[opendtv] LG Electronics Launches Production of HDTV Set-Top Boxes for DIRECTV
- From: Mark Aitken <maitken@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: OpenDTV <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 17:30:23 -0400
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/10-19-2005/0004172663&EDATE=
LG Electronics Launches Production of HDTV Set-Top Boxes for DIRECTV
- Agreement positions LG Electronics as leading manufacturer of advanced
MPEG-4 high-definition satellite set-top boxes
- Product reflects LG's HDTV technology leadership and further
strengthens relationship with world's largest satellite TV provider
- Production establishes LG as key player in emerging MPEG-4 HD video
compression platform, the new standard in satellite transmission
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- DIRECTV, Inc., the USA's
leading digital television service provider, has selected LG Electronics as
the first supplier of digital high-definition television (HDTV) set-top boxes
based on powerful new video compression technology, the companies announced
today.
LG Electronics, Inc. (CEO: S. S. Kim / 06657.KS) has begun production of
set-top boxes for use in DIRECTV's MPEG-4 (moving picture experts group) HD
satellite broadcasts, further expanding LG's leadership in the North American
digital television market. Terms were not disclosed.
DIRECTV will launch the most dramatic expansion of programming in its
history when it begins offering local broadcast channels in HD this fall in
major markets throughout the United States. By 2007, DIRECTV plans to offer
more than 1,500 local broadcast channels and more than 150 national channels
in HD.
"Consumer demand for HD is exploding, and DIRECTV is ushering in a new era
in satellite delivery of HD content using a powerful new broadcasting
technology, MPEG-4," said Romulo Pontual, executive vice president and chief
technology officer, DIRECTV, Inc. "This will enable us to greatly enhance our
customers' viewing experience by offering the widest array of HD programming
available. The technical and manufacturing capabilities of LG Electronics,
coupled with their strong commitment to this specific program, make LG a
terrific partner for DIRECTV."
B.B. Hwang, president and CEO, Digital Media Company, LG Electronics, said,
"Our agreement with DIRECTV builds on LG's role as a long-time HDTV technology
leader and as a key supplier of DIRECTV MPEG-2 HD set-top boxes for five years.
DIRECTV deserves as lot of credit for bringing the MPEG-4 digital video
compression platform to high-definition transmission, and LG is proud to play
a major role in the deployment of this important technology."
LG's new set-top boxes, which are being sold under the DIRECTV brand name,
feature DIRECTV's advanced program guide, advanced security, and protected
digital outputs (HDMI/HDCP) with simultaneous component/composite output, as
well as a general-purpose LINUX-operating-system and USB port.
The LG-manufactured DIRECTV set-top boxes - built around Broadcom's MPEG
chipset and LG's industry-leading fifth-generation "VSB" chipset - allow
viewers to watch not only MPEG-4 HD satellite broadcasts, but also existing
MPEG-2 standard- definition programming and terrestrial ATSC (Advanced
Television System Committee) digital HDTV and SDTV broadcasts.
The new HDTV satellite MPEG-4 broadcast services initiated by DIRECTV for
the first time in the world employ advanced digital compression technology to
deliver more channels in the same frequency bandwidth as existing ones. Other
satellite broadcasters and cable broadcast operators will likely introduce
MPEG-4 broadcast services, spurring the growth of MPEG4 market in the years
ahead.
The DIRECTV agreement recognizes LG's set-top box development and
manufacturing strengths. For the longer-term, the agreement also sets the
stage for LG Electronics to develop next-generation MPEG-4 HD DVRs (High-
Definition Digital Video Recorders) and Home Media Center set-top boxes,
further boosting LG's leadership in the global high-end set-top box market.
DIRECTV is the nation's leading digital multichannel television service
provider with more than 14.6 million customers. DIRECTV and the Cyclone Design
logo are registered trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc. (NYSE: DTV
<http://studio.financialcontent.com/Engine?Account=prnewswire&PageName=QUOTE&Ticker=DTV>).
DIRECTV is a
world-leading provider of digital multichannel television entertainment.
DIRECTV is approximately 34 percent owned by News Corporation. For more
information, visit http://www.directv.com .
LG Electronics, Inc. LG (KSE: 06657.KS) is a global leader in providing
cutting-edge, convergent electronics, information and communications products
designed to meet the diverse needs of fast-changing consumers. With
consolidated sales of US$37.7 billion and overseas sales of US$32.6 billion
(86 percent of total sales), LG Electronics employs more than 70,000 employees
in 76 subsidiaries located in 39 countries and operates four business units:
Mobile Communications, Digital Appliances, Digital Displays and Digital Media.
For more information, please visit LG Electronics' web site at
http://www.lge.com or http://www.LGusa.com .
SOURCE LG Electronics, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.lge.com http://www.LGusa.com
http://www.directv.com
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Regards,
Mark A. Aitken
Director, Advanced Technology
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