We covered USDTV a few weeks ago when they launched the first digital over-the-air digital TV service in the USA. Since then, they’ve been making further progress, and have just joined up with Microsoft for another first: delivering HD programming to subscribers using Window Media 9.
They plan to implement WM9 by Q4 this year when they launch a second generation set-top box, which is expected to feature that increasingly common component: a big hard drive.
“Maximizing available bandwidth with Windows Media 9 Series will allow more broadcasters, especially network affiliates, to participate with USDTV,” said Steve Lindsley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Digital Television, Inc. “This will enable us to bring more content variety to viewers and create additional revenue-sharing opportunities for broadcasters.”
“Windows Media 9 Series enables USDTV to expand their programming and reach new audiences,” said Amir Majidimehr, General Manager of the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft. “Windows Media has approximately three times the compression efficiency of MPEG-2 and easily scales up to high definition (HD), delivering HD at what would normally be considered SD data rates.”