Video

Digital Rapids adds Netflix preset

April 5, 2013 2:36 pm | by Brian Santo | Products | Comments

Digital Rapids is making available presets for its media transformation and workflow solutions designed specifically to make it easier for suppliers to prepare their content for streaming on Netflix. The Netflix presets will be available for the Digital Rapids Transcode Manager 2.0.

Motorola sets practical demos of HEVC

April 5, 2013 2:09 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

One of Motorola’s demos next week will feature a real-time HEVC encoder delivering streaming content to a Google Nexus 10 tablet for real-time decoding and playback, the company said. A second demo will showcase real-time HEVC HTTP live streaming to an Apple iPad (4th generation). A third will show an IP set-top box decoding HEVC.

Rdio launches Vdio for TV, movies

April 4, 2013 2:33 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Rdio, the music streaming service started by a co-founder of Skype, is getting into video. New and current subscribers of a $10-a-month unlimited music plan from Rdio will get $25 to spend in the new digital store for video, called Vdio.

Simple.TV draws $5M in venture money

April 4, 2013 2:27 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

Really Simple Software said it closed $5 million in Series A funding from New World Ventures. Simple.TV is based on a DVR that streams both live and recorded TV shows to tablets, phones, or connected TVs. The system is designed for consumers looking to supplement over-the-air (OTA) broadcast TV with over the top (OTT) services such as Netflix and Hulu.

Telenor Sweden readies for multi-screen

April 4, 2013 2:21 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

Telenor Sweden will deploy Ericsson Multiscreen TV solution for its customers, enabling it to deliver content to a wide range of connected devices. Separately, Ericsson will be showing its LTE video delivery system at the NAB Show next week.

SCTE outlines CALM Act best practices

April 4, 2013 2:15 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

The CALM Act requires that the audio level of commercial messages be at the same average loudness as the associated programming content. SCTE 197 provides guidelines for cable operators for recording measured loudness and loudness metadata value.

Midcontinent launches whole home service

April 4, 2013 1:59 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

The MSO has begun deploying a whole-home service based on TiVo equipment and technology. It will roll out the service in Rapid City and the Northern Black Hills area in South Dakota, followed by Minnesota, North Dakota and the remaining South Dakota markets in the coming months.

BCI buying James Cable

April 4, 2013 1:54 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

The company formed by former executives from Bresnan Communications is buying James Cable. The value of the purchase of James Cable was not disclosed, but could be in the neighborhood of $150 million. The move follows BCI’s purchase of the Allegiance cable systems in January.

RGB upgrades video processor

April 3, 2013 1:37 pm | by Brian Santo | Products | Comments

The company’s Video Multiprocessing Gateway (VMG) Gen 2 incorporates a new scalable plug-in module the company says offers more than double the transcoding capacity of its VMG predecessor. The system is particularly suited for delivering TV Everywhere services.

Survey: FTTH leads to huge opex savings

April 3, 2013 1:27 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

Companies deploying fiber to the home are reporting saving an average of 20 percent on opex costs. The survey from the FTTH Council also reveals to 20 percent yearly increase in North American homes connected to all-fiber networks.

Epix now live on the PlayStation3

April 2, 2013 1:42 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

Launched in 2009, Epix has deals with Cox Communications, Charter Communications, Dish Network, Mediacom Communications, the NCTC, Suddenlink Communications and Verizon. The company plans to launch on the PlayStation Vita in a few weeks.

Cogeco Cable launches guide apps

April 2, 2013 1:27 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

Cogeco Cable has launched two new apps, one subscribers can use for content search and discovery and then also to set home equipment to record programs, the other enables remote scheduling of PVRs. Both apps were developed with Rovi Corp.

Appeals court: Aereo is legal

April 2, 2013 1:06 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Aereo, which offers inexpensive live broadcast television feeds to computers, tablets and smartphones, doesn't violate U.S. copyright law, a divided federal appeals court said Monday. The decision was based in part on Cablevision's landmark court case that established the legality of the networked PVR system.

Apple patents iPhone with wraparound display

April 1, 2013 12:10 pm | by Associated Press | News | Comments

Apple is seeking a patent for an iPhone that has a display that wraps around the edges of the device, expanding the viewable area and eliminating all physical buttons. The patent application reveals that Apple has put some thought into a device that takes advantage of a new generation of displays, which don't have to be flat and rigid like today's liquid-crystal displays, or LCDs.

MaxLinear tunes up OTT in STBs

April 1, 2013 12:03 pm | by Mike Robuck | Products | Comments

MaxLinear announced today that leading OEMs were using its MxL603 silicon tuner in their set-top boxes to deliver over-the-top (OTT) services in the United States market. The company didn’t say what set-top box vendors were using its chip, but did say they were currently shipping.