Home Box Office to Deliver 26 High-Definition Channels Using Motorola Technology
Motorola's field-proven MPEG-4 processing technology will increase HBO HD offerings
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - 09 AUGUST 2007 - Motorola (NYSE:MOT) today announced it will implement a 26-channel, high-definition (HD) MPEG-4 AVC encoding system for Home Box Office (HBO). Offered by Motorola's Home and Networks Mobility Business, the system compresses, encrypts, modulates, and receives the HD signals within a single integrated transmission system to allow HBO to expand its HD offerings to subscribers.
"HBO has a long history of delivering great programming in the highest quality and just as we were the first to launch a high-definition feed, we are now the first to commit to the full breadth of our channels in HD," said Bob Zitter, executive vice president, technology and chief technology officer, HBO. "Motorola's implementation of the highly efficient MPEG-4 encoding standard provides the quality that we require and that our customers expect."
Motorola is integrating key technologies to deliver high-bandwidth HD channels through increased capacity. Using very high quality/high efficiency MPEG-4/AVC encoding technology allows Motorola to ensure compliance with HBO's video quality standards. Additionally, Motorola's new multi-format Integrated Receiver/Decoder (IRD) will deliver HD channels in both MPEG-4/AVC and MPEG-2 formats.
"Motorola has made a long-term commitment to the advancement of digital video technology. As such, we are very pleased to work with HBO on this important industry project," said Doug Means, corporate vice president and general manager, Motorola Home and Networks Mobility. "We expect this project to change the way programmers approach large-scale, high- and standard-definition content distribution."
As a long-time leader in HD digital compression systems and a member of the Grand Alliance HD encoding effort, Motorola has deployed hundreds of HD encoding systems in the MPEG-2 standard. The MPEG-4 AVC technology has been optimized for today's content requirements, handling both 1920 x 1080i and 1280 x 720p resolutions at approximately half the bandwidth required with similar MPEG-2 coded signals.
About HBO
Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., providing two 24-hour pay television services - HBO and Cinemax - to over 40 million U.S. subscribers. The services offer the most popular subscription video on demand products, HBO On Demand and Cinemax On Demand, as well as multiplex channels and HD feeds. Internationally the subscription video on demand products HBO On Demand and HBO Mobile, along with branded joint ventures, bring HBO services to over 50 countries. HBO programming is sold into over 150 countries worldwide.
About Motorola, Inc.
Motorola is known around the world for innovation and leadership in wireless and broadband communications. Inspired by our vision of seamless mobility, the people of Motorola are committed to helping you connect simply and seamlessly to the people, information, and entertainment that you want and need. We do this by designing and delivering "must have" products, "must do" experiences and powerful networks - along with a full complement of support services. A Fortune 100 company with global presence and impact, Motorola had sales of US $42.9 billion in 2006. For more information about our company, our people and our innovations, please visit www.motorola.com.
Media Contacts:
Stephanie Forrest
Global Communications Director, Business & Technology, Motorola
+44 (0)7739 884452
stephanie.forrest@motorola.com
Laura Young
HBO
212-512-5948
laura.young@hbo.com
