Set Top Box 2.0

WHO WILL ATTEND

Set Top Box Manufacturers
Cable, Telecom and Satellite Cos.
Content Aggregators / Distributors
Content Producers
Software / Middleware Providers
Chipset/Semiconductor Mfgrs.
Press / Media

SET TOP BOX 2.0 - ISSUES AND TOPICS

Home Networking Standards – Operators must make strategic choices about which home networking technology to use as the backbone for connected home entertainment. There are many choices such as HomePNA, MoCA, Wi-Fi, Powerline, UWB, and others. Understand the advantages and potential pitfalls of these technologies and how they impact set-top box design, functionality and ultimately the operator’s service offering.

The Retail Set-Top Box: Myth or Reality? – CableCard was supposed to change everything, but in reality to this point, very little has changed. Do STBs sold at retail have a chance? What is the right mix of feature sets, form factors, technologies, applications…and cost, that will drive more competition and volume in the STB market. Can set-top box OEMs and third party applications companies create products that will provide a more compelling user experience?

Set-Top Box as Home Entertainment Server – As the proliferation of digital media and penetration of home networks converge, more opportunities than ever exist for operators to place themselves squarely in the center of consumers’ digital lifestyle. Developing the next generation of intelligent set-top boxes that can store, search, manage, transcode and distribute media throughout the home is the next major step in enabling operators to deploy services which can reduce churn and generate additional revenues. This session will examine how the convergence of technologies and platforms that have traditionally operated in isolation will impact future STB developments.

Integrating Broadband Content Delivery –YouTube and other user generated content (UCG) video portals are training a new generation to expect virtually unlimited amounts of video at their fingertips. This has not gone unnoticed by service providers, many of which are beginning to integrate broadband internet connectivity into their services enabling greater content choice for consumers. While most services such as AT&T’s Homezone only support selected broadband content services such as Akimbo, integrated web browsers could allow users to access all manner of Web content such as YouTube, podcasts, etc. Understand how operators can best exploit the synergies between online and traditional broadcast media and the impact it will have on future set-top box design.

Cross Platform Initiatives: Bridging the nth Screen – Traditional media business models are changing as consumer entertainment choices expand to the PC, cell phone and other portable devices. Technology providers are beginning to enable operators to expand content delivery to multiple screens creating synergies between the set top box and other devices within the home. At the heart of this revolution is an intelligent set-top box platform. Understand the technologies which will enable cross platform initiatives as well as the business models which will support deployment of these advanced features.

Enabling Interactivity – Studies are beginning to show that more consumers are spending time online for entertainment than viewing TV. Beyond the virtually unlimited content choice, interactivity is a key component supporting the staggering growth of online media consumption. Can the experience be conveyed to the living room? This session will examine the silicon and software ecosystems which can be integrated into the set-top box to support various types of media interactivity in the living room.

User Interface, EPG, Navigation and Content Discovery – As set-top box OEMs and operators enable a greater array of content choice and content delivery pipes into the home, traditional static EPGs (Electronic Programming Guides) won’t cut it. OEMs, operators and technology providers must work together to deploy new and innovative and interactive programming guides that bridge Web content, digital content on the home network, VOD and traditional broadcast media. This session will examine the emerging solutions for search and navigation from industry leaders which will result in a richer and more responsive user experience.

The Multi-Mode Hybrid Set-Top Box – Several markets, including the highly competitive Chinese market are moving to multi-mode STBs that can receive cable, satellite, terrestrial broadcast content as well as IP content from a broadband network. Understand the architectural tradeoffs and implications of developing multi-mode hybrid set-top boxes. This session will also examine the business issue for operators choosing to deploy this emerging class of STBs.

Set-top Boxes for the YouTube Generation – Consumer products like Sling Box and Apple’s iTV are not only capturing the imaginations of users, but inspiring traditional Telecommunications, Cable MSO and Satellite operators to embrace a whole new set of features, business models and content usage models. As operators move beyond the “we only do TV” model, they must consider the implications of bringing user-generated content and other Internet video content to the TV as well as allowing users to create and share captured video content with others. This session will also examine how the integration of Sling Box-like features into mainstream STBs will impact platform design and business models.

Future-Proofing the Set Top Box – The rapid pace of innovation in service offerings poses both challenges and opportunities to the service provider. Overlaying compelling new services allows providers to differentiate and potentially generate additional revenue per user. In addition, new codecs, delivery mechanisms, quality of service schemes, remote management, DRM, device support and security are all constantly evolving. Perpetually redeploying set-top boxes is not an economical option. This session examines the gains silicon providers, software vendors and STB platform OEMs are making in developing future-proof set-top boxes that can meet both operator and customer requirements in the future.

Balancing Price, Performance and Features – With increased competition, operators are highly motivated to differentiate their services. Often this means deploying new set-top boxes with the right mix of performance, features and price. Understand the tradeoffs that create winning set-top boxes for the Telecommunications, Cable and Satellite markets.

Emerging Applications for Retail and Operator-Deployed Set Top Boxes – Deploying advanced applications deliver a major competitive advantage to manufacturers and operators in the highly competitive television markets. This session will examine emerging applications such as surveillance and security, karaoke, creation of video mashups, social networking and other compelling apps. Understand how developers are working with OEMs and operators to enable and accelerate the pace of innovation and deliver more compelling products.

IP - STBs: Keeping Pace With Innovation - IP Set-top Boxes are undergoing a constant migration. Telecommunications operators are still tweaking service offerings and features while Cable MSO'S are working delivering IP video in order to stay competitive. Operator requirements are extremely diverse and IP-STB OEMs must innovate quickly to accommodate the ever-changing requirements of this fast-paced market. This session will explore IPTV services and the innovative IP-STB solutions that will be coming to market to support this burgeoning market. Understand how to stay competitive and ahead of the market requirements.