Foster City, Calif. — EchoStar’s Sling Media unit said Wednesday that ViXS Systems has agreed to collaborate on Sling Media’s new network transcoder, a plug-and-play, stand-alone Slingbox targeted for cable multi-system operators and multichannel video programming distributors.
The network transcoder incorporates Sling technology running a ViXS XCode 5190 chipset, which performs up to Quad HD to HD transcoding for delivery of four independent video feeds, live or recorded, to four separate mobile devices.
Sling said the transcoder is designed to seamlessly integrate with new and existing cable set-top boxes and will deliver a true TV-anywhere experience across popular CE devices, meaning service subscribers with the new equipment will be able to access video content from the set-top decoder on multiple devices inside and outside the home.
Sling said the network transcoder has already begun shipping and is currently being deployed by multiple cable MSOs and other channel partners in the United States.
The network transcoder will offer the same Sling experience enjoyed by users of Slingbox products, including the recently introduced Slingbox M1 and SlingTV, while adding new features designed for large-scale deployment through MSOs and MVPDs, the company said.
Using the ViXS XCode 5190 chipset, the network transcoder delivers up to HD-quality video of a customer’s TV shows and recordings to a wide variety of Slingplayer-enabled mobile devices including PC/Mac desktops and laptops, tablets and phones.
“Deploying Sling technology is one of the best ways for operators to extend the entire living room TV experience anywhere and our retail Slingbox products have long been a leader in this space. We are pleased to again be working with our long-time partner, ViXS, to deliver this solution to MSOs and MVPDs who are looking to add more value to their current customer offerings,” stated Michael Hawkey, Sling Media senior VP and general manager. “The Sling Media network transcoder provides a seamless way to integrate Sling technology for new and existing customers, further enhancing cable and telco TV offerings by extending the entertainment experience beyond the living room TV.”
