September 16, 2009

TWC Selects BigBand SDV To Expand HD

Time Warner Cable will be deploying BigBand Network’s Switched Digital Video (SDV) to offer new programming options in its Los Angeles, New York City and Dallas systems. 

“We have launched SDV in over 20 markets to date and know firsthand that, if we want to deploy new programming options for our customers, SDV is the fastest, most cost effective method for our existing network,” said Kevin Leddy, TWC’s EVP of technology policy and product management, in a statement. “With the bandwidth that has been reclaimed Time Warner Cable is able to offer over 100 high definition channels to our customers and can launch such services as DOCSIS 3.0 and HD Video on Demand.” 

BigBand's SDV solution helps service providers optimize the network spectrum needed for bandwidth-intensive services such as HDTV and long-tail content.

“Beyond bandwidth and more HD, it really changes the network from being a broadcast paradigm to being switched,” said Amir Bassan-Eskenazi, CEO, president and co-founder of BigBand Networks. “The first application is smarter use of bandwidth. (But) it’s a step toward personalization.”

The SDV solution provides a path to personalized TV by migrating seamlessly from multicast to ultimately individualized, unicast delivery. BigBand’s SDV is part of the company’s broader approach to achieve a converged network for video delivery as part of the Converged Video Exchange (CVEx) software platform. CVEx works to deliver and manage linear and non-linear video services across the network edge to traditional MPEG set-top boxes and next generation IP devices.  (For more on CVEX, click here).

However operators choose to move forward with personalization, “Bandwidth is a premium, and it’s going to be a premium forever,” said Bassan-Eskenazi.


-CT Staff