KTVU, channel 2, is the San Francisco Bay Area's Fox affiliate. Its studio facilities are located in Oakland, California at Jack London Square and its transmitter is located at Sutro Tower in San Francisco. It has been owned by Cox Enterprises since 1964, making it the largest Fox affiliate by market size that is not owned and operated by the network. It is technically the second largest Cox-owned station behind sister flagship (and ABC affiliate) WSB-TV in Atlanta, despite the fact the Bay Area market is larger than the latter.
KTVU signed on the air as an independent station on March 3, 1958. (The call letters KTVU had been previously used for a short-lived Stockton station on channel 36 in 1955-56, the successor to which, 1967's KGSC-TV -- now KICU-TV -- came under common ownership with KTVU in 2000.) KTVU was the third station in the Bay Area - after KQED and KNTV - after the FCC lifted the VHF permit freeze. Until the completion of the Mount Sutro television tower, KTVU transmitted from a tower on San Bruno Mountain.
In the few areas of the western United States where viewers cannot receive Fox programs over-the-air, KTVU is available to Dish Network customers through National Programming Service
CHCA-TV
CHCA-TV is a television station in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. It is owned by Canwest, and is part of the E! television system. The station is seen on VHF channel 6 and cable channel 11 in Red Deer. It is also carried in Calgary on Shaw Cable channel 18, and in Edmonton on UHF Channel 17 and Shaw Cable channel 19. The station was previously Red Deer's CBC affiliate.
CHCA-TV can be heard at 87.7 MHz on FM radios, though at a slightly lower volume than other FM stations - due to technical reasons.
Plans to extend the signal to Edmonton and Calgary were denied in 2005 by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), but a new application to the same effect was approved in 2007. The translator in Coronation, formerly CKRD-TV-1 on channel 10 is now on channel 13, broadcasting the Edmonton CBXT signal since the disaffiliation from CBC.
On September 7, 2007, local programming was renamed "CHCA News" as a result of the rebranding of the national CH service as E!.
CHCA-TV can be heard at 87.7 MHz on FM radios, though at a slightly lower volume than other FM stations - due to technical reasons.
Plans to extend the signal to Edmonton and Calgary were denied in 2005 by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), but a new application to the same effect was approved in 2007. The translator in Coronation, formerly CKRD-TV-1 on channel 10 is now on channel 13, broadcasting the Edmonton CBXT signal since the disaffiliation from CBC.
On September 7, 2007, local programming was renamed "CHCA News" as a result of the rebranding of the national CH service as E!.
WapTV
WapTV was the name given to the company which originated the WTVML (Worldwide TV Mark-up Language) as a content format for the delivery of Interactive TV applications using Internet Servers. The system is an Interactive television technology platform comprising a microbrowser, a markup language, and a significant collection of associated software tools and services. Further information, training and support is available from the Sky Interactive Developers' Programme. See for details.
The microbrowser and markup language are both based upon the Open Mobile Alliance WML 1.3 specification. The WTVML microbrowser is currently available only as an OpenTV application, although an MHP version of the waptv browser has been built for demonstration and proof of concept. An emulator exists, based on Craftwork's, STBe OpenTV middleware emulation.
The WTVML markup language is a heavily extended superset of the WAP Forum WML 1.3 specification. WML content originally designed for wireless delivery to mobile phone handsets will work without modification on the WTVML platform, with the exception that any WBMP images will not appear on the Sky Interactive microbrowser. WTVML version 6.1 was published as an ETSI standard in June 2004, and is now available for download from The WTVML schema definitions are available from. Errors, bugs, change and feature requests can be directed to the Bugzilla at
The microbrowser and the WTVML markup language were originally developed by Ian Valentine, Patrick Sansom and Andy Hynes who founded WAPTV Ltd. The company and its technology was partly acquired by British Sky Broadcasting in 2000, and fully acquired in 2001. Platform development has continued within BSkyB, and version 7 of the microbrowser and WTVML markup language was released in Q3 2004. The microbrowser and WTVML markup then became the cornerstone of British Sky Broadcasting's interactive platform strategy.
The platform brings internet-style content and interactivity to the Sky Digital platform by deploying a purpose-built WML microbrowser to the Sky Digital set-top-box over the satellite broadcast stream. Web site owners simply have to serve well formatted WTVML from their web servers to allow Sky set-top boxes and consumers to fully interact with their web services. In March 2007, Sky together with some of the Waptv founders "spun-off" the technology into a new Company Miniweb Technologies Ltd, with the goals of furthering the work on WTVML in a global forum, and enabling the deployment of the system in other networks and devices. One of the goals in the foundation of Miniweb was to facilitate the interoperability of Interactive TV content and Services across multiple types of TV network and devices, as it was considered that a lack of TV Centric internet standards has inhibited the ubiquitous deployment of Internet services to TVs.
New IPTV networks have the need for a TV Browser in their set-top boxes and various solutions exist, however as of 2007, the WTVML microbrowser is probably the widest deployed TV Browser and has a growing community of compatible Interactive TV Sites.
TV Sites for the OpenTV based Microbrowser are therefore web sites with a WTVML skin, and are often given a "wtv." sub-domain rather than a "www." sub-domain. Until the introduction of Sky HD in 2006, most Sky set-top boxes uses a standard 28.8 kbit/s modem to pull content across the online link. Because WTVML content is compiled into an encoded format by an online gateway before transmission, it must be decoded on the set-top-box before it can be drawn to the screen. For optimal performance it is recommended that WTVML files (decks) for download are no more than 70 K in size, with individual cards within each deck no more than 5 K in size. When fully loaded, the browser comprises three separate virtual layers, devoted to MPEG-4 & JPEG still image presentation, MPEG video presentation and OnScreen Display (OSD) presentation respectively.
Developers can combine modes to produce very rich and diverse interactive TV interfaces. Multiple modes can be defined as a modeset. Different modes in the modeset can be referenced from the WML cards and associated with service domains, allowing the browser to change its style as the user navigates from one service to another. A modeset is a collection of one or more modes defined in a standalone XML file. A modeset is referenced at deck level from the mode attribute of the wml element. A developer can define multiple modes within a single modeset, and can initiate changes between Modes within that Modeset at card level.
The microbrowser can access Broadcast Resources as well as online resources delivered from a WTVML enabled web server. Broadcast Resources are content elements that are delivered in the satellite broadcast stream.
A doset can be used to specify a set of menu dos that can be easily applied to many cards and across many services. The doset is defined in an XML file that is referenced from the dosrc attribute of the modeset element. A single doset can be referenced by multiple modesets, and so can easily be applied across multiple domains and services.
The names and locations of font resources for use within a service are defined by an XML document usually called fontset.xml. This document must be available from a URL, and is referred to from the fontsrc attribute of the WML.
The microbrowser and markup language are both based upon the Open Mobile Alliance WML 1.3 specification. The WTVML microbrowser is currently available only as an OpenTV application, although an MHP version of the waptv browser has been built for demonstration and proof of concept. An emulator exists, based on Craftwork's, STBe OpenTV middleware emulation.
The WTVML markup language is a heavily extended superset of the WAP Forum WML 1.3 specification. WML content originally designed for wireless delivery to mobile phone handsets will work without modification on the WTVML platform, with the exception that any WBMP images will not appear on the Sky Interactive microbrowser. WTVML version 6.1 was published as an ETSI standard in June 2004, and is now available for download from The WTVML schema definitions are available from. Errors, bugs, change and feature requests can be directed to the Bugzilla at
The microbrowser and the WTVML markup language were originally developed by Ian Valentine, Patrick Sansom and Andy Hynes who founded WAPTV Ltd. The company and its technology was partly acquired by British Sky Broadcasting in 2000, and fully acquired in 2001. Platform development has continued within BSkyB, and version 7 of the microbrowser and WTVML markup language was released in Q3 2004. The microbrowser and WTVML markup then became the cornerstone of British Sky Broadcasting's interactive platform strategy.
The platform brings internet-style content and interactivity to the Sky Digital platform by deploying a purpose-built WML microbrowser to the Sky Digital set-top-box over the satellite broadcast stream. Web site owners simply have to serve well formatted WTVML from their web servers to allow Sky set-top boxes and consumers to fully interact with their web services. In March 2007, Sky together with some of the Waptv founders "spun-off" the technology into a new Company Miniweb Technologies Ltd, with the goals of furthering the work on WTVML in a global forum, and enabling the deployment of the system in other networks and devices. One of the goals in the foundation of Miniweb was to facilitate the interoperability of Interactive TV content and Services across multiple types of TV network and devices, as it was considered that a lack of TV Centric internet standards has inhibited the ubiquitous deployment of Internet services to TVs.
New IPTV networks have the need for a TV Browser in their set-top boxes and various solutions exist, however as of 2007, the WTVML microbrowser is probably the widest deployed TV Browser and has a growing community of compatible Interactive TV Sites.
TV Sites for the OpenTV based Microbrowser are therefore web sites with a WTVML skin, and are often given a "wtv." sub-domain rather than a "www." sub-domain. Until the introduction of Sky HD in 2006, most Sky set-top boxes uses a standard 28.8 kbit/s modem to pull content across the online link. Because WTVML content is compiled into an encoded format by an online gateway before transmission, it must be decoded on the set-top-box before it can be drawn to the screen. For optimal performance it is recommended that WTVML files (decks) for download are no more than 70 K in size, with individual cards within each deck no more than 5 K in size. When fully loaded, the browser comprises three separate virtual layers, devoted to MPEG-4 & JPEG still image presentation, MPEG video presentation and OnScreen Display (OSD) presentation respectively.
Developers can combine modes to produce very rich and diverse interactive TV interfaces. Multiple modes can be defined as a modeset. Different modes in the modeset can be referenced from the WML cards and associated with service domains, allowing the browser to change its style as the user navigates from one service to another. A modeset is a collection of one or more modes defined in a standalone XML file. A modeset is referenced at deck level from the mode attribute of the wml element. A developer can define multiple modes within a single modeset, and can initiate changes between Modes within that Modeset at card level.
The microbrowser can access Broadcast Resources as well as online resources delivered from a WTVML enabled web server. Broadcast Resources are content elements that are delivered in the satellite broadcast stream.
A doset can be used to specify a set of menu dos that can be easily applied to many cards and across many services. The doset is defined in an XML file that is referenced from the dosrc attribute of the modeset element. A single doset can be referenced by multiple modesets, and so can easily be applied across multiple domains and services.
The names and locations of font resources for use within a service are defined by an XML document usually called fontset.xml. This document must be available from a URL, and is referred to from the fontsrc attribute of the WML.
Cable & Wireless
Cable & Wireless (LSE: CW.) is a British telecommunications company. In the mid-1980s, it became the first company in the UK to offer an alternative telephone service to British Telecom (via subsidiary Mercury Communications, merged into C&W in 1997). The company later offered cable TV to its customers, but it sold its cable assets to NTL in 2000. It remains a significant player in the UK telecoms market and in certain overseas markets, especially in the former British colonies of the Caribbean, where it was formerly the monopoly incumbent. The Caribbean division is expected to rebrand as LIME (Landline, Internet, Mobile and Entertainment). It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index
Dish Network
DISH Network is a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service that provides satellite television, audio programming, and interactive television services to households and businesses in the United States, owned by parent company DISH Network Corporation. DISH Network was launched in March 1996, and, along with DirecTV, primarily competes with cable television providers throughout the United States. They are registered as a Nevada corporation. The corporate office is based at Meridian, Colorado, though the postal designation of nearby Englewood is commonly listed as the company's location in corporate filings and news accounts
Technical information
Satellite dishes
DISH Network offers different types of satellite receiving equipment for obtaining signals from its diverse satellite fleet. Most of their consumer boxes are manufactured by Sanmina-SCI Corporation to EchoStar specifications. Prior to the December, 2001 merger of SCI Systems and Sanmina, DISH Network receivers were produced at factories in Huntsville, Alabama and Fountain, Colorado. Currently, receiver assembly takes place in Guadalajara, Mexico.
DISH 300
DISH Network's first satellite antenna was simply called the "DISH Network" dish. It was retroactively named the "DISH 300" when legal and satellite problems forced delays of the forthcoming DISH 500 systems. It uses one LNB to obtain signals from the 119°W orbital location, and was commonly used as a second dish to receive additional high-definition or ethnic programming from either the 148°W or 61.5°W orbital locations.The 119°W slot is one of two primary orbital locations, the other being 110°W, that provide core services.
DISH 500
After EchoStar obtained the broadcasting assets of a failed joint venture between ASkyB and MCI Worldcom, it had more than doubled its capacity by adding 28 transponders at the 110°W orbital location. Since EchoStar also owned the adjacent 119°W orbital location it developed the DISH 500 to receive the signals of both orbital locations using one dish and an innovative dual-LNB assembly. Although the new 20-inch DISH 500 was slightly larger than the then-current 18-inch DISH 300 and DirecTV dishes it had the distinct advantage of obtaining signals from EchoStar's two adjacent satellite locations for a theoretical 500-channel capacity. The DISH 500, as a result, provided very large capacity for local-into-local service, nationwide programming, and business services. In order to migrate existing customers to DISH 500, DISH Network provides value-added channels in addition to local channels that can only be received with the DISH 500 and newer systems. Some of these channels exclusive to these newer systems are History Channel International, Boomerang, The Science Channel,Planet Green and Comedy Central. With the launch of EchoStar X in 2006 at 110°W thousands of local channels will only be available with a DISH 500 system.
SuperDISH, DISH 500+, and DISH 1000+
During DISH Network's quest for capacity, they had accumulated an array of satellite broadcasting technologies, orbital locations, and surplus capacity using non-mainstream technologies requiring larger dish sizes. To capitalize on these broadcasting assets, DISH Network started providing extensive ethnic programming from lower-powered satellites broadcasting in the non-DBS portion of the FSS band. DISH Network offers specialized equipment for these customers including larger dish antennas.[citation needed]
The SuperDISH, DISH 500+, and DISH 1000+ systems receive DBS signals from both of the primary 110°W and 119°W locations (129°W for DISH 1000+) as well as lower-powered FSS signals from either 121°W, 105°W, or 118.75°W. To underscore how exotic these systems can be the DISH 500+ and 1000+ systems receive circularly-polarized signals in the non-DBS portion of the FSS band—the only American satellite television service to do so
Technical information
Satellite dishes
DISH Network offers different types of satellite receiving equipment for obtaining signals from its diverse satellite fleet. Most of their consumer boxes are manufactured by Sanmina-SCI Corporation to EchoStar specifications. Prior to the December, 2001 merger of SCI Systems and Sanmina, DISH Network receivers were produced at factories in Huntsville, Alabama and Fountain, Colorado. Currently, receiver assembly takes place in Guadalajara, Mexico.
DISH 300
DISH Network's first satellite antenna was simply called the "DISH Network" dish. It was retroactively named the "DISH 300" when legal and satellite problems forced delays of the forthcoming DISH 500 systems. It uses one LNB to obtain signals from the 119°W orbital location, and was commonly used as a second dish to receive additional high-definition or ethnic programming from either the 148°W or 61.5°W orbital locations.The 119°W slot is one of two primary orbital locations, the other being 110°W, that provide core services.
DISH 500
After EchoStar obtained the broadcasting assets of a failed joint venture between ASkyB and MCI Worldcom, it had more than doubled its capacity by adding 28 transponders at the 110°W orbital location. Since EchoStar also owned the adjacent 119°W orbital location it developed the DISH 500 to receive the signals of both orbital locations using one dish and an innovative dual-LNB assembly. Although the new 20-inch DISH 500 was slightly larger than the then-current 18-inch DISH 300 and DirecTV dishes it had the distinct advantage of obtaining signals from EchoStar's two adjacent satellite locations for a theoretical 500-channel capacity. The DISH 500, as a result, provided very large capacity for local-into-local service, nationwide programming, and business services. In order to migrate existing customers to DISH 500, DISH Network provides value-added channels in addition to local channels that can only be received with the DISH 500 and newer systems. Some of these channels exclusive to these newer systems are History Channel International, Boomerang, The Science Channel,Planet Green and Comedy Central. With the launch of EchoStar X in 2006 at 110°W thousands of local channels will only be available with a DISH 500 system.
SuperDISH, DISH 500+, and DISH 1000+
During DISH Network's quest for capacity, they had accumulated an array of satellite broadcasting technologies, orbital locations, and surplus capacity using non-mainstream technologies requiring larger dish sizes. To capitalize on these broadcasting assets, DISH Network started providing extensive ethnic programming from lower-powered satellites broadcasting in the non-DBS portion of the FSS band. DISH Network offers specialized equipment for these customers including larger dish antennas.[citation needed]
The SuperDISH, DISH 500+, and DISH 1000+ systems receive DBS signals from both of the primary 110°W and 119°W locations (129°W for DISH 1000+) as well as lower-powered FSS signals from either 121°W, 105°W, or 118.75°W. To underscore how exotic these systems can be the DISH 500+ and 1000+ systems receive circularly-polarized signals in the non-DBS portion of the FSS band—the only American satellite television service to do so
LocationFree wireless tablet TV
In October 2004 Sony unveiled a portable, wireless and rechargeable SVGA 12.1" LCD tablet screen with dualband Wi-Fi technology (IEEE 802.11a/b/g) which can receive pictures from the LocationFree player up to 100 feet from the source signal. The TV also has web-browsing and email functions, a Memory Stick Duo slot and an on-screen hand-drawing function for use as a drawing tablet. The screen can also be used as an intelligent universal AV remote control. These tablets were bundled with Base Stations.
Three versions have been released:
LF-X1
Original 12" Model, Aspect ratio 4:3 (LF-X1M is monitor only)
Besides included tablet, base station ONLY compatible with LFA-PC1 LocationFree player for the PC, sold separately. LFA-PC2 or later, as well as all other software players and the PSP are NOT compatible with this base station.
LF-X5
7" Model, Aspect ratio 16:9
Besides included tablet, base station ONLY compatible with LFA-PC1 LocationFree player for the PC, sold separately. LFA-PC2 or later, as well as all other software players and the PSP are NOT compatible with this base station.
LF-X11
Bundled with same LF-B1 base station as LF-PK1. This means the base station can be also be paired with other devices just like the LF-PK1 such as a PSP. However the LF-X11 tablet cannot be paired with another LF-B1 or other LocationFree base station, it is permantley bonded with the included LF-B1 base station.
Bundled with LFA-PC2 LocationFree player for the PC
Wireless 11a/b/g. Base station can also be used as a conventional Wi-fi access point if connected to a wired router via ethernet.
Please read LF-PK1 description above for more information and details about the LF-B1 base station and its different firmware versions, as they are the same base station.
Three versions have been released:
LF-X1
Original 12" Model, Aspect ratio 4:3 (LF-X1M is monitor only)
Besides included tablet, base station ONLY compatible with LFA-PC1 LocationFree player for the PC, sold separately. LFA-PC2 or later, as well as all other software players and the PSP are NOT compatible with this base station.
LF-X5
7" Model, Aspect ratio 16:9
Besides included tablet, base station ONLY compatible with LFA-PC1 LocationFree player for the PC, sold separately. LFA-PC2 or later, as well as all other software players and the PSP are NOT compatible with this base station.
LF-X11
Bundled with same LF-B1 base station as LF-PK1. This means the base station can be also be paired with other devices just like the LF-PK1 such as a PSP. However the LF-X11 tablet cannot be paired with another LF-B1 or other LocationFree base station, it is permantley bonded with the included LF-B1 base station.
Bundled with LFA-PC2 LocationFree player for the PC
Wireless 11a/b/g. Base station can also be used as a conventional Wi-fi access point if connected to a wired router via ethernet.
Please read LF-PK1 description above for more information and details about the LF-B1 base station and its different firmware versions, as they are the same base station.
DIRECTV Deals for Warren
It's easy to get DIRECT TV deals in Warren, NJ with fast FREE installation of up to 4 rooms of DirectTV service including satellite dish, free DVR (Digital Video Recorder) or HD (High Definition) upgrade, and Direct TV local and national programming with over 255 all-digital channels available of premium movies, family programming, music, news, sports, and entertainment. You can even get up to 72 XM Satellite Radio music stations included! You can't get all that on the old fashioned Warren cable TV.
Mobile applications continue to spur advances in TV tuners
In the last couple of years we have seen semiconductor tuners extending the reach beyond its traditional roles in narrowband cans. As digital technology permeates the mobile TV space, even though the market is growing at a slow pace, designers are combining advances in CMOS and silicon germanium (SiGe) BiCMOS processes with digital architectures and proprietary algorithms to deliver tuners that support multiple bands of frequencies and handle numerous standards with ultralow power consumption. Thus, a single device is enabling product makers to converge several applications into a single portable handheld device.
Besides eliminating SAW filters and other discrete components normally required with traditional tuners, the emerging broadband silicon TV tuners are also enabling product developers to address multiple standards using a single device. For instance, mobile TV space has multiple standards addressing this emerging worldwide market. As a result, to tackle market fragmentation, last year we saw suppliers unwrapping single-chip solutions. Microtune, for example, demonstrated a polyband universal tuner that could handle multiple mobile TV standards, while U.K.-based fabless startup Mirics Semi-conductor launched what it claimed was the world's first polyband tuner for mobile digital broadcast reception, enabling designers of mobile phones, portable media players and PDAs to easily add mobile broadcast reception to support any global standard. According to Mirics, its SiGe BiCMOS chip is capable of receiving all broadcast standards announced to date, including DVB-H, T-DMB, ISDB-T, DAB-IP, MediaFlo, DAB, DRM and even AM/FM, as well as the upcoming Chinese DMB-T/H (“Will Multistandard, Polyband Tuners Help Mobile TV Realize its Potential?,” July 2006, p. 10).
Since then, many others have advanced the product. In my column last year on this topic, I indicated that such TV tuners must now be integrated with multistandard demodulators to further drive the market. Well, Texas Instruments has made that move with its Hollywood mobile broadcast solution to drive mobile digital TV onto your cell phone. The TI chip combines a mobile TV tuner with a demodulator using a 90 nm CMOS process. Concurrently, some others are exploring the tuner plus demodulator integration in a SiP package. And recently, Frontier Silicon took another step forward by bringing on-board a baseband processor. Designed to bring mobile TV and data services to handheld devices for worldwide markets, Frontier Silicon's Paradiso1H integrates an RF tuner, multistandard baseband IC functions and ancillary passive components.
Meanwhile, new fabless semiconductor players like MaxLinear are combining digital architecture with a 0.13 µm CMOS process to deliver silicon tuners that set new benchmarks in size and power consumption. According to MaxLinear, its new silicon tuner for mobile TV applications measures only 1.9 mm × 1.9 mm to set a new record in size. Also, it consumes only 60 mW (maximum) power, reducing battery draw and minimizing heat dissipation — two important criteria for mobile TV applications, said the manufacturer. It supports ISDB-T one-segment and three-segment applications. It eliminates the need for an external balun, SAW filters and IF amplifier, which reduces board footprint and BOM costs. Plus, it requires a standard crystal frequency and includes on-chip RSSI function and standard I2C interface. MaxLinear said that its TV tuner is enabling several handset designs that target the Japanese mobile TV market, which analysts estimate will grow to 20 to 30 million units in the next 12 months. This market will expand beyond Japan into other countries like Brazil, where a variant of ISDB-T has been adopted as the standard for mobile and fixed terrestrial digital TV transmissions. Future versions of this product will support other mobile TV standards like DVB-H, according to MaxLinear.
These advances are not just for handheld devices. They are also coming to a PC near you. Consequently, any PC equipped with a TV tuner card will be able to display and record TV programming. A study from ABI Research shows the worldwide PC TV tuner market will grow from about 15 million units in 2006 to 41 million units in 2011.
Besides eliminating SAW filters and other discrete components normally required with traditional tuners, the emerging broadband silicon TV tuners are also enabling product developers to address multiple standards using a single device. For instance, mobile TV space has multiple standards addressing this emerging worldwide market. As a result, to tackle market fragmentation, last year we saw suppliers unwrapping single-chip solutions. Microtune, for example, demonstrated a polyband universal tuner that could handle multiple mobile TV standards, while U.K.-based fabless startup Mirics Semi-conductor launched what it claimed was the world's first polyband tuner for mobile digital broadcast reception, enabling designers of mobile phones, portable media players and PDAs to easily add mobile broadcast reception to support any global standard. According to Mirics, its SiGe BiCMOS chip is capable of receiving all broadcast standards announced to date, including DVB-H, T-DMB, ISDB-T, DAB-IP, MediaFlo, DAB, DRM and even AM/FM, as well as the upcoming Chinese DMB-T/H (“Will Multistandard, Polyband Tuners Help Mobile TV Realize its Potential?,” July 2006, p. 10).
Since then, many others have advanced the product. In my column last year on this topic, I indicated that such TV tuners must now be integrated with multistandard demodulators to further drive the market. Well, Texas Instruments has made that move with its Hollywood mobile broadcast solution to drive mobile digital TV onto your cell phone. The TI chip combines a mobile TV tuner with a demodulator using a 90 nm CMOS process. Concurrently, some others are exploring the tuner plus demodulator integration in a SiP package. And recently, Frontier Silicon took another step forward by bringing on-board a baseband processor. Designed to bring mobile TV and data services to handheld devices for worldwide markets, Frontier Silicon's Paradiso1H integrates an RF tuner, multistandard baseband IC functions and ancillary passive components.
Meanwhile, new fabless semiconductor players like MaxLinear are combining digital architecture with a 0.13 µm CMOS process to deliver silicon tuners that set new benchmarks in size and power consumption. According to MaxLinear, its new silicon tuner for mobile TV applications measures only 1.9 mm × 1.9 mm to set a new record in size. Also, it consumes only 60 mW (maximum) power, reducing battery draw and minimizing heat dissipation — two important criteria for mobile TV applications, said the manufacturer. It supports ISDB-T one-segment and three-segment applications. It eliminates the need for an external balun, SAW filters and IF amplifier, which reduces board footprint and BOM costs. Plus, it requires a standard crystal frequency and includes on-chip RSSI function and standard I2C interface. MaxLinear said that its TV tuner is enabling several handset designs that target the Japanese mobile TV market, which analysts estimate will grow to 20 to 30 million units in the next 12 months. This market will expand beyond Japan into other countries like Brazil, where a variant of ISDB-T has been adopted as the standard for mobile and fixed terrestrial digital TV transmissions. Future versions of this product will support other mobile TV standards like DVB-H, according to MaxLinear.
These advances are not just for handheld devices. They are also coming to a PC near you. Consequently, any PC equipped with a TV tuner card will be able to display and record TV programming. A study from ABI Research shows the worldwide PC TV tuner market will grow from about 15 million units in 2006 to 41 million units in 2011.
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