Norwegian IPTV operator Comvie, a privately owned company, has selected Dreampark as IPTV middleware provider. Comvie, which is a relatively new IPTV operator in the Norwegian IPTV market, aims to be one of the leading providers of two-way multimedia services in Norway.

Comvie has chosen to work with Dreampark and its DreamgalleryT IPTV Middleware. The product, DreamgalleryT, includes interactive services, Video On Demand, non-linear TV, and Network PVR services.

Two Way TV has bolstered its relationship with Turner Broadcasting by extending its provision of enhanced TV games and services on Virgin cable for Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Toonami and Cartoon Network Too. The children's broadcaster intends to expand the reach of these games to compatible IPTV networks across Europe.

Zodiac Interactive announced the general availability of TVLocalSearch, an application that allows consumers to use the TV and search for local businesses without interrupting the viewing experience. Like its online counterpart, TVLocalSearch is free for consumers and integrates with Zodiac's TVCallME service, which allows viewers to be instantly connected to the local business by telephone with a click of the remote.

Zodiac makes this possible through its PowerUp and INSTA Frameworks that give iTV operators the ability to offer media center-type experiences monetized through paid search.

Latens Systems announced that it has a suite of Downloadable Conditional Access System (DCAS) security products that uphold the FCC requirement for the US cable market to provision set-top boxes with a 'severable security component.' Furthermore, Latens DCAS can uniquely secure all US cable operators, whatever architecture they deploy both now and in the future.

Singapore's broadcast regulator, Media Development Authority (MDA), has created two types of licenses for IPTV: niche and nationwide. The MDA's new regulations were created with a desire to boost the growth of the IPTV market.

Additionally, Singapore Telecommunications' SingNet, a wholly owned subsidiary, has received a nationwide license to broadcast IPTV by the MDA.

For additional details on the new licenses, click here.

Telecommunications Magazine reported that Deutsche Telekom is backing away from VDSL2 for their IPTV rollout and will instead move forward using ADSL2+. The motivating factors appear to be cost savings and a possible challenge to regulatory protection for unbundling and wholesaling their VDSL2 service by the EU.

"The move to ADSL2+ has been speculated for some time," says a spokesperson for Commerzbank, based in Germany. "Deutsche Telekom has more pressing capex priorities, such as building out a next-generation IP network to reduce operational expenditure."

Multiple sources (Light Reading and Globes Online) are reporting that Orca Interactive, an IPTV middleware provider, is in talks over the potential sale of the company.

On Friday, Orca announced, "The board can confirm it has received preliminary approaches expressing an interest in the company. The board would like to highlight that negotiations are at an early stage and that there can be no certainty that any formal approach for the company will be forthcoming."

The accelerating adoption of high-definition television, multiplayer gaming, and other data-intensive services is leading to a "bandwidth crunch" that will require cable operators to upgrade the capacity of their digital networks. A number of solutions are available; according to a new study from ABI Research, the total revenue from this market is expected to exceed $24 billion in 2012 and will amount to $80 billion in total investment from 2007 through 2012.

Research and Markets has announced the addition of Spotlight on Television 2.0 Leaders: Microsoft Corporation to their offering.

The latest and final report in the Spotlight on Television 2.0 Leaders series delivers unique and early insight into just how much revenue Microsoft can expect to generate with its new Xbox-based video services, and how rapidly this business might grow. According to our preliminary analysis, the combined revenue from the sale of both TV shows and movies via Xbox Live could reach $92.25 million in 2007, growing each year through 2011, when the aggregate revenue from the sale of both types of content could top $726 million.

ARRIS and TANDBERG Television announced yesterday that they have reached an agreement to combine the two companies through an acquisition of all outstanding TANDBERG Television shares by ARRIS. The new company will have a significant global presence with over 1600 employees and 2000+ customers in more than 100 countries. ARRIS' strong North American cable business and strategic customers in key international markets will be significantly expanded through TANDBERG Television's international market leadership position in IPTV, HDTV and on-demand television.

Research and Markets has added 2006 Australia - NGN, VoIP & IPTV to their offering.

Next Generation Networks (NGN) are a concept developed from Virtual Private Networks (VPN) in the voice market and Value Added Networks (VAN) in the data market. However, the true value of IP is that it becomes the core of Nextgen Networks which facilitate affordable triple play business models, seamlessly integrating voice, data and video. This report also covers:-

• NGN & IP Networks market overview and analysis
• VoIP - Statistical overview, analysis and projects
• IPTV regulations and developments
• Technology overview on IP, VoIP and VoD

This week at CES, Amedia Networks, Inc. showcased its Broadband Entertainment Center, an all-in-one gateway, home networking appliance, and personal media library. Amedia designed the Broadband Entertainment Center to replace the computer as the media hub and central point of networking within the connected home.

Some of the features the Broadband Entertainment Center includes are:

• Store, organize, and search all types of multimedia content -- from movies, to home videos, to music, to games -- within a personal media library right on their residential gateway
• Play that content on virtually any television, monitor, or networked device
• Serves as a modem, router, wireless access point, VoIP adapter, and more within a compact device
• Wireless HDTV transmission via Ultrawideband (UWB) to various home entertainment and media devices throughout the home
• Quality-of-Service (QoS) console, allowing subscribers to prioritize their entertainment and communications services to avoid disruption of quality or speed
• The built-in software operating system allows subscribers to surf the Web on their televisions
• Deliver proprietary or third-party software programs and networking capabilities to subscribers, such as in-home messaging, remote home monitoring, a virtual family calendar, personalized family firewall, and much more.

The FCC Media Bureau spoke out on Wednesday reiterating that cable companies must support a separable security option by July 1st rather than forcing their own set-top boxes with integrated security on consumers. "...commencing on July 1, 2007, no multichannel video programming distributor subject to this section shall place in service new navigation devices for sale, lease, or use that perform both conditional access and other functions in a single integrated device."

The FCC contends that the cable companies required use of their set-top boxes stifles innovation in the set-top box market. The Consumer Electronics Association President and CEO Gary Shapiro agrees, "Competitive device manufacturers are eager to offer exciting new content devices to cable customers, and the FCC has assured consumers that innovation will not be stifled. By taking this action, the FCC ensures that consumers will finally realize the benefits of a competitive market for products that can connect to cable systems."

Cable companies have naturally opposed this move due to the revenue they make from renting cable boxes. Comcast said it would appeal a decision denying them a waiver.

Actiontec Electronics unveiled an expanded line of IPTV-capable consumer premises equipment for service providers of all sizes and infrastructures. The company now offers a full range of CPE products to support carriers' triple play initiatives, becoming the first vendor to support every major WAN and LAN distribution standard including VDSL2, ADSL2+ bonded, MoCA, HomePlug AV and HPNA3.

The new products follow last year's release of a fiber-based router that was adopted by Verizon for its FiOS broadband and TV services.

Following the success of the Future TV Show Europe in 2006, the Future TV Show North America is being launched this year. Taking place on January 29 and 30, 2007 in Brooklyn, New York, the Future TV Show North America provides a platform for discussion about media convergence and the opportunities and challenges that this presents for industry. The conference covers all new technologies such as IPTV, Peer-2-Peer, VOD, DVR's, Mobile TV and more. The audience will comprise broadcasters, channels, production studios, telcos and emerging players in the market.