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Posts with tag switched digital

New i-Guide for Comcast, other cable ops, slated for second half of '09

by Richard Lawler, posted Oct 22nd 2008 at 3:58PM


StartOver, switched digital video support, TiVo-style searches and prompts to make sure you're really watching an HD channel are coming to Comcast and other services using the i-Guide software in the second half of '09, hopefully bringing the much-loathed Motorola set-top boxes (& tru2way HDTVs) up to par with other modern DVRs. Multichannel News reports SDV support was originally planned for this year, but got pushed back to the next major release due to glitches. If our early preview at CES '08 was any indication there's a lot to love in the new software, except for the wait until it's released.

Tuning adapters hit CableLabs testing lair, still not ready for public consumption

by Darren Murph, posted May 20th 2008 at 1:14PM


This one probably goes without saying, but just in case you're inclined to waste a few gallons of precious regular unleaded searching for a tuning adapter, don't. The National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and TiVo have jointly issued a release to inform the public that "several manufacturers of switched digital external tuning adapters have submitted products for formal testing at CableLabs." On the positive side, this means we're inching closer to seeing these devices hit store shelves, but sadly, it also means we're not done wading through red tape just yet. For those unfamiliar, these newfangled "tuning adapters" will enable TiVo Series3, TiVo HD and certain one-way set-top-boxes that utilize CableCARDs to "access digital cable channels delivered using switched digital (SDV) technology." Hit up the read link for all the details, and check out our hands-on galleries with a few of the boxes right here.

FCC approves rules for 2009 digital TV transition

by Darren Murph, posted Sep 12th 2007 at 2:35PM

While we passed the T-minus two year mark earlier this year, the FCC has just now approved rules "that it says will ensure that millions of cable subscribers will still be able to watch broadcast programming after the digital television transition in 2009." Judging by reports, not a whole lot of new material was covered, but the new FCC rules reportedly mandate that cable operators "either convert the digital signal to analog at the point where the cable signal originates or supply customers with a down converter device that will change digital signals to analog at the TV set." Interestingly, the FCC "did not require operators to pass through every bit of information, as broadcasters had pushed for," and while smaller cable systems will be able to request a waiver, all providers will be required to "guarantee that analog cable customers will receive broadcast channels until February 2012."

[Via BroadcastingCable]

Cox hoping to add capacity for 50 HD channels by year-end

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 22nd 2007 at 1:18AM


Finally, a figure we can (halfway) believe. While competing carriers blurt out obscene numbers in the race to magically crank out HD channels that don't even exist yet, Cox Communications president Pat Esser came back from Cloud 9 by suggesting that his company is "aiming to have the capacity to offer 50 HD channels by the end of 2007." Unfortunately, he did make certain that we took note of the word "capacity," but explained that the firm would be eying a number of bandwidth-optimization tools and techniques including "system upgrades, retirement of analog channels, statistical multiplexing of HD signals, and switched digital video." Of course, it was reported that Cox would try to expand capacity to hold 100 HD channels by the end of 2009, but considering that it can hopefully rid itself of analog support, even that seems somewhat reasonable.

Motorola acquires digital video software maker

by Richard Lawler, posted Sep 28th 2006 at 3:37PM

Motorola recently announced they are purchasing small software company Vertasent, that makes software to control VOD and IPTV networks. You'll probably never see their logo on your cable box or a product on the shelf, so why does this matter? Their platform allows operators to much better manage their bandwidth, meaning more HDTV. More HD channels, more HD VOD, etc. They include support for the switched digital systems used by Comcast and Time Warner, which Motorola expects to see a lot of progress in rolling out in late 2007 once two way CableCards have become available.

Read: Motorola Acquires Vertasent, Enhances Company's Next-Generation Digital Video Platform
Read: Motorola Buys Switched Digital Player

Where is all the HD VOD?

by Richard Lawler, posted Aug 25th 2006 at 1:38PM

Cable companies are pushing high definition video-on-demand as a system seller over satellite, while Blu-ray and HD DVD still seek traction and fiber slowly rolls out. Still, even if it is available in your area, most customers report only a few selections available, and inconsistent picture quality. Holding things back are the usual demons, capacity and content. Until MPEG-4 and switched-digital roll out most providers simply don't have the bandwidth to deliver all their regular programming and more than a few HD VOD offerings. Couple that with movie studios unwilling to hand over premium content (in order to protect their investments in the aforementioned disc formats) and you've got a very slow moving situation. However as the bandwidth issues get sorted out, media research company Diffusion Group sees progress made the same way it has for regular HDTV, sports & broadcast networks first just like primetime television and ESPN-HD have led the charge so far.




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