Welcome to today's broadband and cable news roundup.
The Verge has obtained photos of a broadband-connected video device under development at Boxee that blends over-the-air TV broadcasts, a DVR and Web apps. Boxee, which isn't commenting on the new device, already sells a US$49 dongle for its original box that can access live, over-the-air HD broadcast TV feeds. Boxee is targeting consumers that want a lower-cost way to get pay TV, but the company has also been working with Comcast Corp. on ways to deliver encrypted basic cable TV lineups to the device without the need for a CableCARD. The reported addition of a DVR runs counter to Boxee CEO Avner Ronen's relatively recent proclamation that the product category is "dead." Perhaps there's still some life left in those old bones yet. (See Comcast & Boxee Connect on Video Security , Boxee, Cable Spar Over Video Encryption , Boxee Tees Up Live TV Cord-Cutting Tool and Boxee's Ronen: The DVR Is Dying.)
Staying with pay-TV theme, Market Strategies International's study of 926 consumers, ages 18-plus, suggests that consumers are cutting down on premium channels, VoD spending, and other pay-TV add-ons. The researcher found that consumers surveyed reported a $42 monthly savings on their cable bill from cutbacks.
Advanced advertising software specialist This Technology LLC has opened up a Denver office and hired a trio of cable vets: VP of Engineering John Mick; VP of Sales Sean Rooney; and VP of Software Architecture Bryan Santangelo. This Technology will retain its New York City office, but is opening a facility in Denver to contribute to the "important DAI [dynamic ad insertion] innovation taking place in the region." The Denver metro area also happens to be the new home of Canoe Ventures LLC, the cable operator joint venture that recently killed off its interactive ad business in favor of a VoD ad-insertion strategy. (See Cable's Canoe Sinks Interactive Ad Business .)
Wipro Ltd. has launched Wipro Accelerate, a pre-paid broadband platform tailored for the U.S. cable market. Targeted to cost-conscious consumers and bad credit risks, Wipro's managed service handles billing, cash management, customer care and technical/operational support on behalf of the cable operator. (See Pre-Paid Broadband Doesn't Have to Eat Margins and Pre-Paid Opens New Frontier for US Broadband.)
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