Teralogic supplies graphics technology for Toshiba's CANAL+ MEDIAHIGHWAY-certified, UK terrestrial digital tv set-top box
24th May 1999
TeraLogic, Inc., a leading developer of technology solutions for digital television (DTV), announced today that its TL750 IC is providing the graphics and video processing capabilities in Toshiba's terrestrial digital TV set-top box that recently received certification for CANAL+ MEDIAHIGHWAY version 4.1.
Toshiba's set-top box, which utilizes the TL750's rich graphics overlay, video processing power and dedicated graphics accelerator, will deliver high-performance digital broadcasts, fast display of electronic programming guides (EPG), and rich graphics to accompany digital teletext and interactive services.
According to Dr. Vassilis Seferidis, Senior Manager of Business Development at Toshiba's Consumer Products Group, "TeraLogic's TL750 is a key component in receiving CANAL+ certification of our terrestrial digital TV set-top box. The high performance graphics and video processing in the TL750 enables us to deliver a superior DTV product for the ONdigital digital TV network. This certification also paves the way for us to include the TL750 in our integrated digital terrestrial TV sets slated for later this year."
"Toshiba's set-top box and integrated digital TVs using TeraLogic's dedicated graphics accelerator reflect the high standards expected from these two companies. They are welcome additions to the range of products now able to support ONdigital's services," said Gordon Starling, Director of Consumer Products for ONdigital (formerly known as British Digital Broadcasting (BDB)).
Christophe Declerck, Chief Technical Officer of CANAL+ Technologies, noted, "The flexible and open architecture of CANAL+ MEDIAHIGHWAY is designed to be ported onto a variety of digital TV hardware platforms and IC components. And, because our system fully supports the technical standards of the terrestrial digital TV market in the UK, ONdigital subscribers will benefit from premium-quality sound and pictures as well as interactive services."
TeraLogic's TL750 is the consumer industry's first low-cost, high-performance graphics and video processing integrated circuit(IC) for DTV set-top boxes and receivers. The first in a family of DTV ICs from TeraLogic, the TL750 enables the development of affordable, international standards-compliant DTV products capable of displaying rich graphics and compelling user interfaces on analog or digital TV monitors. Among the target applications for the TL750 are standard definition DTV set-top boxes (for DBS satellite, cable and terrestrial broadcast), Internet TV terminals and Web DVD players.
About CANAL+ TECHNOLOGIES
CANAL+ TECHNOLOGIES is a leading provider of digital broadcasting software solutions in the world and the largest one in Europe with approximately 65 per cent of the marketplace. CANAL+ TECHNOLOGIES offers a wide range of field-proven and flexible systems to broadcasters and digital operators around the world.
Its product line comprises conditional access software MEDIAGUARD, hardware-independent interactive system and middleware MEDIAHIGHWAY, as well as over 30 different interactive, multimedia and internet-related applications. CANAL+ TECHNOLOGIES has an installed base of more than three million digital set-top boxes using its technologies. Recent clients include ONdigital, the world's first digital terrestrial operator in the United Kingdom; and MediaOne, the leading broadband services company in the United States.
About ONdigital
The company was started as British Digital Broadcasting(BDB) as a joint venture between Carlton, Granada and BSkyB. Following UK's Independent Television Commission's (ITC) ruling in 1997, BSkyB left the company, but remained committed to providing programming. On 19 December 1997 the ITC granted BDB licenses to be the commercial digital terrestrial broadcaster on three multiplexes.
The brand name ONdigital was announced by BDB on 28 July 1998. On 28 September 1998 ONdigital revealed its programme and pricing line-up. Service commenced on 15 November 1998 through 22 transmitters throughout UK, less than 11 months after the licenses were granted.
ONdigital offers the simplest way to receive digital TV -- through a conventional TV aerial (roof top or even set-top). It requires no dish and no cable and offers its customers simple plug and play technology with no legal requirement to connect to a telephone line. In addition, ONdigital offers customers the unique opportunity to select their own channels and, if they wish, to change some or all of them monthly at no charge.
About Toshiba (UK) Ltd.
Toshiba UK Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation. Founded in 1875, Toshiba Corporation is one of the world's leading integrated electronics companies and a recognized leader in key areas of digital technology including personal computers, digital versatile disk (DVD), electronic components and digital professional and consumer products.
Toshiba's consumer products division in the UK includes a host of high specification televisions, videocassette recorders, DVD players and digital cameras as well as videowall and projection TV products for the commercial sector. Toshiba is a market leader in all sectors and a dominant brand in home cinema having been the first company to see the real potential of Dolby Surround decoders built into television sets.
This year, Toshiba is entering the digital arena with set-top boxes for both terrestrial (ONdigital) and satellite (SkyDigital) broadcasts as well as two integrated digital terrestrial TVs. Toshiba is committed to retain leadership in all aspects of the development and application of digital technology.
About TeraLogic, Inc.
Founded in 1996, TeraLogic, Inc., is the world's leading privately held semiconductor venture focused on providing products that enable growth in the Digital Television marketplace. TeraLogic designs and develops integrated circuits -- and provides reference platforms -- for sale to leading consumer electronics OEMs of advanced TVs, set-top boxes and PC-TV convergence products. TeraLogic's ICs can be used to provide enhanced graphics capabilities to existing TVs and consumer internet access devices, and as the basis for advanced high-definition digital TV and DTV-PC systems. The Company is also a technology leader in JPEG2000, which is developing the next-generation, world digital imaging standard.
Headquartered in Mountain View, California, TeraLogic currently has over 80 employees, and is an active member of the DVB Project and the UK-based Digital TV Group. More information about TeraLogic may be obtained by calling the Company directly at 001 650-526-2000 or by visiting the Company's website at http://www.teralogic-inc.com.