Sigma Announces Next Generation Decoder with Windows Media Video 9; Apex and KiSS Technology among the First to Support WMV9 Based DVD Players

Business Wire, Jan 7, 2004

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

2004 International CES

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 2004

Sigma Designs (Nasdaq:SIGM), a leader in digital media processing for consumer appliances, today announced the EM8620L, the next generation series of media processors that support Windows Media Video 9 (WMV9), the advanced video compression technology from Microsoft Corp. The chip also supports HighMAT (High Performance Media Access Technology), a technology jointly developed by Microsoft and Matsushita Electric Industrial to enable better performance and navigation of personal audio, video and photo CDs in next generation entertainment devices. Sigma's new EM8620L decoder chip offers a high performance architecture that supports single-chip implementations of IP video appliances, DVD players, DVD receivers and high-definition (HD) television applications. At this week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Sigma will showcase its EM8620L at the Microsoft eHome exhibit, and at the Sigma hospitality suite located at the Hilton Hotel.

"Sigma's innovative efforts will be at the heart of transforming the next generation of DVD players and digital media devices," said Dave Fester, general manager of the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft. "Their new class of chipsets take full advantage of the benefits of Windows Media Video 9 and HighMAT to enable a whole new range of experiences for consumers such as high definition video experiences and easier playback of home videos without any time consuming MPEG2 conversions."

Demand For Windows Media Video 9

There is a strong trend toward new audio and video CODECs in the entertainment industry as these companies look for innovative ways to deliver the best digital media experience to the consumer. The industry is examining technologies such as Windows Media 9 Series, which provides better compression efficiency for streaming and storing digital media content and supports full digital rights management protection, where it was previously not possible. Driven primarily by increased compression efficiency, Windows Media Video 9 is enabling network providers to offer a new range of high-quality, high-resolution video services over bandwidth-limited networks. Additionally, with both published DVD and user-created content beginning to appear, Windows Media Video 9 support looms on the horizon as the new must-have feature for enthusiasts buying DVD players. Moving into 2004 and beyond, WMV9 along with the HighMAT format represents the major unifying force for digital media shared between PC, Internet and consumer appliances.

For telco operators, WMV9 solution enables the delivery of live broadcasts and interactive services such as video-on-demand (VOD) and Internet protocol television (IPTV) over broadband networks via advanced low-cost, set-top boxes (STBs). By using Windows Media 9 Series in their deployments, operators can deliver video at a fraction of the bandwidth required using traditional MPEG-2, while also ensuring secure delivery of content using Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM). Using Sigma's new EM8620L silicon, telco operators can push ahead with high performance and cost-effective set-top boxes, with trial and deployment of IPTV services based on Windows Media 9 Series expected to begin early this year.

For DVD player manufacturers, Windows Media 9 Series addresses a new wave of demand that will begin with the enthusiast and continue well into the mainstream consumer market as the year unfolds. Microsoft is focused on bringing together a number of elements required to achieve rapid acceptance of Windows Media 9 Series as an important digital media standard. The new level of compression efficiency achieved by WMV9 enables HD video to be stored on current DVD media or standard definition video on CD media. This content will then benefit from the protection of Microsoft's Windows Media DRM for fixed media. Finally, DVD players will be able to read and navigate a mixture of video, audio, and image content created using the new HighMAT format, a standard established jointly by Matsushita and Microsoft.

Over time, Windows Media 9 Series will account for a substantial amount of the video and audio content available. The release of a Terminator 2 bonus DVD in Windows Media Video HD from Artisan studios in June of 2003 was the first evidence of an underlying movement to deliver a large number of titles encoded in HD. Concurrently, the amount of compelling downloadable and streaming video content is also building up rapidly, and can be accessed from Web-sites such as at CinemaNow, iFilm, Movielink, Movie Magix, netcine, SkyPerfecTV, WOWOW and BMWfilms.com. Aside from commercially available content, Windows Movie Maker 2, Microsoft's easy to use video editing feature of Windows XP, is another tool that's providing consumers with loads of home movies.

The EM8620L Media Processor

The new EM8620L media processor from Sigma Designs provides a complete single-chip solution for IP video set-top boxes, DVD receivers and DVD players. The EM8620L offers a wide range of media processing functions for video decoding, audio decoding, and graphics processing based on REALmagic(R) HD technology, for the highest quality image possible on high definition displays. For single-chip systems, it features an on-chip RISC processor, PCI-bus, IDE controller and additional peripheral ports for supporting other subsystems. Configured with standard front-end components, the EM8620L provides a full-featured solution for advanced set-top appliances. Key features of the new EM8620L chip include: