hdtv

VOD and advanced advertising technology provider, SeaChange International, announced Tuesday that satellite TV provider, DISH Network, is upgrading its entire platform of SeaChange Spot advertising insertion systems to meet what it claims is a growing demand for HD ad placements across its North American footprint. SeaChange is DISH Network's exclusive ad insertion technology provider, having delivered ads for the satellite TV provider since it launched its DBS service back in 1996.

A number of pieces of connected TV news came across [itvt]'s desk, Tuesday. Here is a brief--and by no means exhaustive--round-up (note: also see "Vudu Unveils Vudu Apps OTT Service," "ActiveVideo Networks in Deal to Provide Blockbuster with Cloud-Based User Interface," and "Showtime Networks, Betfair Launch Interactive TV Widgets"):

Sonic Solutions, the digital media company that in 2008 acquired the pioneering broadband VOD service/platform, CinemaNow (it subsequently added "Roxio" to the service's name in order to make its branding consistent with its other products), announced Monday that it is launching version 2.0 of Roxio CinemaNow at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. According to the company, the new version, which it will be demo'ing by invitation in the Renaissance Hotel's Chairman Room, offers new HD and 3D capabilities and various interactive capabilities.

Here is a round-up of some other interactive TV-related stories we didn't have room for in this issue:

Evolution Digital--a division of Evolution Broadband, a reseller of digital equipment to independent cable operators--said last week that it is supplying TiVo HD DVR's to TVMAX, a regional cable operator that specializes in providing services to MDU's and that serves the greater Houston area.

Evolution Digital--a division of Evolution Broadband, a reseller of digital equipment to independent cable operators--said Tuesday that Compton Communications has become the first Canadian operator to select its TiVo HD DVR offering. "Now that the TiVo HD DVR is a one-box solution in Canada, acting as the sole cable box, TiVo's brand recognition as the world's leading user interface and DVR made it the logical next step to enhance our product offering," Travis Campbell, marketing manager for Compton Communications, said in a prepared statement. "It has been Compton's goal to offer our customers the very best, cutting-edge entertainment choices available.

Imaging and video technology specialist, HDlogix (note: the company's main product lines are ImageIQ, a suite of image and video optimization and enhancement technologies; Clique, a set of mobile and desktop video communications client software applications; and Hue, a range of HD Web cameras), contacted [itvt] Monday to let us know that it powered what it says was the first live 3D broadcast ever to be shown on giant screens at a major sporting event--during last Sunday's football game at Cowboys Stadium between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Diego Chargers, which was attended by 80,000 fans who were given

UK incumbent telco, BT, said last week that it has signed a VOD deal with Twentieth Century Fox that will make a number of the latter's shows available on BT Vision, the telco's Microsoft Mediaroom-powered, interactive TV-enabled hybrid IPTV service (note: the service is enabled via a hybrid set-top box that allows viewers to access linear channels from the UK's free-to-air digital terrestrial platform, Freeview, alongside IP-delivered on-demand and interactive content).

Interactive TV and conditional access technology provider, NDS, and Chinese value-added TV service provider, DOXTV, on Wednesday announced the launch of what they say is China's first HD DVR and push-VOD service. The service, part of an offering dubbed Chongqing Cable TV+, is offered to subscribers of Chongqing Cable (note: the latter claims to have around 5 million analog and digital subs), which, in addition to NDS's XTV DVR technology with push-VOD capability, has deployed the company's MediaHighway middleware, its VideoGuard conditional access system, and an EPG co-developed by NDS and DOXTV.

WHDI (Wireless Home Digital Interface), a consortium of consumer electronics manufacturers tasked with developing an industry standard for multiroom video, audio and control connectivity, has announced the completion and availability of its WHDI 1.0 specification. According to the consortium, the new standard enables full 1080p/60Hz HD video with Deep Color at a distance of 100 feet and through walls. The consortium claims that no other wireless standard combines this level of quality and robustness with the ease of multiroom wireless, and that the standard will allow consumers to build a wireless network in the home to take advantage of the latest content and interactive services.

UK-based consumer electronics company, Cello Electronics, on Wednesday announced the launch of a line of LCD HDTV sets, called iViewer, that allow users to stream the BBC iPlayer--as well as a range of other broadband video services (note: in its promotional materials for the new devices, the company mentions YouTube--which recently signed deals to offer full-length programming from UK terrestrial broadcasters, Channel 4 and Five--Disney Movies Preview, Movie Rush, Autocar, Sky Sports "Boots n' All," the CNN daily video podcast, Jamie's Ministry of Food, Delicious TV Veg, Revision3, Diggnation and the Larry King video podcast)--directly, without the need for a set-top box or games console.

A UK company called 3View unveiled a hard drive-equipped, broadband-connected HD set-top box, Tuesday, that combines the ability to receive standard- and high-definition linear-TV programming from the UK's free-to-air digital terrestrial platform, Freeview, with various Internet/OTT capabilities. The company says that the box--which is slated to be available in retail in March--will allow users to receive a range of over-the-top video services, as well as browse the Web and use Facebook and Twitter. It bills it as "the world's first Internet-connected HD free-to-air set-top box."

In an ex parte letter, filed with the FCC December 2nd, Panasonic Corporation of North America revealed that it will shortly be offering integrated tru2way HDTV sets in Boston (note: it already offers them in Chicago, Denver and Atlanta), and outlined its plans to launch a retail tru2way "set-back box" (SBB) that would "take advantage of the continuing nationwide roll-out by major cable operators of tru2way capability in their systems" and would "convert Panasonic HDTV's into fully bi-directional 'digital cable ready' tru2way TV's." The box was demo'd by the company at last month's SCTE Cable-Tec Expo.

Epix--a multiplatform subscription-based premium programming service which is a joint venture between Viacom, its Paramount Pictures arm, MGM and Lionsgate and which has exclusive access to Paramount, Paramount Vantage MTV and Nickelodeon movies released theatrically on or after January 1st, 2008, and to MGM, United Artists and Lionsgate titles released theatrically on or after January 1st, 2009 (note: the service is currently available only on Verizon FiOS TV and online)--on Tuesday announced the launch of a social/interactive TV service on its Web site, EpixHD.com.

AEG Digital Media--a company that specializes in the technical and creative production of music, sports, reality and special event programming and that claims to take "a broadcast approach to streaming media to enable the world's most watched and most innovative Webcasts and live events"--contacted [itvt] late Monday to let us know that it is producing a live Webcast of today's (Tuesday, December 1st) sold-out concert by Alicia Keys in AEG's Nokia Theatre Times Square in New York City.