Austar Choses Thomson For Hd Box

[bangbang]

Australia’s leading regional Pay TV operator, AUSTAR, has selected Thomson to develop and supply a four tuner High Definition Personal Digital Recorder (PDR) platform along with extensive systems’ integration services.

The combination High Definition set top box (STB) will mirror AUSTAR’s current MyStar STB, which features both dual Satellite and dual Terrestrial tuners, and will offer AUSTAR customers the experience of watching and simultaneously recording both AUSTAR delivered Satellite content plus local Free-To-Air terrestrial services.

John Porter, AUSTAR’s CEO said: “We’re thrilled that Thomson will be involved in this next exciting chapter of content personalisation for our customers. Since the successful launch of our standard definition PDR, MyStar, AUSTAR has developed a strong relationship with Thomson, using their local expertise, which is thoroughly backed up by their global R&D teams. In selecting a partner to help us continue to plan for HD, we needed someone who has a complete understanding of our requirements and of the marketplace, and Thomson fits the bill.”

Mr Porter noted that AUSTAR has not made a decision on the launch date of its HD content services, but that this development offers the company maximum flexibility for delivery to customers.

Frederic Kurkjian, Vice President of Thomson’s Video Premises Systems activity said: "Thomson is extremely pleased that its strong and proven HD PDR platform has been selected to further advance the already successful deployment of AUSTAR’s services portfolio. Coupled with our global systems integration expertise, we aim to enable AUSTAR to offer the highest quality and most compelling digital video experience to their customers.”

AUSTAR’s arrangement with Thomson covers PDR development and systems integration services, under which Thomson will take responsibility for integrating Thomson hardware with AUSTAR developed applications and third party developed middleware and conditional access systems. Thomson is currently supplying AUSTAR with the MyStar branded standard definition PDR, a four tuner platform which has experienced very strong consumer demand since launch.

AUSTAR is a leading provider of subscription television services in regional and rural Australia, with more than 700,000 customers enjoying principally satellite digital television services. Internet and mobile telephony services complete AUSTAR’s product offering. AUSTAR is also a significant provider of programming in the Australian television market through its 50% owned joint venture, XYZnetworks, which owns and/or distributes Nickelodeon, Nick Jr, Discovery Channel, Channel [V], Channel [V]2, MAX, Arena, The LifeStyle Channel, LifeStyle Food, Country Music Channel and The Weather Channel. Liberty Global Inc., the largest international broadband cable operator in terms of subscribers, holds an indirect controlling stake in AUSTAR.

http://www.knowfirst.info/forums/showthread.php?t=25942

[DrP]

We can only hope that it doesn't mirror the MyStar too closely.

[ozbrit]

Australia’s leading regional Pay TV operator, AUSTAR, has selected Thomson to develop and supply a four tuner High Definition Personal Digital Recorder (PDR) platform along with extensive systems’ integration services.

It has to be the 'leading regional Pay TV operator' Its got a monopoly!

The combination High Definition set top box (STB) will mirror AUSTAR’s current MyStar STB, which features both dual Satellite and dual Terrestrial tuners, and will offer AUSTAR customers the experience of watching and simultaneously recording both AUSTAR delivered Satellite content plus local Free-To-Air terrestrial services.

'mirrors Austar's current MyStar STB' now thats something to be concerned about.

John Porter, AUSTAR’s CEO said: “We’re thrilled that Thomson will be involved in this next exciting chapter of content personalisation for our customers. Since the successful launch of our standard definition PDR, MyStar, AUSTAR has developed a strong relationship with Thomson, using their local expertise, which is thoroughly backed up by their global R&D teams. In selecting a partner to help us continue to plan for HD, we needed someone who has a complete understanding of our requirements and of the marketplace, and Thomson fits the bill.”

'Since the successful launch of our standard definition PDR, MyStar' Really! Porters totally in denial.

Mr Porter noted that AUSTAR has not made a decision on the launch date of its HD content services, but that this development offers the company maximum flexibility for delivery to customers.

If the MyStar is anything to go by, expect it in 2010/11.

Frederic Kurkjian, Vice President of Thomson’s Video Premises Systems activity said: "Thomson is extremely pleased that its strong and proven HD PDR platform has been selected to further advance the already successful deployment of AUSTAR’s services portfolio. Coupled with our global systems integration expertise, we aim to enable AUSTAR to offer the highest quality and most compelling digital video experience to their customers.”

We can only hope!

AUSTAR’s arrangement with Thomson covers PDR development and systems integration services, under which Thomson will take responsibility for integrating Thomson hardware with AUSTAR developed applications and third party developed middleware and conditional access systems. Thomson is currently supplying AUSTAR with the MyStar branded standard definition PDR, a four tuner platform which has experienced very strong consumer demand since launch.

Whats middleware? is it what the MyStar is missing ?

AUSTAR is a leading provider of subscription television services in regional and rural Australia, with more than 700,000 customers enjoying principally satellite digital television services. Internet and mobile telephony services complete AUSTAR’s product offering. AUSTAR is also a significant provider of programming in the Australian television market through its 50% owned joint venture, XYZnetworks, which owns and/or distributes Nickelodeon, Nick Jr, Discovery Channel, Channel [V], Channel [V]2, MAX, Arena, The LifeStyle Channel, LifeStyle Food, Country Music Channel and The Weather Channel. Liberty Global Inc., the largest international broadband cable operator in terms of subscribers, holds an indirect controlling stake in AUSTAR.

Wow! they're really larging themselves up! If Austar are so impressive, why are they still grappling to get a viable SD PVR on the market?

http://www.knowfirst.info/forums/showthread.php?t=25942

Edited September 23, 2008 by ozbrit

[Graeme on the Gold Coast]

Oh well its a step in the right direction I guess.

At least they have decided we want HD.

Told ya Mr Porter will look after us!

[mjt57]

Oh well its a step in the right direction I guess.

That's debatable.

I don't know why it's persisting with the FTA tuner concept. It doesn't work very well on the Mystar, and you can't record more than two shows on either medium (sat or fta) at once.

Anyway, what resolution does the HD signal come off the satellite at? is it 1024i or p or whatever?

[davmel]

That's debatable.

I don't know why it's persisting with the FTA tuner concept. It doesn't work very well on the Mystar, and you can't record more than two shows on either medium (sat or fta) at once.

Anyway, what resolution does the HD signal come off the satellite at? is it 1024i or p or whatever?

1080i for most and 720p for ESPN HD

[DrP]

Whats middleware? is it what the MyStar is missing ?

Its the environment the pay operators software runs in. IIRC Austar (and Foxtel) use Open TV's. If you think in PC terms, think of Sun's Java.

[Jason_dinAlt]

so can we expect the HD channels to be simulcrypted in ND$ and Irdeto2 in the near future as Austar develop the HD mylemon? I can just see all those people who have a bit of white plastic surfing the sat forums for a cheap HD third party box lol

[davmel]

I can just see all those people who have a bit of white plastic surfing the sat forums for a cheap HD third party box lol

They already are buying up the Octagon HD receivers in anticipation.

There will be even more of an incentive to ditch legitimate subscriptions locked in to crappy hardware once HD with your choice of hardware is available.

As much as Austar's decision to lock out 3rd party boxes utterly sucks, we have to thank them for foolishly holding onto an utterly broken encryption system.

[Hosko]

I have to say that if Foxtel allows Austar to use Irdeto2 to encrypt the HD channels they are mugs. As HD will require new hardware anyway so there wouldn't be any backwards compatibility issues surely they should just tell Austar to use NDS for the HD channels or don't have access to them. It would only require a dual cam in the STB which is very doable. There really isn't any point in Foxtel having very good encryption if they are broadcasting most channels with Irdeto as well.

[Hosko]

Its the environment the pay operators software runs in. IIRC Austar (and Foxtel) use Open TV's. If you think in PC terms, think of Sun's Java.

They both use Open TV as their middleware (its the software that allows active applications). Austar is severely crimped down though as it is set up so every STB can run every application. As Austar have STBs which are much older then Foxtel's this backward compatibility is what forces Austar to run much simpler applications. An example of this is Foxtel can have scrolling text in an active application whilst the same application has to be re-written for Austar so the text pauses then jumps forward a few pixels and then pauses again. This is a total waste of cash for a content provider as you have to have multiple versions of the same thing. You might be able to guess which one crashes more.

[davmel]

I have to say that if Foxtel allows Austar to use Irdeto2 to encrypt the HD channels they are mugs. As HD will require new hardware anyway so there wouldn't be any backwards compatibility issues surely they should just tell Austar to use NDS for the HD channels or don't have access to them. It would only require a dual cam in the STB which is very doable. There really isn't any point in Foxtel having very good encryption if they are broadcasting most channels with Irdeto as well.

They wouldn't use a different encryption system for only some channels, that would mean having two different access management systems and trying to integrate them both would be a nightmare. It's one or the other and as long as Austar exists and continues to have a contract with MindPort to use Irdeto then it will continue to do so. The only pay tv operators in the world that use NDS are companies with significant or majority ownership by News Corp as they also own NDS.

If Austar ever swapped to NDS it would make it significantly easier for Foxtel to take over the company.

[Hosko]

They wouldn't use a different encryption system for only some channels, that would mean having two different access management systems and trying to integrate them both would be a nightmare. It's one or the other and as long as Austar exists and continues to have a contract with MindPort to use Irdeto then it will continue to do so.

Or they could just outsource the CA for the HD channels to Foxtel. They wouldn't have a contract with Mindport for the HD channels because they didn't exist when the contract was signed, unless it is for all future channels as well but I doubt it.

I'm not saying its going to happen but its something Foxtel should be doing.

[DrP]

The MPEG2 on demand channel is simulcrypted, but that could just be a hang over from when it was a FBO channel.