PRESS RELEASE

Cisco Videoscape Enables German Broadcasters to Expand HDTV Services

ARD Installs Cisco State-of-the-Art HD Content Playout Systems at Two Premier Locations in Germany

AMSTERDAM, IBC, September 7, 2012 – The Association of Public Broadcasting Corporations of the Federal Republic of Germany (ARD), a non-profit, joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters, and one of the world's largest public broadcasters, is working with Cisco to extend its HD programming via satellite for HDTV viewers throughout Germany. Using the Cisco Videoscape^™ TV services delivery platform, including advanced Cisco^® video encoding and content processing technology, ARD has improved the overall video picture quality of  its German HD "direct-to-home" playout systems for satellite digital video broadcasting (DVB-S/S2).

Highlights

• Cisco is providing ARD with the necessary components to uplink video programming in HD format, helping it replace and upgrade technology and streamline operations by lowering costs at the ARD-Starpoint site in Frankfurt, Germany (being the central ARD Operator), and the WDR (West German Broadcasting) site in Langenberg near Cologne, Germany.
• Cisco hardware deployed for this project includes the D9036 multichannel/multiformat encoder, which encodes up to four HDTV programs at the same time, and the Digital Content Manager (DCM), which controls the bitrates and combines the TV services with service related auxiliary data.
• Part of the Cisco Videoscape Origination Suite, the D9036 Modular Encoding Platform is characterized by its scalability and superior video quality. Encoded video signals can be exported in premium quality via ASI streaming data format, or IP. Its wide range of IP functionality enables a smooth migration from ASI- into IP-based platforms and networks.
• The DCM can support full-quality delivery of multiple video signals. It is a key component of the Cisco Videoscape Acquisition Suite, due to its high video quality, flexibility, redundancy and network efficiency.
• Full system integration services and overall project responsibility was provided by Dimetis GmbH, a Cisco Authorized SP Video Partner, as well as the BOSS Broadcast Manager^®  control and monitoring system, which provides reliable and fully protected transmission of audio and video.
• The ARD-Starpoint facility processes the ARD Service, Das Erste, distributes the ARD-Bouquets via satellite, cable and IPTV, carries out the national and international TV and radio service exchange, and manages the common ARD core network platforms.
• The WDR is a constituent member of the ARD and the largest federal ARD broadcaster. In addition to contributing to the output of German national television channel Das Erste, WDR produces the regional television service WDR Fernsehen (formerly known as WDF and West3) and six regional radio networks. WDR also hosts the ARD-radio satellite transponder which delivers eight WDR radio services in addition to an event channel.

Supporting Quotes:

• Stephen Wagner, head of ARD-Starpoint

 "As we strive to provide HDTV viewers in Germany with superior video picture quality and greater reliability, we trust Cisco hardware to help us meet and exceed our goals. With Cisco's expertise, we were able to re-architect our network to more efficiently encode, decode and transmit HD signals to viewers' homes. With this technology in place, we can also execute on our plans to expand HD services throughout our markets, faster."

• Edwin Paalvast, senior vice president, Service Provider Group, Cisco EMEAR

"The Cisco Videoscape encoding and content management technology helps operators add and compact more channels of all types and formats into their network. Our work with ARD to enhance and expand their HD capabilities gives their viewers better quality HD video - with more HDTV choices soon to come."

Supporting Resources:

• About ARD
• About WDR
• About Cisco Videoscape http://www.cisco.com/go/videoscape
• Cisco Service Provider blog: SP360: http://blogs.cisco.com/sp
• Follow Cisco IBC news and activities on Twitter: #CiscoIBC and #Videoscape

Tags/Keywords

Cisco, ARD, ARD-Starpoints, Edwin Paalvast, DCM, Digital Content Manager, Digital Content Manager Origination Suite, HD, HDTV, Stephen Wagner, Videoscape, WRD

RSS Feed for Cisco: http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/rss.html

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go tohttp://newsroom.cisco.com. Cisco equipment in Europe is supplied by Cisco Systems International BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc.

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Broadcom Introduces Entry Level HD Cable Set-Top Box Platform for Growing International Markets

Broadcom Introduces Entry Level HD Cable Set-Top Box Platform for Growing International Markets

New 40nm System-on-Chip Helps Drive Global Transitions to HDTV

BEIJING, March 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CCBN --

News Highlights:

• Features industry leading levels of integration for low-cost HDTV transitions
• Combines Conditional Access and DRM for comprehensive security system support
• Incorporates fast channel change (FastRTV®) and constant volume levels providing key benefits for operators and subscribers

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a global innovation leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, today announced the availability of new 40nm HD cable set-top box (STB) system-on-a-chip (SoC) solutions to meet the growing global demand for entry-level HD STB platforms.  Learn more at Broadcom@CCBN.

Engineered for the fast growing entry-level international HDTV cable market, the new Broadcom® BCM7581 and BCM7582feature unprecedented levels of integration and advanced technology to meet the needs of cable operators across the globe. Leveraging Broadcom's industry leading portfolio of digital cable solutions, these new products add higher performance processing while lowering power consumption to Broadcom's lowest cost HD STB platforms. 

Key Features

• With a highly integrated, scalable and cost-effective design, the 40nm BCM7581 and BCM7582 cable STB platforms reduce design complexity, power consumption, size, and overall system costs to enable greater deployment of HD digital cable boxes throughout the world. Key integrated features include:
  • High-performance CPU with Floating Point Unit and 2D GPU supporting all popular middleware and user interface solutions.
  • 1GHz DVB-C tuner with the advanced RF receiver technology to support the widely varying cable systems worldwide.
  • FastRTV® fast channel change technology to uniquely reduce channel change time improving customer satisfaction.
  • High-performance audio processor supporting all popular advanced audio formats and Broadcom automatic volume leveling technology.
  • Dynamic and very efficient power management system capable of managing power usage in real-time exceeding international power efficiency requirements.
  • Fully integrated Ethernet port that support cable interactive services, either as the interface to Broadcom's DOCSIS® modems or to Ethernet over Cable (EoC) modems.
  • HDMI 1.4a and component outputs that support HD displays.
  • Advanced pay-TV security supporting all international cable markets

Availability

The Broadcom products mentioned above are now shipping.

For ongoing Broadcom news visit our Newsroom, read our B-Connected Blog, or visit us on Facebook or Twitter. And to stay connected, subscribe to our RSS Feed.

Quotes

Zhang Changli, President of Research Institute, Wasu Digital TV Media Group:

"HDTV is taking off in China with an increasing supply of premium content including more than 10 HDTV channels and the first 3D TV channel launched in January of this year.  To deliver great quality TV content to our subscribers, we really need the high-performance and cost-effective set-top box chip solutions like Broadcom's BCM7581 in our deployment."

Xu, Jiahong, CEO of iPanel:

"We are excited to partner with Broadcom in China's cable set-top box market and integrate our middleware on Broadcom's market-competitive BCM7581 chip platform, Broadcom's high-integration and high price-performance solution is very attractive to Chinese cable operators that see a strong demand for HD set-top boxes in China."

Flora Wu, Principal Analyst, BDA:

"The Chinese government plans to convert 202 million households to digital programming before 2015, paving the way for the expanded network capacity needed to provide additional HD content and advanced services."

Dan Marotta, Broadcom's Executive Vice President and General Manager, Broadband Communications Group:

"Broadcom's technology is poised to quickly transition analog programming to HDTV while meeting stringent cost and power requirements. For higher quality consumer experiences worldwide our technology also enables connected home capabilities for a multi-screen TV experience as operator's transition to advanced services."

About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a FORTUNE 500® company, is a global leader and innovator in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom® products seamlessly deliver voice, video, data and multimedia connectivity in the home, office and mobile environments.  With the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip and embedded software solutions, Broadcom is changing the world by Connecting everything®. For more information, go to www.broadcom.com.

Broadcom®, the pulse logo, Connecting everything® the Connecting everything logo and FastRTV® are among the trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU.  Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.