Google’s announcement that they are making their WebM VP8 video codec an open-standard codec without any associated license fees sent immediate ripples through the entire video industry. One key beneficiary may be Intel, whose line CE4100 of processors along with TI’s DaVinci line may be the only ready-to-ship set-top-box chips that can be upgraded to support WebM via software.

According to Stephen Froehlich, senior analyst for IMS Research, “Both of the processor families have been slow to penetrate the set-top box market, and while WebM is an important short-term opportunity for the ARM9-based DaVinci, it is a key strategic foothold for the x86-based Intel chips in the set-top box market, where x86 code is essentially nonexistent at the moment.

IMS Research has updated its Online Digital Set-top Box & iDTV Database with new information regarding TV households split by reception platform, STB and iDTV shipments and revenues, and profiles for operators in 68 countries. The update reveals that:

• On a global basis, digital TV households grew by 30% during 2009 with the IPTV and FTA DTT platforms experiencing the strongest growth, both near 60%. CAGR for all digital platforms between 2010 and 2014 is expected to be 8.2%.
• Despite the economic crisis, STB shipments increased by 18% over 2008, due in large part to analog switch-off in large terrestrial markets. A slight decline in total STB shipments is expected in 2010 and 2011. Lease-only equipment arrangements, pre-paid TV service cards, and government subsidies are being used to promote the digitization of various TV platforms both pay and FTA, hence increasing the adoption of digital TV in lower income households worldwide.
• More after the jump.

Cisco has joined the Zodiac Interactive Partner Program in support of cable operator tru2way deployments. As part of the Zodiac Partner Program, Cisco has licensed Zodiac’s PowerUp for tru2way and PowerUp Monitor Server application to test with select tru2way set-top boxes. PowerUp is a cross-platform software middleware and presentation engine solution that enables advanced iTV/ETV application deployments across multiple set-tops, including legacy boxes. The Zodiac PowerUp Monitor Server and Monitor App. provide all necessary functionality for life cycle management with proven scalability and un-paralleled performance. To date, PowerUp delivers the iTV/ETV experience to over 10 million set-top-boxes currently deployed by Zodiac MSO clients.

TechnoTrend Görler has announced its move into the fast emerging HbbTV market by partnering with ANT, the influential provider of software and services for digital TV. TechnoTrend Görler has licensed the ANT Galio HbbTV Platform in order to target TV service providers and operators in the HbbTV retail market.

HbbTV was announced in August 2009 as a new industry initiative aimed at harmonising the delivery of broadcast and broadband TV services. Since the announcement, the specification has been submitted to ETSI for review and has received strong interest from across the industry with over 50 supporters now listed on the HbbTV website. Driven by broadcasters, software solution providers and device manufacturers, HbbTV is well positioned to deliver a scalable hybrid solution across Europe.

Amino is to be the long-term provider of MPEG-4 STBs to CDE Lightband, the broadband and electricity provider for the city of Clarksville, Tennessee. CDE Lightband serves over 59,000 customers via an 960-mile fiber to the home network which has earned the city “broadband community” status. The network, supporting speeds of between 10Mbps and one gigabit, was initially deployed to provide remote access monitoring for electricity meters – but is now additionally used for a range of phone, broadband and IPTV services.

Sky Player's online TV service is to launch on a range of new internet connected TVs and set-top boxes following agreements with Cello, a manufacturer of LCD TVs, and 3View, a provider of hybrid DTT and IPTV set-top boxes.

Sky Player offers Sky customers the opportunity to access a wide range of live TV channels as well as the UK’s most comprehensive video-on-demand service, with content spanning a range of leading broadcasters.

Cello is a leading provider of LCD TVs and launched the iViewer in 2009, the UK’s first internet connected TV that enabled consumers to access internet-based media directly – without the need for a set-top box, games console or computer.

Amino has secured a contract to deliver HD set-top boxes to US triple play provider Mahaska Communication Group. The Iowa-based company, which serves the city of Oskaloosa, has ordered A130, A130M and A530 STBs to deliver a range of entertainment services across their state of the art fibre-to-the-home network.

Amino partnered with middleware provider Minerva to secure the deal, which will see the replacement of existing standard definition set-top boxes with new HD models.

Albis Technologies announces the availability of its next generation set-top box. The new SceneGate STB portfolio provides enhanced HD picture quality while delivering on-demand, interactive and linear TV services.

The SceneGate STBs enables service differentiation for service providers and allows them to offer innovative new services to their customers. The proven hardware and software quality reduces operational costs and customer churn, making services more profitable and reliable. They are perfect for new IPTV service providers introducing new service offerings to their customers or service providers introducing interactive IP based services while leveraging their existing digital broadcasting technology.

Amino has won the Costa Rican licitation to provide STBs to support a major IPTV rollout by the Costa Rican Electricity Institute. The network operator plans to launch services in the first half of 2010, targeting up to 100,000 homes across the country. Amino will work closely with systems integrator ITS on the service rollout and will provide 38,000 units including its A125, A130M and A530 DVR STBs phased over the next two years.

DivX and Advanced Digital Broadcast announce that Telekom Austria is the first operator in Europe to provide DivX Certified STBs to subscribers of its service. The ADB-3810TW internet protoco STB delivers a high-quality viewing experience for digital entertainment through native playback of DivX video content accessed via USB drive or over the user's home network.

Sagemcom and SoftAtHome announce that they have collaborated to develop the first hybrid MPEG4 HD universal Set Top Box that combines IPTV, Satellite and Terrestrial delivery and content sharing through DLNA with a removable hard disk drive. The solution is being deployed by Orange, one of the world's leading telecommunications operators, to deliver premium services to its subscribers in France.

Espial announces the latest version of its TV Browser product for Connected TVs and Set-Top Boxes. The Connected TV market is poised for high growth as consumers increasingly demand access to their favourite websites and web video content from their TV. According to the research firm iSuppli Corporation, total flat-panel TV shipments will grow to nearly 243 million units annually in 2013. As more of these TV require web connectivity, the Espial TV Browser is an ideal platform for Connected TVs with excellent graphic performance, unmatched response times and a great web video experience.

Humax and ANT have partnered to deliver the first Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV set-top boxes to market. Humax, one of the world’s largest set-top box manufacturers, selected the ANT Galio HbbTV Platform for its new iCord HD+ set-top box, which began shipping to German retail outlets in December 2009 to become the first HbbTV set-top box to be deployed. The iCord HD+ allows consumers to access hybrid services including ARD Mediathek, Tagesschau, ARTE, internet radio, Maxdome and Wikipedia via the set-top box.

3view makes available to the UK market the world's first Internet connected HD set-top box with free-to-air capabilities. This means retail partners now have access to the first commercially available set-top box which combines the ability to receive high definition free-to air programming with a raft of Internet capabilities. This turns people's television into a connected device, allowing them to use a range of new TV over IP services. In addition, people will also be able to browse the web and keep up with Facebook and Twitter friends, all at the same time as watching both Standard and High Definition free-to-air television channels in the UK.

Dell’Oro Group reports that the worldwide Set-top Box market fell 10 percent sequentially during the third quarter of this year to $2.6 billion. During the third quarter, vendors like Motorola and Cisco, who both have a high degree of exposure to the North American market, saw large contractions in IP STB unit shipments due to the decline in net subscriber additions. In China, Huawei continued its strong growth putting more pressure on ZTE and UTStarcom. ZTE however, retained its grip on being the third largest vendor in the worldwide IP STB market.