NTCA's The New Edge » STB

Russian Company Rolls Out Android STB

Steve Fravel — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:30:23 +0000

Moscow electronics firm NetUp is reporting that it will begin offering television sets with built in Android-based set-top boxes (STBs). NetUp says the integrated STB will allow for a complete viewing experience, including use of the electronic program guide, VoD trick-play, interactive features along with Web surfing, social networking, gaming, Skype and access to more than a thousand other Android apps.

NetUp is currently only offering the Android integration as part of either a 32-inch or 50-inch TV.

Considering the market place and the need for cable cards and All-Vid devices, it would be interesting to know if NetUp is considering taking this to the next level and creating both outboard STBs, web-video convergence devices and cable cards.

Court Rules Verizon Violated STB Patents

Jesse Ward — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:09:26 +0000

Last week, a federal judge ruled that Verizon must cease using two patents owned by interactive TV firm ActiveVideo Networks, issuing a permanent injunction effective May 23, 2012.

In the meantime, until the permanent injunction is in place, the court ruled that Verizon must pay ActiveVideo $2.74 per FiOS TV subscriber per month starting December 1. For Verizon, which has about 3.98 million FiOS TV subscribers, this works out to about $10.9 million per month.

Active Video, an interactive TV vendor whose largest client is Cablevision, initially filed suit against Verizon back in May 2010. In August 2011, the court concluded that Verizon’s FiOS TV violated four of five patents asserted by ActiveVideo and awarded the company $115 million in damages. Later that month, ActiveVideo filed a motion for a permanent injunction against the telco barring it from using two of the patents in its video-on-demand (VoD) service. And just last month, the court added at least $24.1 million in supplemental damages and interest to the amount Verizon owes ActiveVideo.

“There is no doubt that ActiveVideo suffers indirect losses when Cablevision suffers direct losses from Verizon’s infringement,” Judge Jackson wrote in the order released last Wednesday.

In a statement released last Friday, Verizon said it would appeal the injunction ruling, as well as the damages awarded and the fundamental decision of infringement. The telco also said it is working with Cisco Systems on changes to its VoD service to avoid using the ActiveVideo patents in question.

In related but separate news, Verizon also had brought suit against Cablevision and a complaint before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), alleging the cable provider violated several of its patents. Back in May 2011, the ITC rejected Verizon’s claims and tossed out the case.

TelcoTV Wrap-Up

Steve Fravel — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:36:30 +0000

NTCA Director of Policy Josh Seidemann delivered a keynote address illustrating the impact of rural broadband investment on the national economy.

More than 1,800 people attended the 10th annual TelcoTV Conference & Expo this week in New Orleans, La. Attendance at the general sessions and track sessions appeared to be a major draw for most of those attending. Many were intently looking at ways that they might enhance or alter their video service to reduce or eliminate some of the cost.

The potential for cloud-based middleware and other cloud content management systems was a popular topic. How to add over-the-top (OTT) content via the set-top-box (STB) or other smart consumer equipment was also covered. Discussions concerning adaptive bit rate and multi-mode compression gave direction to new solutions.

Video is a major driver for broadband service adoption across the industry. Having a single bill for voice, data and entertainment remains a convenience that most consumers highly value. The multi-screen experience and consumption of content when, where and how the customer wants is clearly the direction most service providers will adopt to stay competitive in a fast changing environment.

Attendees listen to the general sessions on October 25.

The cost of content remains the most volatile and troubling element for service providers, especially the small companies that service the most rural or remote areas.

If I took anything away from TelcoTV this year, it is that there is reason to be optimistic in regard to the future of IPTV and the different forms and iterations it will take in its evolution.

"Multi-Screen TV: Show Me the Money" general session panel.

Pace, Minerva Set-Top Box Integration

Steve Fravel — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:02:53 +0000

Pace has announced a partnership agreement with Minerva to integrate Minerva xTVFusion middleware technology into Pace HD set-top-boxes.

Pace indicates that this is an expansion to the options available to IPTV providers seeking middleware technology. The partnership will allow Pace to provide a “pre-integrated, end-to-end solution” to service providers. Both Pace and Minerva refer to the arrangement as an effective method of providing viewing options to IPTV subscribers that includes video-on-demand, restart TV, network DVR, catch-up TV and Internet video integration.

Mike Pulli, president of Pace Americas said, “This new relationship facilitates the opportunity for Pace to deliver the complete solution at a competitive price to serve increasing customer expectations worldwide.”

Mauro Bonomi, CEO of Minerva Networks echoed, “This partnership represents a supurb opportunity for Minerva to work closely with Pace to deliver innovative solutions to broadband service providers worldwide.”

For more, see the press release.

Verizon Falls Short in STB Dust up with Cablevision

Steve Fravel — Mon, 23 May 2011 19:30:31 +0000

Last Friday, a U.S. International Trade Commission judge tossed claims that Verizon made against Cablevision Systems on set-top box patents. Verizon filed the complaint and suit against the cable MSO in early 2010.

Verizon claimed that three Cablevision set-top boxes (STBs) violated five patents held by the telco. Verizon released the following statement last Friday: “Our pursuit of this action reflects our long-established commitment to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights.”

Cablevision responded: “This is a significant victory for Cablevision, the judge rejected four of Verizon’s five claims in the case and the fifth had already been invalidated by a Virginia court. We are obviously pleased and will continue to defend ourselves vigorously as the process continues.”

Verizon is currently preparing a second case for review citing two additional patents that it believes Cablevision to be violating. If Verizon is victorious, the court will block Cablevision from importing three digital set-top models from Cisco, key hardware which subscribers use to record programs on the MSO’s new network DVR service.

In related news, ActiveVideo, an interactive TV vendor whose largest client is Cablevision, is waiting for a decision in a suit filed against Verizon for similar patent infringements in May 2010.

VOTW: Boxee Readies Set-top Box

Jesse Ward — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:51:52 +0000

And last but not least, our video of the week (VOTW). Boxee, software that allows users to watch movies and TV shows from the Web on a television, is putting the final touches on its new set-top box. In this video, Zach Klein, who oversees design at Boxee, discusses the STB and the production methods the company is using to make it. Zach tells us that the device will be on retail shelves in late October/early November. D-Link is builing the box, which is expected to go on sale for around $200.

Cox Launches Whole-Home DVR

Jesse Ward — Mon, 10 May 2010 21:11:15 +0000

Cox Communications has revamped its home entertainment experience launching a new Trio program guide, tru2way-capable Cisco set-top boxes (STBs) and the first whole home DVR-system by a nationwide cable operator. The new features will be available to subscribers who pay $5 more on top of any level of Cox Advanced TV service and subscribe to the Plus Package.

The cable provider is using tru2way-based Cisco 8642 HD/DVR and 1642 HD receivers to deploy the Plus Package and these will be used in all Cox markets, including Cox’s Motorola environments. The STBs will afford users the capability to tune frequencies above 860 MHz, where additional HD programming will be stored.

The Cisco STBs also contain a 500 gig hard drive, about three times the storage that the cable provider is offering with its current boxes. This will come in handy alongside the Cox Whole Home DVR solution, which will allow subscribers to watch and control recorded shows on any TV in the home from a single DVR unit. Up to three different recordings can be viewed simultaneously on different televisions throughout the home. Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCa) technology will drive whole-home DVR service.

Cox developed the new, on-screen program guide in partnership with Frog Design and implemented by NDS.

Cox Trio Program Guide

The Trio guide features three panels on a single screen to make content browsing easier. It also endows customers with the ability to search and browse related content across three platforms – linear airings, On DEMAND titles and DVR recordings.

Comcast Sued For Set-Top Box Rentals

Jesse Ward — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:53:24 +0000

In late June, West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw filed a lawsuit against Comcast over the cable operator’s requirement that customers rent set-top boxes in order to watch premium channels.

McGraw’s lawsuit alleges that by tying the premium service to the set-top-box rental, consumers are paying a rate higher than the boxes would cost on the open market, in addition to paying much more than the boxes are actually worth. The lawsuit seeks damages on behalf of consumers, in addition to penalties and statutory damages.

McGraw is not alone in his discontent. Over the past several years, a growing number of lawsuits have surfaced against cable operators for forcing consumers to rent cable boxes, a hidden fee that is not advertised as part of the cost of the premium service. In fact, last month a Mobile, Ala., woman filed a federal lawsuit against Comcast for this very same issue.

No word from the courts yet, or from Comcast on these lawsuits.