Dell’Oro Group reportes that the IPTV subscriber base grew by 3.2 million in the fourth quarter to reach 23 million subscribers at the end of last year, nearly double the number at the end of 2007. While Europe, Middle East, and Africa remained the largest market for unit shipments of IPTV set-top boxes, North America drove the market’s revenue growth in the fourth quarter as AT&T and Verizon continued to aggressively promote their television services.

NXP and Roku continue their collaboration to meet consumer demand for high quality content delivered directly to the TV over the Internet. The Roku digital video player, powered by the PNX8935 multi-format source decoder from NXP, now allows instant streaming access to over 40,000 movies, including many new releases, and commercial-free TV shows from Amazon Video On Demand. The Roku Player’s simple interface and set up process enables hassle-free entertainment for media access and allows users to instantly decode SD and HD content to watch on their TV

Albis Technology will present its latest generation of STBs at the IPTV World Forum in London (25 - 27 March 2009). The Albis STBs feature unique performance and versatility. This gives operators seemingly endless possibilities for IPTV and TV broadcasting applications, as well as for on-demand and other interactive services.

The highlight of the exhibition will be, among other things, the Albis STB 77xx series hybrid models, which support both HD TV via IP and DVB reception. Moreover, visitors will be shown how DVB programs can be enhanced with Internet access (on an IP/DVB-T basis). The so-called "Universal Media Framework" is especially noteworthy in this context. It enables seamless integration of web-based services such as YouTube and supports all major video formats.

Amino has sold its two millionth AmiNETT set-top box. Since launching its first product to the market in 2002, Amino has developed a range of STBs to meet growing global demand for IPTV from network operators, hospitality and enterprise markets.

This important milestone was reached in December when Amino shipped its latest product from the AmiNET range to a distributor in the burgeoning Russian market. This caps an award winning year for Amino - its recently launched AmiNET130M won Best in Show at the Telco TV industry event and a Good Design Award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum.

DivX announces the DivX Certification of the ADB-3810TW IPTV STB from Advanced Digital Broadcast. The newly enhanced STB will be available throughout Europe. ADB is a global leader in the design and manufacture of advanced STBs and has shipped over 11 million units across cable, satellite, IPTV, and terrestrial markets. ADB's new DivX Certified STB, the ADB-3810TW, delivers a premium experience for digital entertainment through native playback of high-quality DivX video using a standard USB port or available through home network via UPnP/DLNA protocols or Internet. The product extends the influence of DivX within the STB marketplace and joins a variety of other DivX Certified devices shipped by DivX licensees into the market including, Blu-ray players, digital televisions, personal media players, mobile phones, and in-car entertainment systems.

AccessKey announces the last phase of the company's IP Set Top Box is underway. Once this last phase is completed, AKYI's full IPTV end-to-end solution system will be ready for market. The completion of this final phase is approximately 45-60 days. The Company has completed and tested all of the USB security communications and accompanying firmware, secure support servers and associated databases. In regard to Verimatrix, Macrovision and its kernel (which is custom tuned for all of our stream handling and communications with our secure USB device), the Set Top Box is tested and ready.

FyreTV launches its commercial service along with the world’s first wireless IPTV set-top box for streaming DVD quality adult content. The new wireless BoXXX ships today with any new subscription made at fyretv.com. FyreTV makes available today its $9.95 monthly subscription service, which gives customers access to its full line up of content as well as a number of studio packages.

NeuLion unveiled its iPTV HD TV Box delivering high definition programming in 720p and 1080i to the television. NeuLion's existing iPTV HD PC browser service provides HD quality programming of live channels, sports, entertainment events and video on demand in up to a 1080i format to its Network Partners across the globe.

The launch of the HD TV Box provides adaptive streaming in high definition without buffering. NeuLion now offers HD streaming services of live TV channels, live events and video on demand over the Internet directly to the television. NeuLion lets the consumer choose viewing of content on either the TV, PC or both -- all in high definition and allows the consumer to pick the device, place, time and programming.

DirectStreams announce that SecureMedia's eONET Virtual Set Top Box for Mac is now integrated with DirectStreams InRoom Digital solution and enables a true and unobtrusively secure television viewing experience on Apple iMac and Mac mini.

Built on Apple's Mac OS X and protected by the Encryptonite ONET System, DirectStreams InRoom Digital solution intelligently manages the distribution of IPTV, Video On Demand, Music On Demand and games across IP networks while providing Internet connectivity, Network access control, authentication and managed billing.

NETGEAR introduces two new products that enable consumers to enjoy the world of Internet videos and digital entertainment content on their HDTV screens. Designed to enhance the connected lifestyles of Internet-generation families and serious media enthusiasts, the NETGEAR Internet TV Player and the NETGEAR Digital Entertainer Elite will be demonstrated this week in the NETGEAR booth, 30769, in the South Hall 3 of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Amino has signed a sales and purchase agreement for the acquisition of Tilgin AB's IPTV STB division. The purchase of Tilgin IPTV, which offers a range of H.264 HD IPTV STBs within its "Mood" product line, will further enhance Amino's award-winning product portfolio and add new software functionality across its entire range.

As the worldwide economic woes increase, suppliers in the consumer electronics and digital TV markets are expecting a difficult but by no means catastrophic 2009. IMS Research is forecasting that, setting aside the US DTV converter box program, that set-top box revenues in the region will decline 5% from 2008 to 2009 and that volumes will actually rise, albeit at a relatively weak 9.3% annual rate over the same period. Globally, IMS Research is forecasting a 2% decline in revenues from 2008 to 2009 on 5% volume growth.

Orca partners with Yuxing, in developing an advanced, pre-integrated IPTV solution. Already selling, the integrated solution heralds a new era in affordable high-performance set-top boxes, based on Orca’s RiGHTv middleware, allowing the ramping up of additional services and applications according to customer requirements.

The comprehensive and environmentally friendly solution offers HD, MPEG-4, CPVR and based on Orca’s SUI software development kit, the scalable middleware allows operators to tailor user interfaces and services to their specific local needs.

Daewoo Electronics has signed a contract with digital TV solutions provider ANT to license ANT Galio Browser for its new range of IPTV set-top boxes. The new DIS - E100 model, based on the Sigma Designs chipset, enables delivery of full HD quality videos in a compact modern design. Daewoo has a strong history of global set-top box deployments and has recently seen particularly high demand for ANT Galio in the Russian markets.

Motorola launches remote device management for its IPTV set-tops. Motorola's NBBS device management system will now enable service providers to accelerate the delivery of personal media experiences with new services, improved customer satisfaction and lower operational costs with fewer truck rolls.

Motorola NBBS is a scaleable, carrier-grade software platform that enables operators to remotely access, configure, monitor and troubleshoot a full portfolio of consumer devices, home networks and services. These include gateways, modems, webcams and now IP set-tops - namely, the VIP set-top series, adding more flexibility for service providers. The NBBS platform increases revenues by accelerating new service introduction.