Sigma Designs is poised to energize the set-top-box market by unveiling the industry's most advanced platform reference design, enabling an experience only found in devices that are combined with networking gateways. Sigma Designs will add more fuel to the growing market of set-top-boxes by enabling these products to stream high-definition content from the Web, in 1080p, via networking through the AC power adapter, all in a device so small that it fits in the palm of your hand.

Sigma Designs' Ultra-Thin Reference Platform is unlike existing set-top-boxes. This revolutionary self-installable, ultra-thin design doesn't require a power cord; it plugs directly into AC power outlets for easy installation by consumers and uses Sigma's award-winning HomePlug AV with ClearPath for the most reliable networking over the home's electrical wiring. With a state-of-the-art media processor, this new platform decodes multiple HD IPTV streams and connects to a HDTV through a simple HDMI connector.

Pace announces its groundbreaking App Café platform is ready for deployment throughout the Americas. The Pace App Café offers cable subscribers access to popular Web-based applications via their set-top box for the first time, increasing the range of entertainment available via the television set.

The Pace App Café is a unique service allowing cable operators to harness the potential of online applications within an integrated managed TV service. It offers applications in a storefront format for subscribers to download directly to their set-top boxes, enhancing their entertainment experience and solidifying the service provider's position at the heart of the home.

Pace is working with Comcast to launch a new hybrid DVR set-top box with tru2way and IP capabilities that delivers an advanced personalized TV viewing experience.

Comcast is using the Pace set-top box platform in a market trial of its next-generation Xfinity TV service in Augusta, GA. This service allows customers to search and select from tens of thousands of TV shows and movies that reflect their unique interests, offering a personalized, useful and fun TV viewing experience.

Harvard International announces a partnership with ANT to design and develop software for the next generation of set-top box products. These will provide HD DTR (high definition digital television recorder) functionality and enable the delivery of services that combine digital media with broadband internet access using the ANT Galio Platform.

Following last year’s strategic review, Harvard has been investing heavily in expanding its technical capability in both software and hardware design, and the agreement with ANT further enhances this core development platform.

Market research firm Infonetics Research released excerpts from its Set-Top Box Features and Vendor Leadership: Global Service Provider Survey, which captures service providers' requirements for IP-based set-top boxes to deliver video services.

ANALYST NOTE

"Although low-cost set-top boxes designed to deliver basic video services over broadband infrastructure were the hallmark of IPTV services, strong competition and the need to increase ARPU have led to significant changes in STB design over the years. The STB remains the most visible point of interaction between subscribers and IPTV providers and is a key component to an operator's success. In our recent STB survey, service providers rated STB features most important to them, which include support for HDMI inputs for 1080p picture quality, integrated hard drive for PVR support, USB inputs for external memory, the use of SoCs in the design, and environmentally friendly features," notes Teresa Mastrangelo, directing analyst for video at Infonetics Research.

Pace is pleased to announce that research company, IHS Screen Digest, has confirmed Pace as global leader in the set-top box market. Findings released by industry analysts IHS Screen Digest yesterday, reveal that Pace shipped more set-top boxes in 2010 than any other set-top box developer.

IHS Screen Digest figures show that a major increase in its set-top box sales propelled Pace to number one in the global market in 2010, surpassing previous leader Motorola.

Pace has delivered incredible development over the past three years, securing a leadership position by creating and delivering set-top box technology - particularly HD, PVR and hybrid devices - for over 160 of the world's payTV operators. No other set-top box developer has such a broad product and broadcast platform expertise.

Good Mind Industries has selected the ANT Galio HbbTV Platform for its new range of STBs. Working closely with leading German distributor COMAG, the product line is to be targeted at the HbbTV retail market and will offer viewers a wealth of on-demand services. These will include catch-up programming from ARD and ZDF, digital text from ARD, VoD from Tageschau and radio applications from Baverische RunFunk.

AFL fans and Telstra customers are the winners in the new agreement between the AFL and Telstra with all matches, from the first bounce to the final siren, available live to the Telstra T-Box and to mobile phones and tablets connected to the Telstra Next G from 2012.

Under the five year agreement:

• All matches including pre-season, home and away, finals and the Grand Final, as well as the Brownlow Medal, will be streamed live and exclusive to mobile phones and tablets on the Telstra Next G network.
• All matches including pre-season, home and away, finals and the grand final, will be streamed live to customers who subscribe to Telstra’s FOXTEL on T-Box service which will be launching shortly. This may also extend to other IPTV-enabled devices connected to Telstra BigPond fixed broadband services. This includes one match per round that will be made available to Telstra T-Box customers regardless of whether they are subscribed to the FOXTEL on T-Box service.
• More after the jump.

Despite unit shipments remaining relatively flat over the last year, worldwide set top box revenues were actually up in 4Q10 over 4Q09. Total revenues for the quarter were $5.7 billion as compared to $5.3 billion in 4Q09, according to In-Stat.

"Even though overall growth in the market was not dramatic there were certainly regional nuances that are worth noting," says Norm Bogen, VP Digital Entertainment. "For instance, there was a significant migration from standard definition to high definition in the larger and more advanced markets like North America and Asia/Pacific. While in the developing regions like the Middle East/Africa and Latin America, there has been a surge in standard definition boxes with high definition just beginning to make an appearance."

Sigma Designs and Vietnam Multimedia Corporation announce they have reached an agreement to establish a joint venture to develop and market high-performance set-top boxes for digital television, smart energy products and home connectivity solutions.

The joint venture, VietSilicon Technology Joint Stock Company, will enable the two companies to accelerate their growth in the Vietnamese market by combining proven IPTV semiconductor technology with VTCs unparalleled local content and network in Vietnam.

Opera Software announces a new partnership with Humax. With this partnership, Opera Software will provide licenses for the Opera Devices SDK on Humax’s Hybrid set-top box including HbbTV.

Opera Devices SDK is a documented API for simpler integration for devices. It is also the most powerful toolkit that can be applied on various devices such as set-top-boxes, connected TVs, mobile Internet devices, IP telephones and media players. The recent upgrade to SDK 3.0 is even better with the following powerful features:

• A totally redesigned SVG rendering engine, boosting performance up to 10 times and making it possible for cable operators and set-top-box manufacturers to implement shiny new interfaces
• Improved HTML5 compliance and wider platform support for shorter time-to-market and lower cost to OEMs
• Enhanced compatibility and simpler integration to manufacturers looking for a HbbTV solution
• HTML5 video pre-integrated on some platforms
• Upgraded Content Developer Kit to help bring your HTML 5 applications to Opera-powered TVs

Market research firm Infonetics Research earlier this month released its fourth quarter 2010 (4Q10) Cable, Satellite, IPTV, and OTT Set-Top Boxes and Subscribers market share and forecast report, now led by analyst Teresa Mastrangelo.

ANALYST NOTE

"In the fourth quarter of 2010, we witnessed the dramatic growth of over-the-top services, as service providers and equipment vendors hit the 'sweet spot' for pricing. However, these services continue to complement pay TV rather than replace it. On a global basis, demand for set-top boxes continues to increase as more countries transition from analog to digital and more operators offer enhanced services such as high definition and DVR. We also are seeing increasing demand for hybrid set-top boxes, which leverage the existing broadcast infrastructure, but utilize the broadband connection to incorporate OTT content and increase interactivity and on-demand services," notes Teresa Mastrangelo, directing analyst for video (cable, satellite, IPTV video) at Infonetics Research.

Worldwide fixed broadband subscriber totaled 503 million at the end of 2010. Nearly 48 million subscribers were added in the fourth quarter alone according to ABI Research’s most recent Broadband Subscribers Market Data. “The increasing penetration of IPTV and online video services is among the factors which boost the growth in subscriptions,” says practice director Jason Blackwell.

South Korea, Hong Kong and France are among the countries and regions with the highest fixed broadband penetration. In countries with high broadband penetration, broadband operators are trying to gain market share by competitive speed and price offers. The result, however, is a drop in broadband subscription fees.

Telefonia Bonairiano selected Amino’s A140 HD next generation IPTV set-top boxes for the deployment of high definition television services.

The first provider in the Caribbean to deliver leading edge TV services across a mixed xDSL and Fiber network, Telbo is transitioning to HD services to enable its current and new customers with the highest possible quality TV experience.

The company, which also offers fixed line telephony and broadband Internet, launched IPTV services in 2007

Opera Software and TARA Systems announce the availability of a fully-integrated HbbTV solution for connected TVs and set-top boxes. The released solution gives manufacturers improved flexibility and planning reliability.

Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV brings viewers the richness of broadcast interactive services combined with broadband content, available for connected TVs and STBs. HbbTV opens the door for a new interactive TV experience, including video-on-demand, catch-up TV, interactive advertising, personalization, digital text, games and social networking. The HbbTV technology is already implemented by major players in the European TV market, such as RTL, ARD, ZDF and ARTE.