Topic '[STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box business?' in forum 'Comcast Cable TV' - dslreports.com http://www.dslreports.com/forum/STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-business-26916109 en Tue, 21 May 2013 08:54:25 EDT Tue, 21 May 2013 08:54:25 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28295879
Arris CEO: M&A ‘Distractions’ Took Toll on Motorola Home
Says Q2 Revenues Will Be Light, but Expects Sales to Accelerate in the Second Half of 2013
By Jeff Baumgartner, Multichannel News - May 16, 2013
»www.multichannel.com/distributio···e/143338]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28295879 Thu, 16 May 2013 09:56:09 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28240343 said by telcodad:

Google Protects Arris From Big, Scary TiVo
By Jeff Baumgartner, Light Reading Cable - December 20, 2012
»www.lightreading.com/google-prot···40145111

EDIT3: An article on the Multichannel News site saying that ARRIS would be responsible for a maximum of $50 million in TiVo’s current patent lawsuit against Motorola:

Arris Would Pay Maximum of $50M in TiVo Patent Costs
By Todd Spangler, Multichannel News - December 21, 2012
»www.multichannel.com/video/arris···s/140884

A trial date has now been set for TiVo's patent lawsuit against Google’s Motorola Mobility unit:

It’s a Date: Judge Sets TiVo-Motorola Court Battle
Patent Scrum Set for June 10, Bloomberg Reports
By Jeff Baumgartner, Multichannel News - April 26, 2013
»www.multichannel.com/technology/···e/142976]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28240343 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:24:02 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28235146
Arris Sees Video Gateway Market Start to Open Up
Three MSOs Assessing Gateways Based on the Comcast RDK
By Jeff Baumgartner, Multichannel News - April 25, 2013
»www.multichannel.com/technology/···n/142928]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28235146 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:15:52 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28214013 moto.arrisi.com/Video-Solutions/US-EN/Home]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28214013 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:49:51 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28213551 said by telcodad:

ARRIS completed the acquisition of Motorola Home today:

Arris Seals Up $2.35B Motorola Home Deal
Arris CEO Says Leadership Team of the Newly Combined Company will be Revealed Thursday
By Jeff Baumgartner, Multichannel News - April 17, 2013
»www.multichannel.com/distributio···l/142767

The ARRIS press release: »www.prnewswire.com/news-releases···311.html

ARRIS has now revealed its new leadership team and product group structure:

Arris Unveils New Leadership Team
Former Head of Motorola Home Marwan Fawaz to Exit; Robinson and McClelland Tapped to Lead New Home Devices and Network & Cloud Units
By Jeff Baumgartner, Multichannel News - April 18, 2013
»www.multichannel.com/technology/···m/142800]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28213551 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:43:41 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28211482
However, I don't think Motorola may have kept the "General Instrument" name long, once they acquired GI back in 2000.
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28211482 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:33:42 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28210857
For example in 2008 Scientific Atlanta (not referred to as Cisco, even though Cisco owned it since 2005) won a technical Emmy for VOD tech.
»www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/t···ers.html]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28210857 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:27:28 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28210847 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28210847 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:25:20 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28210819 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28210819 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:18:55 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28210339 said by telcodad:

ARRIS has now received US DoJ clearance for their purchase of the Motorola Mobility Home division from Google:

DoJ Clears Arris/Motorola Home Deal
Arris Expects to Close Proposed $2.35 Billion Transaction on or about April 17
By Jeff Baumgartner, Multichannel News - April 12, 2013
»www.multichannel.com/technology/···l/142678

FYI - An earlier LRC article that discusses the two companies' product gaps and overlaps: »www.lightreading.com/motorola--a···40145223

ARRIS CEO Bob Stanzione was interviewed by MCN's Jeff Baumgartner about what lies ahead for the combined company:

Stanzione: Arris Set for the Global Stage
CEO Says Arris Won't Shed Product Lines as it Streamlines, but Will Phase Out Motorola Brand Within a Year
By Jeff Baumgartner, Multichannel News - April 17, 2013
»www.multichannel.com/technology/···e/142772]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28210339 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:58:20 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28209836 said by telcodad:

ARRIS has now received US DoJ clearance for their purchase of the Motorola Mobility Home division from Google:

DoJ Clears Arris/Motorola Home Deal
Arris Expects to Close Proposed $2.35 Billion Transaction on or about April 17
By Jeff Baumgartner, Multichannel News - April 12, 2013
»www.multichannel.com/technology/···l/142678

ARRIS completed the acquisition of Motorola Home today:

Arris Seals Up $2.35B Motorola Home Deal
Arris CEO Says Leadership Team of the Newly Combined Company will be Revealed Thursday
By Jeff Baumgartner, Multichannel News - April 17, 2013
»www.multichannel.com/distributio···l/142767

The ARRIS press release: »www.prnewswire.com/news-releases···311.html]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28209836 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:10:01 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28203525 said by telcodad:

I think that a hybrid DVR design, part local/part cloud, may be the best way to go. A smaller-sized hard drive in the hybrid DVR would be used to record and play back short-term, time-shifted (and then soon deleted) programs, with an nDVR (cloud) recording/playback function used for long-term storage (for episodes of favorite series, mini-series, movies, etc.).

The subscriber would also be able to move individual recordings between the local drive and cloud storage as desired, to free-up space on the local drive, view items outside of the home, and be able to exchange DVRs without losing any recordings.

Right. Nothing wrong with the network storage AKA "the cloud" in-and-of-itself, it all comes down to implementation.
said by telcodad:

A local-cached index of the recordings could be kept in the DVR to allow material on the local hard drive to still be accessed during outages of connectivity to the network.

I've said that very thing in the X1 thread. It is unacceptable that the local recordings were inaccessible.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28203525 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:13:08 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28203457 said by SpHeRe31459:

said by Mike Wolf:

The whole cloud based DVR concept is foolish in the event of an outage of either internet or cable services, there are no locally available recordings. At least with Moxi and TiVo, it's located on the hard drive and available even during an extended power outage or down cables during a storm.

Absolutely. It's totally ridiculous that the local recordings were entirely unavailable to X1 users during all those major server issues a week or two ago.

Well, as this recent article on the Videonet side says, many MSOs believe the "cloud" is the future:

More network DVR, more cloud, and still more CPE?
By John Moulding, Videonet - April 9, 2013
»www.v-net.tv/more-network-dvr-mo···ore-cpe/

I think that a hybrid DVR design, part local/part cloud, may be the best way to go. A smaller-sized hard drive in the hybrid DVR would be used to record and play back short-term, time-shifted (and then soon deleted) programs, with an nDVR (cloud) recording/playback function used for long-term storage (for episodes of favorite series, mini-series, movies, etc.).

The subscriber would also be able to move individual recordings between the local drive and cloud storage as desired, to free-up space on the local drive, view items outside of the home, and be able to exchange DVRs without losing any recordings.

A local-cached index of the recordings could be kept in the DVR to allow material on the local hard drive to still be accessed during outages of connectivity to the network.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28203457 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:54:01 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28203456 From what I've read, the X1 does NOT have a 30-sec skip button either; that is a total deal-breaker for any DVR service for me.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28203456 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:52:55 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28202867 said by Mike Wolf:

The whole cloud based DVR concept is foolish in the event of an outage of either internet or cable services, there are no locally available recordings. At least with Moxi and TiVo, it's located on the hard drive and available even during an extended power outage or down cables during a storm.

Absolutely. It's totally ridiculous that the local recordings were entirely unavailable to X1 users during all those major server issues a week or two ago.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28202867 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:20:06 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28201149 on the hard drive and available even during an extended power outage or down cables during a storm.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28201149 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 01:28:16 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28201124 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28201124 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 01:12:10 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28199367 Based on the disaster that is the Comcast X1 at this point, perhaps it's better that Arris doesn't play in this space yet. :D]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28199367 Sun, 14 Apr 2013 12:36:12 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28197325
nDVR is the term that the industry has come to use for a totally cloud based DVR.

A whole home DVR is called just that or a newer term is "home gateway"]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28197325 Sat, 13 Apr 2013 13:43:35 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28197275 said by GTFan:

He claims in the article that Arris doesn't have a network DVR and Moto does, which is untrue. Don't know where that came from but they still have the discontinued Moxi and their own whole home gateway (son of Moxi I think), not sure if the gateway was ever purchased by MSOs though.

»www.arrisi.com/solutions/whole_h···ndex.asp

It looks like there could be some confusion over the use of the word "network" when talking about DVRs.

The term "network DVR" (or "nDVR") is normally used to refer to a system where a subscriber's recordings are stored remotely on the service provider's system, and not locally on a unit located in the subscriber's own home »en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_DVR

As far as I know (and someone please correct me if wromg), ARRIS has only marketed "multi-room" or "whole-home" DVRs, like that new Moxi Gateway unit »www.arrisi.com/products/_docs/Mo···OV11.pdf you mention, where the programs are recorded locally on the Gateway unit and then viewed in other rooms using a Moxi Player box, via a local Ethernet or MoCA "network" inside a home.

Motorola, on the other hand, had developed and demonstrated an actual nDVR system: »broadcastengineering.com/blog/mo···rked-dvr

EDIT: FYI - Another article that discusses Motorola nDVR platform: »www.cedmagazine.com/articles/201···-to-ndvr]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28197275 Sat, 13 Apr 2013 13:16:26 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28196929
»www.arrisi.com/solutions/whole_h···ndex.asp]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28196929 Sat, 13 Apr 2013 10:39:11 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28194742
An industry insider’s thoughts on Arris’ pickup of Motorola
By Mike Robuck, CED Magazine - December 21, 2012
»www.cedmagazine.com/blogs/2012/1···motorola

EDIT: BTW - the whole presentation from which that image/slide was taken from can be seen here: »www.arrisi.com/_docs/ARRIS_Moto_Home.pdf]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28194742 Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:06:17 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28194538 ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28194538 Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:06:56 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28193489
DoJ Clears Arris/Motorola Home Deal
Arris Expects to Close Proposed $2.35 Billion Transaction on or about April 17
By Jeff Baumgartner, Multichannel News - April 12, 2013
»www.multichannel.com/technology/···l/142678

FYI - An earlier LRC article that discusses the two companies' product gaps and overlaps: »www.lightreading.com/motorola--a···40145223]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28193489 Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:11:54 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28106135 said by cypherstream:

I'd be interested in seeing more designs featuring Intel, Entropic and ST Micro SoC's. Be very nice to finally see something other than a slow MIPS core at the reigns.

Yep really nice to see both Entopic and ST Micro offer ARM based SoC for set-top boxes. Even the industry favorite Broadcom has ARM solutions coming out.

There are other vendors that it's sad to see are missing from the list. Marvell has what looks to be an awesome set-top box SoC that's ARM based and uses their top shelf QDEO video processing for scaling/deinterlacing which would make for much nicer cable box output when set to a fixed resolution (i.e. the cable box converts everything to the set resolution).

said by cypherstream:

STB's are just SO under-powered. I'd like to finally see this centuries based UI's on them and users to be able to just zip around them flawlessly and fluidly like you would on an iPhone or Android Jelly Bean. I know we had good discussion on this before, but I'd just like to say I'm eager to see this STB revolution... and for ALL providers (Cable, Satellite, IPTV).

Agreed. It looks like the Comcast open license reference designs may start to do that. Time-Warner is already on board and other MSOs have shown interest in it.

As for other TV providers (i.e. Sat/IPTV), it doesn't take much to change the reference designs the hardware vendors create into whatever version they need.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28106135 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:57:11 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28105190 said by GTFan:

said by cypherstream:

STB's are just SO under-powered. I'd like to finally see this centuries based UI's on them and users to be able to just zip around them flawlessly and fluidly like you would on an iPhone or Android Jelly Bean. I know we had good discussion on this before, but I'd just like to say I'm eager to see this STB revolution... and for ALL providers (Cable, Satellite, IPTV).

Won't happen until either AllVid or some other IP streaming standard gets done for all providers. No one has any incentive to build STBs/DVRs for the masses right now because Cablecard sucks and is limited to cable and people don't want to pay for something that's decent, they'd rather rent.

You wouldn't need an STB for a new TV if there was an IP standard anyway, it would be built in. That's what RVU was supposed to be about for sat, well for DirecTV at least.

RVU still needs a gateway and it forces it's GUI and it's the DVR.

we need to be able to buy the box with no mirroring / client / outlet fees. Like Canadian systems. Some of them have the Arris Gateway systems and you can buy the boxes unlike some of the us cable systems with the same system that have changed up to $15 /mo to rent the mini tv box that Candian system are selling for $138.00 - $200 to buy]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28105190 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:05:46 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28105080
For now RVU will never have iPhone / iPad like "smoothness" navigating between screens in a remote user interface.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28105080 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:22:30 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28104658 said by cypherstream:

STB's are just SO under-powered. I'd like to finally see this centuries based UI's on them and users to be able to just zip around them flawlessly and fluidly like you would on an iPhone or Android Jelly Bean. I know we had good discussion on this before, but I'd just like to say I'm eager to see this STB revolution... and for ALL providers (Cable, Satellite, IPTV).

Won't happen until either AllVid or some other IP streaming standard gets done for all providers. No one has any incentive to build STBs/DVRs for the masses right now because Cablecard sucks and is limited to cable and people don't want to pay for something that's decent, they'd rather rent.

You wouldn't need an STB for a new TV if there was an IP standard anyway, it would be built in. That's what RVU was supposed to be about for sat, well for DirecTV at least.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28104658 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 08:08:16 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28104621
STB's are just SO under-powered. I'd like to finally see this centuries based UI's on them and users to be able to just zip around them flawlessly and fluidly like you would on an iPhone or Android Jelly Bean. I know we had good discussion on this before, but I'd just like to say I'm eager to see this STB revolution... and for ALL providers (Cable, Satellite, IPTV).

This leads me to this... I was streaming HD quality video off my xbox and it looked pretty good. It was only PCM 2.0 audio so my AVR had to expand it with ProLogic II, but the video was great over the internet. New xboxes start at $99 and they are light years ahead in terms of processing power any STB. Why not have a company come up with an IPTV service and cloud DVR.. launch an xbox app and then you could just get your broadband from whoever and get your TV from this cloud company. If you move across company, your channel lineup, DVR content and UI is the same... all without having to put up a dish. The xbox has more than enough power to make the experience snappy. Plus its a great "one box fits all" with apps to do other things or play games.

I use a Logitech Harmony 650 to control my xbox and that works great as a remote.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28104621 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 07:29:49 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28104084 said by SpHeRe31459:

The list of vendors covered in the article has many of the usual suspects, plus some lesser names thrown in... I notice the lack of Cisco on the list of vendors covered in the article though...

Yes, that is strange, although it does state that the companies profiled "include," so Cisco could still be covered in the report.

Cisco did obtain an RDK license, as stated in this Light Reading Cable article »www.lightreading.com/set-top-box···40135039 from last October, but then again, as it was also said (at that time): "A Cisco spokeswoman said the company has obtained the license, but offered no guidance on RDK product development plans."]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28104084 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 22:49:45 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28103787
The list of vendors covered in the article has many of the usual suspects, plus some lesser names thrown in... I notice the lack of Cisco on the list of vendors covered in the article though...

Box makers:
Arris (Making new gateway based on RDK, link. And now owns Moto set-top biz too)
Humax (implementing the high-end version of Entropic reference design which makes it an RDK Xi3 level box, link)
Pace
Technicolor

Chip vendors:
Broadcom (naturally, since their SoC are used in something like 99% of all new cable boxes)
Intel (has CE line of Atom processors, used in the first generation Pace X1 DVR)
Entropic (now making their own set-top box SoC based on ARM architecture reference box)
ST Micro (makes ARM based set-top box SoC)

Middleware:
SeaChange (VOD)
Espial Group
ThinkAnalytics Ltd. (Analytics for guide recommendations)

Too bad the full text of the article costs $900]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28103787 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:04:55 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28102848
Comcast Uses RDKs to Revive STBs, Heavy Reading Finds
Set-top box love is dying, but Comcast is using its new RDK to reignite operator interest, says Heavy Reading Cable Industry Insider
Heavy Reading Press Release - March 14, 2013
»www.prnewswire.com/news-releases···651.html]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28102848 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:37:23 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28009897
Cisco Is 'Walking Away' From Low-Margin Set-Top Deals: Chambers
Service Provider Video Revenue Up 20% Due to NDS Acquisition
By Todd Spangler, Multichannel News - February 13, 2013
»www.multichannel.com/cable-opera···s/141719]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-28009897 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 10:57:37 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27921693 said by telcodad:

An article on the Light Reading Cable site today about all the STB vendors that have now licensed Comcast's Reference Design Kit (RDK):

Cisco, Humax & Technicolor Join Comcast's Crew
By Jeff Baumgartner, Light Reading Cable - October 10, 2012
»www.lightreading.com/document.as···lr_cable

An update on the LRC site today on all the companies that have now been licensed for Comcast's RDK:

Who's on Board With Comcast's Set-Top Kit?
By Jeff Baumgartner, Light Reading Cable - January 17, 2013
»www.lightreading.com/dvrs/whos-o···40146217]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27921693 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:10:01 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27845688
Motorola & Arris: Product Gaps & Overlaps
By Jeff Baumgartner, Light Reading Cable - December 21, 2012
»www.lightreading.com/document.as···lr_cable]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27845688 Fri, 21 Dec 2012 09:37:28 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27842994 said by SpHeRe31459:

A mostly rhetorical thought: Since Comcast is a huge Motorola client, what are the chances that we'll get the 6-tuner Moxi Gateway now that Motorola is owned by Arris.
I realize the answer is slim to none, since the Moxi basically takes the X1 head on, and that's Comcast new preferred reference platform (even though currently it doesn't have all 6-tuners enabled, etc. etc.).

said by mikedz4:

unfortunately probably not anytime soon. Motorola/google will still issue boxes until probably late 2013 when the transaction closes and everything is switched over. Hopefully by that time comcast will have delivered the new x1 box and programming guide to most of their footprint.

Yeah, as you say, ARRIS has their re-designed Moxi Gateway system (»www.arrisi.com/products/premises/index.asp) right now.
See the discussions about that in these previous threads:
»[STB] Moxi
»Re: Comcast AnyRoom DVR isn't Keeping Pace with its Competition
»Re: Comcast AnyRoom DVR isn't Keeping Pace with its Competition]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27842994 Thu, 20 Dec 2012 13:21:19 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27842108
Arris to buy Motorola Mobility home division for $2.35B from Google
Set-top vendor will challenge Cisco, Pace, Humax
By Steve Donohue, FierceCable - December 19, 2012
»www.fiercecable.com/story/arris-···12-12-19

Google Sells Moto Home to Arris for $2.35B
By Craig Matsumoto, Light Reading Cable - December 19, 2012
»www.lightreading.com/document.as···lr_cable

Google Protects Arris From Big, Scary TiVo
By Jeff Baumgartner, Light Reading Cable - December 20, 2012
»www.lightreading.com/document.as···lr_cable

EDIT: Also on the CED Magazine site: »www.cedmagazine.com/news/2012/12···e-for-2b

EDIT2: And now this blog item by Jeff Baumgartner of Light Reading Cable:

Arris Swings for the Fences
By Jeff Baumgartner, Light Reading Cable - December 20, 2012
»www.lightreading.com/blog.asp?bl···lr_cable

EDIT3: An article on the Multichannel News site saying that ARRIS would be responsible for a maximum of $50 million in TiVo’s current patent lawsuit against Motorola:

Arris Would Pay Maximum of $50M in TiVo Patent Costs
By Todd Spangler, Multichannel News - December 21, 2012
»www.multichannel.com/video/arris···s/140884]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27842108 Thu, 20 Dec 2012 09:50:27 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27840962 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27840962 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 21:14:39 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27840851 I realize the answer is slim to none, since the Moxi basically takes the X1 head on, and that's Comcast new preferred reference platform (even though currently it doesn't have all 6-tuners enabled, etc. etc.). ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27840851 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:45:03 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27840629
Here's an article on the sale from the Multichannel News site:

Arris to Buy Motorola's Home Unit from Google for $2.35B
By Todd Spangler, Multichannel News - December 19, 2012
»www.multichannel.com/cable-opera···b/140830]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27840629 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 19:35:01 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27840607 said by telcodad:

A sale to ARRIS is now looking more likely:

Google Said to Get Best Bids for Unit from Pace, Arris
By Serena Saitto & Brian Womack, Bloomberg - December 10, 2012
»www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-0···ris.html

and given this reader comment to the LRC article (»www.lightreading.com/blog.asp?bl···46&#msgs ):

Re: While we're speculating...
By sbiller1
Monday December 10, 2012 6:18:12 AM

Now that we've heard from Bloomberg that the two leading bids are from Pace and Arris, I think the answer to your question about Google indemnifying any potential acquirer to the litigation risk associated with the TiVo suit seems plausible. Pace has a market cap of close to $500 million making it a stretch for me to see how they can swallow the Moto business without significant financing from Google. Arris' 1.6 billion market cap seems more in-line with the numbers being reported. An interesting side-effect of the Pace rumor is they already have a deal with TiVo. Perhaps the deal already includes a baked-in settlement (credit?) with TiVo for past infringement, etc.

Looks like Arris officially got Motorola's cable division. Surprised it's not on the front page...

»www.engadget.com/2012/12/19/goog···e-arris/

quote:
Ever since Google announced it would acquire Motorola Mobility last year there have been questions about what it would do with the company's large internet and TV set-top box business, and now that question has been answered: it's selling Motorola Home to Arris for $2.35 billion in cash and stock. Another maker of cable boxes and modems, Arris says the acquisition will both increase its product offering, and increase its patent portfolio thanks to a license to "a wide array" of Motorola Mobility patents. The transaction has been approved by the boards of both companies, and they expect the deal to close in Q2 2013.
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27840607 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 19:28:02 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27837434 said by mikedz4:

why would they sell the highly successful cisco router business?

Easy, to Cisco, Linksys is just a piddly little product line that is sold for cheap (since it's a home user product line that competes in the highly competitive, and discounted, SOHO market). Cisco has a highly successful AND profitable product line already, they did before they acquired Linksys... it's their enterprise class network equipment, it's a defacto standard for enterprise networks. Hell Cisco equipment pretty much runs the Internet as we know it....]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27837434 Tue, 18 Dec 2012 22:37:34 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27837424 said by mikedz4:

why would they sell the highly successful cisco router business?

They are only looking to sell the consumer router part (i.e., Linksys), not their corporate/enterprise router one. As the article says: "Cisco wants to sell Linksys as part of its strategy to exit consumer businesses while expanding in corporate software and technology services."]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27837424 Tue, 18 Dec 2012 22:35:59 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27837374 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27837374 Tue, 18 Dec 2012 22:20:20 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27835576
Cisco Said to Hire Barclays to Sell Linksys Division
By Serena Saitto & Jordan Robertson, Bloomberg - December 16, 2012
»www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-1···ion.html

From the article:
Cisco wants to sell Linksys as part of its strategy to exit consumer businesses while expanding in corporate software and technology services. Chief Executive Officer John Chambers eliminated 7,800 jobs over the past year and closed businesses such as the Flip video-camera unit amid a slowdown in sales growth after a foray into consumer technologies backfired.

In addition to Linksys, Cisco also operates in the home market with its Scientific Atlanta set-top-box unit and with NDS Group Ltd., a software maker for paid-television channels used by British Sky Broadcasting Group, Canal Plus and DirecTV. Cisco bought NDS in July for $5 billion.
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27835576 Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:04:30 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27810302 Pace says it wants Motorola
Set-top box maker confirms it offered 'indicative, non-binding bid' to Google
By Jim Barthold, FierceIPTV - December 11, 2012
»www.fierceiptv.com/story/pace-sa···12-12-11]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27810302 Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:39:05 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27806311
Pace Bids For Motorola Home
By Jeff Baumgartner, Light Reading Cable - December 10, 2012
»www.lightreading.com/document.as···lr_cable

Also on the Multichannel News site: »www.multichannel.com/technology/···t/140651]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27806311 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 13:38:52 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27805547
Google Said to Get Best Bids for Unit from Pace, Arris
By Serena Saitto & Brian Womack, Bloomberg - December 10, 2012
»www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-0···ris.html

and given this reader comment to the LRC article (»www.lightreading.com/blog.asp?bl···46&#msgs ):
Re: While we're speculating...
By sbiller1
Monday December 10, 2012 6:18:12 AM

Now that we've heard from Bloomberg that the two leading bids are from Pace and Arris, I think the answer to your question about Google indemnifying any potential acquirer to the litigation risk associated with the TiVo suit seems plausible. Pace has a market cap of close to $500 million making it a stretch for me to see how they can swallow the Moto business without significant financing from Google. Arris' 1.6 billion market cap seems more in-line with the numbers being reported. An interesting side-effect of the Pace rumor is they already have a deal with TiVo. Perhaps the deal already includes a baked-in settlement (credit?) with TiVo for past infringement, etc.
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27805547 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 10:30:34 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27803405 said by mikedz4:

Could one company buy both cisco and motorola's cable units?

I don't think that would fly, that would effectively make the combined company a near cable equipment monopoly, so I highly doubt even if something like that were to come about, that it would be allowed.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27803405 Sun, 09 Dec 2012 15:13:12 EDT Re: [STB] Cisco thinking of getting out of the set-top box busin http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27800738
Is there any chance of a service like genie or hopper coming to cable?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-STB-Cisco-thinking-of-getting-out-of-the-settop-box-busin-27800738 Sat, 08 Dec 2012 13:18:31 EDT