcast) project, DAVIC (Digital Audio
Visual Council), MPEG (Motion Pictures Experts Group) and the ATM (Asynchronous
Transfer Mode) Forum," said Bob Luff, president and chief executive officer, TV /
COM . "This agreement demonstrates TV / COM 's commitment to develop open and
interchangable systems for digital broadband networks."
IBM's comprehensive solutions for digital broadcasting enables broadcasters, satellite
providers, cable and telephone companies around the world to lower costs and to build
new revenue opportunities by moving into the digital future incrementally, while
leveraging current infrastructures. It supports industry standards and features: IBM's
state-of-the-art video server, storage and networking products; key products and
services from solution partners; and IBM's world class systems integration, project
management and content services. |
