SAN DIEGO, May 19, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Entropic Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:ENTR), a leading provider of silicon solutions to enable connected home entertainment, announced today that its next-generation Channel Stacking Switch (CSS) technology has been tapped by several OEMs for the large free-to-air (FTA) European satellite market. Entropic's RF5218 and RF5219 CSS chips are the industry leading and de facto standard for single cable solutions that fundamentally change and dramatically simplify direct broadcast satellite (DBS) delivery to the home.
Single Cable Solution Now Available for FTA Market
The global increase in HD content and the wide adoption of digital video recorders (DVRs) is driving the need to easily and cost-effectively support multiple tuners in the home. Entropic's CSS technology can support up to 12 tuners over a single cable and significantly reduces both the cost and the cabling complexity of single family and MDU satellite installations. Unlike traditional satellite installations, which require a unique cable run from the satellite dish to the set-top box (STB) for each tuner in the home, Entropic's CSS chipsets enable multiple video streams from individual or multiple satellites into the home over a single cable.
New consumer premise equipment featuring Entropic's CSS technology is being launched by top tier OEMS -- Axing, Jultec, Unitron and Wisi -- for retail, catalog and system integrator customers. These DBS products have been specifically designed to support the European FTA market and many of these products will be launched into the German FTA market. Germany boasts Europe's largest DBS FTA market with over 15 million households currently receiving DBS service.
"We are pleased to collaborate with Entropic on next generation DBS products," said Klaus Muller, CEO at Jultec. "Entropic's Channel Stacking Switch technology allows full design flexibility in meeting the needs of the German FTA and service provider markets."
The simplified cabling architecture enabled by CSS allows for the deployment of STBs with multiple tuner capabilities, in multiple rooms without the need for expensive installation or retrofitting. Additionally, CSS lets consumers and system integrators reuse existing coax cabling to quickly and cost efficiently set up a DBS system.
"A single cable solution provides a compelling value to both consumers and installers," said Axel Bechler, managing director of Axing AG. "Entropic's CSS single cable products lower end user costs in free-to-air single cable installations."
Next-Generation CSS Delivers Energy Efficient Performance
Entropic's second generation CSS chipsets, the RF5218 and RF5219, are low power consuming ICs specifically designed for both operators and FTA installers and retailers in the direct-to-home (DTH) outdoor unit (ODU) market. The new CSS chipsets, embedded in a Low Noise Block (LNB) or multi-switch, consume up to 40% less power than the previous generation and can support up to 12 tuners using a single coaxial cable enabling connection to multiple DVRs and STBs. By reducing the amount of cabling required to support DBS installations, customers can reduce costs and provide a more efficient, greener solution for the FTA market. In addition, CSS technology solutions enable consumer plug and play STB upgrades that lower costly truck rolls and reduce carbon emissions.
"Entropic's energy efficient CSS products are a perfect fit in our product line," said Willy Lamaire, general manager at Unitron. "We now have a robust, single cable solution to round out our full complement of FTA DBS solutions."
For More Information
Please contact Axing, Jultec, Unitron and Wisi directly for more information and availability of single cable products that incorporate Entropic's CSS technology.
Visit Entropic Communications and Partners at ANGA
Entropic Communications will be attending ANGA Cable in Cologne, Germany on May 26 - 29th. Please visit Entropic at Booth A-34. To see products with Entropic's Channel Stacking Switch technology, visit Axing AG at Booth B-31, Jultec at Booth L-38, and Unitron at Booth D-60.
About AXING AG
AXING AG manufactures equipment and accessories for terrestrial, satellite and CATV reception. They cover all aspects of the installation, between antenna or the house entry point and the receivers. The philosophy of the AXING company includes the basic idea of offering the customer a cost-effective palette of products and a reliable customer service. Our merchandise assortment is being continually expanded, thanks to our customer awareness and our flexibility. For more information visit www.axing.com.
About Jultec GmbH
JULTEC technology GmbH offers tailor-made customer-specific designs for RF applications, specialized in the field of CATV and SMATV distribution. JULTEC technology also offers consulting and OEM production. Products for challenging applications are designed and manufactured by JULTEC GmbH in Germany and offered under their own brand "JULTEC". Visit www.jultec.de for more information.
About UnitronGroup
UnitronGroup develops, manufactures and sells electronic telecommunication and multimedia accessories worldwide, mainly under their own "Johansson" brand name, as well as different famous OEM brands. Our flexible team offers you for every evolution a custom-made solution. UnitronGroup is an international group of companies, its main office is Unitron n.v. Belgium and there are production and R&D plants in Belgium, the Czech Republic (Deltronic s.r.o and Vesla s.r.o.) and in China (Unitron Asia Pacific Ltd.). For more information, www.unitrongroup.be and www.johansson.be.
About Entropic Communications
Entropic Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:ENTR) is a leading fabless semiconductor company that designs, develops and markets systems solutions to enable connected home entertainment. The company's technologies significantly change the way high-definition television-quality video and other multimedia content such as movies, music, games and photos are brought into and delivered throughout the home. For more information, please visit www.entropic.com.
The Entropic Communications logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4255
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical in nature constitute "forward-looking statements." Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Entropic's leadership in providing single cable solutions in the DBS market, the costs associated with the use of CSS technology in satellite installations, joint development efforts or collaborations, and continued or future integration of Entropic's CSS or other technology into products of OEMs. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Entropic's actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the effects of competition; Entropic's dependence on a limited number of service providers and customers; Entropic's ability to successfully collaborate and the ability of each of them to introduce new and enhanced products on a timely basis; the risk that the market for high-definition television-quality video and multimedia content delivery solutions, including the use of satellite distribution, may not develop as anticipated; the effect of intellectual property rights claims; and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of Entropic's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2009. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Entropic is providing this information as of the date of this release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.