LOS GATOS, Calif.—Broadband Networks Inc., driving
DVD-quality media content over the Internet to TVs and PCs, today launched its
timeshifTV(TM) player a new digital video recorder (DVR) for viewing Internet
delivered broadcast programming, as well as music, home videos, and digital
photography on a home TV. Broadband
Networks also revealed plans for its timeshifTV service that will provide
foreign and specialty media content to the timeshifTV player, allowing consumers
to "time shift" their favorite programs for viewing at their
leisure.
The timeshifTV service works with any broadband Internet connection. Users simply connect their home network
to their timeshifTV player for delivery of media content, photos, home movies
and stereo through standard A/V cables.
The player comes with a remote control for fast forward, reverse and
pause options, much like a DVD or VCR. The timeshifTV player supports
media playback standards, including Microsoft Windows. Media 9 Series, for
delivery of high-quality media over the Internet and playback from files stored
on PCs.
"The penetration of broadband service throughout the U.S. has reached a level where it now
makes sense to offer content downloaded from the
Internet," said Sean Badding, president of The Carmel Group, a well-known
telecom consultancy located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif. "With the right business model, products
like timeshifTV could hold lots of potential for delivering new types of content
via IP networks."
Broadband Networks will initially offer its timeshifTV service with
programming in Chinese, (including Mandarin), Korean, Spanish, Japanese,
Filipino, French, Hindi and Portuguese.
This content offering has broad appeal to the 62 million U.S. residents,
either foreign born or first generation, who speak a language other than English
at home and are seldom able to get TV from their native countries or in their
first language. Media content will
be protected with digital rights management software built into the timeshifTV
player and service.
