Scientific-Atlanta and Broadcom Collaborate in the Development of Dual-Channel MPEG-2 Encoder Chip for `Watch & Record' Set-Top Boxes

Business Wire, June 11, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NCTA Cable 2001

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 2001

Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq:BRCM) the leading provider of integrated circuits enabling broadband communications, today introduced a dual-channel MPEG-2 encoder chip for next generation personal video recorder (PVR) set-top boxes. The Broadcom(R) BCM7041 dual-channel, digital video/audio encoder and multiplexer is the first single-chip, MPEG-2 encoder to enable the simultaneous compression of two independent video channels and four audio channels.

The BCM7041 supports MPEG-2 video encoding, program/transport stream multiplexing, and MPEG-1 /Dolby Digital AC-3 audio encoding standards. The BCM7041 was developed by Broadcom's Israel design team, formerly with Visiontech Ltd., which was acquired by Broadcom in January 2001.

"Scientific-Atlanta's foresight to offer integrated PVR and dual-channel capabilities in set-top boxes presented a unique convergence opportunity and primary technology development driver for the design team," said Amir Morad, General Manager of Broadcom Israel.

Dual tuner set-top boxes equipped with the BCM7041 will allow the consumer to record one program while watching and time-shifting a different program, or to record two different programs simultaneously that may be viewed later or at the same time within picture-in-picture (PIP). In addition, the viewer may record an interactive show and be able to take advantage of these interactive capabilities at a later time. The BCM7041 offers viewers greater control over the TV-viewing experience, enabling them to freeze a live TV program, instantly replay or rewind a program, or skip ahead in a recorded program to a favorite movie scene or the next big play of a sporting event. The PVR capability can also be used to store the viewer's program preferences and record similar shows for future viewing.

"The need for dual MPEG encoding is becoming a requirement from all MSOs to support `watch and record' PVR. The BCM7041 dual channel encoder is a significant milestone in the evolution of the PVR set-top box market," said Rich Nelson, Sr. Director of Broadcom's Broadband Communications Business Unit. "The BCM7041's ability to simultaneously encode two channels of video and four channels of audio in one chip makes it the most cost-effective solution for the cable industry to offer wide-scale deployment of `watch and record' digital set-top boxes to the consumer."

Scientific-Atlanta will incorporate Broadcom's BCM7041 into its new Explorer 8000 set-tops enabling real-time compression of analog channels. Together with Scientific-Atlanta's interactive television navigator, the encoder will provide the ability to compress two digitized video and four audio streams simultaneously that can be `watched and recorded,' simply recorded or simultaneously played back in a PIP. Having shipped six million Explorer set-tops, Scientific-Atlanta brings the interactive experience home to the consumer.

"PVR enabled set top boxes could become the next ubiquitous subscriber video recording device," says Michael P. Harney, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Scientific-Atlanta's Subscriber Networks Sector. "Broadcom's advanced dual channel MPEG2 encoder, when added to Scientific-Atlanta's Explorer set-tops, will enable subscribers to watch what they want, when they want, and let our customers provide an integrated revenue producing platform at the same time."

According to Forrester Research, digital video recorder sales are expected to reach 53 million units by 2005, which they claim makes it the fastest growing segment in personal technology.

The Explorer 8000 is a powerful member of Scientific-Atlanta's Explorer family and is expected to deliver a wide range of multiple interactive TV applications through a single set-top. In addition to Web browsing, email, t-commerce, and video-on-demand (VOD), the Explorer 8000 model also delivers personal TV capabilities that allow the cable subscriber to re-play live analog and digital TV programs using a built-in 40 gigabyte hard drive. This innovative set-top will also enable the simultaneous viewing and recording of two channels of programming and support HDTV via memory options.

The BCM7041 chip is packaged in a 256 BGA and costs $50 in 10,000-piece quantities. Sample quantities of the BCM7041 are available today as is the BMC97041 reference design with a sample application and software drivers. Broadcom is demonstrating these products at the National Cable Television Association's Cable 2001 tradeshow this week in Chicago.

About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation is the leading provider of highly integrated silicon solutions that enable broadband communications and networking of voice, video and data services. Using proprietary technologies and advanced design methodologies, Broadcom designs, develops and supplies complete system-on-a-chip solutions and related applications for digital cable set-top boxes and cable modems, high-speed local, metropolitan and wide area and optical networks, home networking, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), carrier access, residential broadband gateways, direct broadcast satellite and terrestrial digital broadcast, digital subscriber lines (xDSL), wireless communications, SystemI/O(TM) server solutions and network processing. Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and may be contacted at 949/450-8700 or at www.broadcom.com.