itvt

–ADB in Set-Top Deals in Switzerland, Norway, Italy and the US

Geneva, Switzerland-based set-top box manufacturer, Advanced Digital Broadcast (note: the company, generally known by the acronym ADB, is the corporate stablemate of Vidiom and Osmosys), says that its new ADB-2500W SD IPTV set-top box has been certified for use with Minerva Networks’ iTVManager 3.2 middleware. Certification means that the box now supports the entire Minerva ecosystem, which also includes iTVManager versions 2.1 and 3.1. According to ADB, the box provides operators with an MPEG-2/MPEG-4 standard-definition solution that also supports whole-home DVR via DLNA and is compatible with leading conditional access/digital rights management and VOD systems. “We are pleased to continue our successful partnership with Minerva,” ADB CEO, Francois Pogodalla, said in a prepared statement. “Our IPTV product range already includes two state-of-the-art, field-proven high-definition decoders. The ADB-2500W completes our offering, so as to cover every operator’s need, in combination with the widely deployed Minerva iTVManager platform. This is a demonstration of our continued commitment to working with partners to supply the best possible solutions to our customers.”

In other ADB news:

• The company says that the Tullahoma Utilities Board (TUB) has deployed its ADB-5810WX, ADB-3800W and ADB-2500W set-top boxes for its new IPTV service. ADB claims to have deployed IPTV product to over 120 independent operating companies in the North American market. TUB’s IPTV service is delivered over a newly constructed fiber-to-the-premises network, called LightTUBe, and is part of a triple-play service, which TUB says has around 10,000 customers in Tullahoma, Tennessee and surrounding areas. TUB purchases its ADB products through the latter’s US distributors, Border States and Graybar.
• The company says it has delivered its DVR-enabled ADB-5810CX HD cable set-top box to Telegeneve, which will use it for a new HDTV service in the Geneva and Valais regions. Telegeneve will market the box as the “DRIVEBOX HD” under its naxoo brand. According to ADB, the ADB-5810CX features a single-chip microprocessor and dual tuners, and is integrated with Osmosys’s MHP software.
• The company says it is offering its latest DVB-T DVR platform in the Norwegian market, under its existing agreement with Grundig (note: the agreement, first announced last year, has to date seen the companies offer two non-DVR products in Norway: the DTR8720 and the DTR8740, which offers pause-live TV functionality). The DTR 8860 VOD, as the platform is called, will support a new push-VOD service from RiksTV, which is also employing push-VOD technology from Osmosys (note: in addition, RiksTV will use Osmosys’ EGG technology–for more on the latter, see [itvt] Issue 8.06 Part 2B), and which is scheduled to launch early next year: DTR 8860’s that are already in customer homes by then will be upgraded via a software download, and all of the boxes that are shipped in 2009 will come fully integrated with Osmosys’ push-VOD technology, ADB says. “With our technology partnership with ADB, Grundig has continually proved its ability to deliver superior-quality, high-definition set-top boxes to the market in a timely manner and at the right price point” I. Tolga Akar, chief marketing officer at Grundig, said in a prepared statement. “We are very happy to work together with ADB for this latest product launch that will see the first deployment of push-VOD-ready digital video recorders in the Norwegian marketplace. Furthermore the availability of two additional HD products will give RiksTV’s subscribers a wide choice of TV viewing options.” ADB bills the DTR 8860 VOD as an advanced, interactive DVR optimized for digital terrestrial deployments. It features a 500GB hard drive, a single-chip microprocessor, dual tuners, and double USB, fast Ethernet and HDMI interfaces.
• The company has launched a new line of interactive digital terrestrial set-top boxes targeted at the Italian retail market. The boxes, which are marketed under the i-CAN brand, will be distributed through ADB’s partner, ZAP. The new product line consists of the i-CAN 1110TH and the i-CAN 1100T. The former is an SD, MPEG-2 box that features HDMI connectivity, allowing it to connect directly to a flat-panel TV and deliver content to that device in digital form, so as to improve image and sound quality. According to ADB, it supports multiple conditional access systems, including Conax, Irdeto and Nagra, and incorporates a double smartcard reader. It is delivered with Osmosys’ MHP 1.0.2 middleware and an embedded Sorrisi & Canzoni EPG. It also includes a SCART socket for connection to a DVR or VCR, an Optical S/PDIF socket, and Audio 5+1 Dolby Digital and Stereo outputs. The i-CAN 1100T, meanwhile, is positioned as an entry-level box. According to ADB, it also supports MPEG-2 and multiple CA systems, and comes with Osmosys’ MHP 1.0.2 middleware and a Sorrisi & Canzoni EPG. Both the new boxes include a software loader for remote upgrades and, ADB claims, exceed the energy-consumption requirements specified by the European Union Code of Conduct for 2009.