SAN JOSE, Calif. — April 7, 2019 — Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) and Sony Electronics today announced an innovative demonstration of advanced, hybrid ATSC 3.0 functionality that expands cloud services and enhances the end-consumer experience for ATSC 3.0 TVs. Harmonic’s VOS®360 SaaS delivers both the over-the-air (OTA) and the over-the-top (OTT) components of hybrid services that run on advanced TV software developed by Sony Electronics. At the 2019 NAB Show, Harmonic will demonstrate its unified solution with Sony Electronics, highlighting practical hybrid services use cases that are currently implemented at the Chicago 3.0 ATSC 3.0 trial by Weigel Broadcasting Co. The implementation reflects both companies’ commitment to enabling the innovative capabilities of the ATSC 3.0 standard and support for the successful deployment of hybrid ATSC 3.0 services.
“With ATSC 3.0, broadcasters are taking a giant step toward delivering the best of what over-the-air and over-the-top have to offer,” said Jason Clement, vice president of software development at Sony Electronics. “Our activity with Harmonic is already making a huge impact on the next generation of television, as evidenced by the Chicago 3.0 deployment. We continue to be enthusiastic about ATSC 3.0’s ability to deliver dynamic new viewing experiences for consumers.”
“The delivery of hybrid services is a breakthrough capability of ATSC 3.0 that combines the latest improvements in over-the-air TV with a more personalized experience for viewers,” said Kyle Walker, vice president, technology at Weigel. “Using Harmonic’s ATSC 3.0 SaaS and Sony Electronics’ innovation in the TV software, Weigel was able to launch hybrid services quickly and with minimal equipment at our Chicago 3.0 test station.”
The ATSC 3.0 technologies developed by Harmonic and Sony fully support the delivery of hybrid services, in which some components of the service are delivered over the air and some components are delivered over a broadband connection. Using DASH on both delivery paths provides the common layer that unifies broadcast and OTT, making it possible for broadcasters to implement hybrid services without reinventing an entire streaming ecosystem.
The advanced applications shown at the NAB Show will include occasional UHD with seamless adaptability based on bandwidth, time-shift TV with trick-play, catch-up and start-over requests served over broadband, accelerated channel change, and robust OTA delivery by combining broadcast and broadband. The demonstration’s broadband connection between Harmonic’s VOS360 SaaS and Sony connected TVs illustrates how the companies’ innovations support the delivery of targeted content, including addressable advertising, allowing broadcasters to offer a more personalized user experience and open up new monetization opportunities.
“Collaborating with Sony — one of the biggest drivers of innovation in the media and entertainment industries — we are able to bring the promise of hybrid ATSC 3.0 television services to life using our award-winning VOS360 SaaS solution,” said Tim Warren, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Harmonic. “A year ago we touched on the potential of ATSC 3.0 hybrid services, and we are excited to demonstrate an actual implementation that has successfully been deployed in the real world at this year’s NAB Show.”
Harmonic will demonstrate its ATSC 3.0 solutions for hybrid service delivery at the 2019 NAB Show, April 8-11, in Las Vegas at Booth SU810. Further information about Harmonic and the company’s solutions is available at www.harmonicinc.com.
Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT), the worldwide leader in video delivery technology and services, enables media companies and service providers to deliver ultra-high-quality broadcast and OTT video services to consumers globally. The company has also revolutionized cable access networking via the industry’s first virtualized cable access solution, enabling cable operators to more flexibly deploy gigabit internet service to consumers’ homes and mobile devices. Whether simplifying OTT video delivery via innovative cloud and SaaS technologies, or powering the delivery of gigabit internet cable services, Harmonic is changing the way media companies and service providers monetize live and VOD content on every screen. More information is available at www.harmonicinc.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements concerning Harmonic’s business and the anticipated capabilities, advantages, reliability, efficiency, market acceptance, market growth, specifications and benefits of Harmonic products, services and technology are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on our current expectations and beliefs and are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties more fully described in Harmonic’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2018, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its Current Reports on Form 8-K. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Harmonic as of the date hereof, and Harmonic disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
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