[STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box business?

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telcodad join:2011-09-16 Lincroft, NJ kudos:2	[STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box business? Don't know how much to trust the NY Post, but here is their article on Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box business: Cisco thinking out of the set-top box biz NY Post - February 20, 2012 »www.nypost.com/p/news/business/c···mxCWOYew "After six years, Cisco is looking to switch off its Scientific-Atlanta cable set-top box business, The Post has learned. The Internet equipment maker, which in 2006 paid close to $7 billion for the tech firm, has put the company on the block as margins in that business have come under pressure, according to a source following the situation. “I know Cisco is out looking to sell Scientific-Atlanta,” the source said. A Cisco spokeswoman declined to comment. Much has changed in the set-top box business since Cisco acquired S-A, most of all the streaming of Internet content and the race to introduce video on multiple platforms. Arguably, the set-top box is becoming outdated. The most likely buyers are private equity firms, who often look to pay reasonably-low purchase multiples for mature businesses which they can use as cash cows, another source said. Microsoft had an interest in 2006, a source said, but much has changed in five years. Cisco has said it’s moving from set-top boxes to Videoscape, a product built on technology gained from Scientific-Atlanta that allows media companies to deliver content through the cloud to smart phones and tablets. In a public filing, Cisco said its key manufacturing facilities for Scientific-Atlanta’s products are located in Juarez, Mexico, and in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, it entered into an agreement to sell them to one of its contract manufacturers. Cisco closed trading Friday at $20.29 a share, up more than 12 percent this year after a rough 2011 that saw its shares lose roughly 8 percent of their value."
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-20 14:57:42 ·
telcodad join:2011-09-16 Lincroft, NJ kudos:2	Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin There is also this article on the FierceIPTV site today about the NY Post report, which also provides some more background: Report: Cisco's Scientific-Atlanta up for sale FierceIPTV - February 20, 2012 »www.fierceiptv.com/story/report-···12-02-20
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-20 16:11:05 ·
telcodad join:2011-09-16 Lincroft, NJ kudos:2	This article on the Light Reading Cable site this morning seems to cast some doubt [big surprise! ] on the NY Post's story: Cisco: 'We Love Set-Top Boxes' Light Reading Cable - February 21, 2012 »www.lightreading.com/document.as···r_cable& Quote from John Earnhardt, Director of Corporate Communications at Cisco: "Every few months there seems to be a rumor or speculative comment about our commitment to our set top box business. Let me be as clear as I can: we love set top boxes."
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-21 09:37:54 ·

telcodad join:2011-09-16 Lincroft, NJ kudos:2	A follow-up article on the FierceCable site on this now: Cisco: 'We love set-top boxes'; dismisses speculation that it will sell Scientific-Atlanta unit FierceCable - February 21, 2012 »www.fiercecable.com/story/cisco-···12-02-21
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-21 13:15:58 ·
telcodad join:2011-09-16 Lincroft, NJ kudos:2	An article on the FierceIPTV site that continues the speculation about a sale: Cisco 'loves STBs,' but is the business for sale anyway? FierceIPTV - February 21, 2012 »www.fierceiptv.com/story/cisco-l···12-02-21
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-21 13:22:08 ·
bohratom Jersey Shore will rise again join:2011-07-07 Red Bank NJ	reply to telcodad Cisco selling their STB business does not concern me. However if Motorola or another large STB provider were to purchase it then it would.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-21 16:15:26 ·
MrHappy316 Wish I had my tank Premium join:2003-01-02 Monterey, CA	reply to telcodad Maybe they see the writing on the wall as there is more talk about cutting the cord and folks complaining about constant rate hikes and having a box for every TV. Cisco may be getting smart and think that STB are on their way out in the future as economic times and other events/technologies come out have the public looking at alternatives.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-21 16:23:08 ·
telcodad join:2011-09-16 Lincroft, NJ kudos:2	Latest update on this story from Light Reading Cable: Why Cisco Wants Out of Set-Tops (Or Not) Light Reading Cable - February 23, 2012 »www.lightreading.com/document.as···r_cable&
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-23 10:12:14 ·
ajwees41 Premium join:2002-05-10 Omaha, NE	reply to bohratom why Cisco/SA are not very good boxes compared to motorola
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-24 00:53:43 ·
miscDude join:2005-03-24 Hendersonville, NC	said by ajwees41: why Cisco/SA are not very good boxes compared to motorola Traditionally, SA boxes have actually been much better hardware then the motorola boxes. The weekness has always been in the guide/interface loaded onto them. One of the primary advantages of SA boxes? they speak IP natively instead of a proprietary system to address a specific box on the plant.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-24 11:46:07 ·
telcodad join:2011-09-16 Lincroft, NJ kudos:2	A new product announcement today from Cisco and Rogers, a major Canadian cable TV company, that uses Cisco's Videoscape architecture that has been referred to in some of the set-top box articles: Cisco and Rogers Reinvent the Cable TV Experience With Cisco Videoscape Leading Canadian Cable TV Provider Selects Cisco for Path to Video Innovation Marketwire - February 24, 2012 »www.marketwire.com/press-release···4140.htm Also, on Roger's website: Introducing NextBox 2.0 »www.rogers.com/web/content/next-···-nextbox
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-24 13:19:34 ·
SPOOZ join:2011-06-20 Lafayette, CO	reply to telcodad It would be interesting if Google bought Scientific Atlanta. That way they would own both the Motorola and the Scientific Atlanta set-top box business and could reshape the set-top box interfaces in new ways.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-24 15:58:10 ·
neufuse join:2006-12-06 Indiana, PA	Did motorola mobility have their STB division? I thought that was just Motorola and the mobility division which google bought was just telecom not STB
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-24 16:09:32 ·
telcodad join:2011-09-16 Lincroft, NJ kudos:2	From a press release from the Motorola Media Center: Motorola Mobility Launches as Independent Company Begins Trading as MMI on the NYSE Jan. 04, 2011 »mediacenter.motorola.com/Press-R···52b.aspx "Motorola Mobility is comprised of two industry-leading global technology businesses. The Mobile Devices business is an innovative provider of smartphone devices designed to fit every lifestyle. : The Home business is one of the largest providers of digital set-top boxes and end-to-end video solutions. Motorola Mobility will leverage the capabilities of both the Mobile Devices and Home businesses to deliver innovative smartphones, tablets, set-tops and other converged devices – as well as content delivery and management, and interactive cloud-based services to consumers in the home and on the go."
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-24 16:24:26 ·
telcodad join:2011-09-16 Lincroft, NJ kudos:2	An article on the Light Reading Cable site on Rogers's use of Cisco's Videoscape architecture: Rogers Fires Up Cisco's Videoscape Light Reading Cable - February 24, 2012 »www.lightreading.com/document.as···r_cable&
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-24 16:44:07 ·
miscDude join:2005-03-24 Hendersonville, NC	reply to SPOOZ said by SPOOZ: It would be interesting if Google bought Scientific Atlanta. That way they would own both the Motorola and the Scientific Atlanta set-top box business and could reshape the set-top box interfaces in new ways. Wouldn't work. While Motorola Mobility hands their STB business, the interface and controller are handled by a group owned by both Motorola and Comcast, with Comcast having controlling interest in it. The existing deals will prevent Google from really doing much to shake up the existing setup. Now.... That being said, I don't believe anything in those existing deals would prevent a resurrection of the Motorola DCP501 concept. The only issue would be that Google has not had the best track record in selling/supporting hardware directly to the public.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-24 19:51:58 ·
ajwees41 Premium join:2002-05-10 Omaha, NE	reply to miscDude what make the hardware in cisco better than the motorola boxes?
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-25 23:54:00 ·
ajwees41 Premium join:2002-05-10 Omaha, NE	reply to SPOOZ said by SPOOZ: It would be interesting if Google bought Scientific Atlanta. That way they would own both the Motorola and the Scientific Atlanta set-top box business and could reshape the set-top box interfaces in new ways. how can they when it's all Cisco now?
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-25 23:55:22 ·
Russ join:2011-03-17 Houston, TX kudos:1	said by ajwees41: said by SPOOZ: It would be interesting if Google bought Scientific Atlanta. That way they would own both the Motorola and the Scientific Atlanta set-top box business and could reshape the set-top box interfaces in new ways. how can they when it's all Cisco now? Cisco would have to be willing to sell the set-top box portion of its business to Google. -- SA 8300 HD DVRs with Patched S25 Guide Links: 'S25 Guide Blog' 'Schedule' 'Info' 'Patch Thread'
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-26 19:00:47 ·
ajwees41 Premium join:2002-05-10 Omaha, NE	Russ how can they though since it's now Cisco cable boxes not SA So Googlle would have to buy it from Cisco not SA?
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-26 20:00:59 ·

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Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin