BEIJING, CHINA: Broadcom Corp. has announced the first high definition (HD), personal video recording (PVR) set-top box (STB) system-on-a-chip (SoC) solution for China.

This STB SoC solution is the result of the collaboration between Broadcom and Coship Electronics Co. Ltd, the first commercial high definition STB in China will provide advanced HD viewing, full 1080p support, improved picture quality, PVR functionality, interactive services (such as video-on-demand and pay-per-view) and a completely new video and audio experience, all in anticipation of the high profile 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The new Broadcom multi-format, high definition set-top box SoC solution, with digital video recording (DVR) capabilities, enables manufacturers to build next generation cable, satellite and IPTV HD set-top boxes that support the Chinese set-top box market.

Coship, the leading STB solution provider in China, is currently developing next generation set-top boxes (model numbers N8603 and N8606) that use Broadcom's new high definition STB SoC solution, and will provide Chinese consumers with unprecedented HD viewing, the latest interactive features and a wide range of video compression standards. The Coship N8603 will also include networked PVR functionality. These advanced capabilities and services will allow the Chinese viewing audience to have more control and flexibility when watching their favorite television shows and for upcoming sporting events during the Summer Olympic Games in August.

According to In-Stat market research, China's set-top box market is rapidly growing, and by partnering with China's foremost supplier of STB products, Broadcom is ideally suited to expand its portfolio into this promising market.

"It is estimated that approximately 14 million Chinese digital cable set-top boxes were shipped in 2007, and shipments are expected to reach 17.6 million units in 2012," said Anty Zheng, Vice President of In-Stat China. "This rapidly expanding market should represent a significant growth opportunity for Broadcom's STB business, given the company's leading technology, key partnerships and significant design wins with leading Chinese set-top box manufacturers such as Coship."

The Broadcom BCM7403 high definition STB system-on-a-chip solution for China is a highly integrated HD AVC/VC-1/MPEG-2 digital video SoC solution that enables manufacturers to cost effectively develop extremely high performance set-top boxes integrating the most advanced hardware features and functionality to securely decode, store and share multiple types of media including HDTV, video-on-demand, and Internet and digital music content.

Designed for cable, satellite and IP set-top boxes, the new BCM7403 provides advanced PVR capabilities and advanced playback of content from non-traditional sources, such as the Web or PC, directly to the TV.