Widevine Technologies announced support for the Adobe Flash video format. Its multi-format copy protection now includes the protection of Macromedia Flash video — the most ubiquitous video format in use today, with approximately 750 million downloads. Widevine Cypher is currently used by three major TV networks and leading video retailers for Internet video delivery to PCs, Macs, portable media players and other devices.

In contrast to traditional DRM technologies — such as Apple’s FairPlay and Microsoft’s Windows Media DRM, which restrict content purchase and usage to specific devices, video formats and online services — Widevine opens DRM interoperability to all platforms, networks and video devices. This Switzerland of DRM approach enables total consumer flexibility.

The NFL Alumni Atlanta Chapter has inked a deal with Atlanta based production company, One MMC to produce their own television network. Gridiron greats are not sitting on the sidelines, they are getting into the game of the future, IPTV. "Microsoft's Bill Gates and Apple's Steve Jobs may play for different teams but, both have weighed in on their vision of the future, and it is IPTV," says Joe Profit, president of the NFLA Atlanta.

Profit plans to bring interviews, "where are they now," and even reality shows to the NFLA venture. "The programming possibilities are endless, "says Profit, "and now we have an affordable and effective method to broadcast our content." As the No. 1 draft pick in 1971, Profit was an unstoppable running back , for the last twenty years he has been an equally unstoppable Atlanta businessman and philanthropist. "The NFLA's mission statement Caring for Kids is paramount in everything we do." Profit hopes the network will bring awareness to The Chapter's charity events and partnerships, such as with Cystic Fibrosis and Legends and Kids.

Until the latter half of 2006, awareness in the consumer high-definition video space was focused primarily on HD set-top boxes, televisions, pay-TV services, and digital terrestrial broadcasts. Blue-laser disc players under the Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD banners arrived late in 2006, but with limited impact. However, with the entry of Sony’s Playstation 3 and updates to Microsoft’s Xbox 360, HD-capable game consoles are rapidly changing the role that these devices will play in the household and in the HD market overall.

The first, most noticeable impact of both consoles has been their role in driving blue-laser format penetration. Though neither blue-laser format has experienced substantial success in standalone player sales, consoles have proven more successful in stimulating uptake of both formats. According to analyst Paul Erickson of IMS Research, “The HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc camps have both benefited greatly from the console market. The majority of the current blue-laser disc installed base is comprised of Playstation 3’s and Xbox 360 HD-DVD add-on drives, and this trend is likely to continue until standalone player prices drop well below current levels.”

AT&T announces an offer for access to HD programming at no cost for 12 months to qualifying new video customers within AT&T's traditional 22-state service area. New subscribers to AT&T U-verseSM TV service, where it is available, or to DIRECTV Service, and AT&T | DISH Network service who mail in the required redemption forms, are eligible.

Through its U-verse TV service and relationships with DIRECTV and Echostar, AT&T is offering access to a leading suite of HD programming, a technology that with capable equipment can deliver rich and realistic video and near movie theater-quality sound. AT&T U-verse TV receivers and DVR are HD-enabled.

AT&T claims that U-verse services are available to more than 200,000 Dallas/Ft. Worth-area households, and there are plans to continue growing availability over the coming months.

AT&T U-verse TV's unique features have led to significant interest from DFW-area consumers. AT&T U-verse offers more High Definition channels than local cable providers, the ability to record up to four programs at once using a digital video recorder, and the ability to program a DVR remotely through customers' AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet account. AT&T is the only provider in Dallas/Fort Worth to offer a 100 percent Internet Protocol based television service, making U-verse TV one of the most robust and feature-rich services available today.

EchoStar and Google have entered into a partnership agreement to introduce the first automated system for buying, selling, delivering and measuring television ads on EchoStar DISH Network's 125 national satellite programming networks. Google will have access to a portion of DISH Network's advertising inventory that spans across all channels and dayparts. The agreement is the first of its kind for a national pay-TV provider and Google.

This partnership extends Google's current advertising platform to a national TV audience with the aim to deliver more relevant and measurable ads. EchoStar and Google are working together to provide automated online campaign planning, scheduling, delivery and measurement of ads on the DISH Network.

Read more on Google's TV Ads Trial.

Comtrend announces that Oklahoma-based Pioneer Telephone Cooperative has selected Comtrend’s CT-5621 Multi-port ADSL2+ Router as the key residential premises equipment to support deployment of IPTV and broadband services to its customers.

IPTV is a major initiative for Pioneer, which covers 30 Western Oklahoma counties. The cooperative chose CT-5621 routers due to its superior feature set and proven performance record established by a wide range of telecoms.

Comtrend’s CT-5621 is a versatile router that supports a wide array of residential and SOHO services at high-speed ADSL2+ rates up to 24Mbps. The device has four Ethernet ports and a USB interface; it also functions as either a router or a bridge, allowing multiple computers to access the Internet simultaneously.

AT&T is in negotiations for a potential indirect investment in Telecom Italia. The proposal is for AT&T to purchase a one-third stake in Olimpia, a holding company with approximately 18 percent of Telecom Italia’s ordinary shares.

AT&T is in negotiations on the potential investment to acquire the interest from Pirelli & C, which owns 80 percent of Olimpia. Olimpia holds only Telecom Italia assets.

The valuation of the stakes in Olimpia which are the object of the possible sale would be based on a price per Telecom Italia share equal to €2.82, minus the net debt of Olimpia on the closing date of the transaction, subject to the satisfaction of the terms of the proposal.

Ruckus Wireless announces that it has been selected by Sonaecom to supply its award-winning MediaFlex multimedia wireless systems for Sonaecom's fast growing Clix SmarTV IPTV service.

Launched in April of 2006, Clix SmarTV was the first IPTV service offered in Portugal. It remains the only IPTV service available to Portugal's 3.6 million households.

With the Ruckus MediaFlex, Portuguese consumers will now be able to extend the location freedom that they enjoy with Wi-Fi technology to their television viewing experience. The Ruckus MediaFlex allows Clix and its customers to place televisions virtually anywhere within their home without running cumbersome and costly cabling to each TV.

EMI Music announces that it is launching new premium downloads for retail on a global basis, making all of its digital repertoire available at a much higher sound quality than existing downloads and free of digital rights management restrictions.

The new higher quality DRM-free music will complement EMI's existing range of standard DRM-protected downloads already available. From today, EMI's retailers will be offered downloads of tracks and albums in the DRM-free audio format of their choice in a variety of bit rates up to CD quality. EMI is releasing the premium downloads in response to consumer demand for high fidelity digital music for use on home music systems, mobile phones and digital music players. EMI's new DRM-free products will enable full interoperability of digital music across all devices and platforms.