ATLANTA -- TANDBERG Television (OSE:TAT) today announced that its pioneering MPEG-4 AVC digital compression solution has been deployed by U.S. Digital Television, LLC (USDTV) to maximize bandwidth usage and expand customer content choices for USDTV subscribers. Through the agreement USDTV, a low-cost wireless pay-TV service provider, will become the first broadcast television service provider in the U.S. to convert its entire network from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 AVC encoding. The deployment of TANDBERG Television's integrated MPEG-4 AVC solution will give USDTV superior quality video streams and more than double the amount of content the company can offer its customers.

As part of the agreement, TANDBERG Television will provide end-to-end broadcast encoding systems based on its industry leading MPEG-4 AVC compression technology. The fully integrated 28+2 MPEG-4 AVC SD system will be comprised of TANDBERG EN5930 encoders with Reflex(TM) statistical multiplexing, MX5640 multiplexers and nCompass control, which is used to transmit programming content via satellite. USDTV sends encrypted cable channels via satellite to local TV station partners where they are distributed over the air along with the broadcasters' primary channels.

Once the compressed video signals reach the consumer's home, USDTV's unique MPEG-4 AVC to MPEG-2 transcoder produces DVD-quality images on any analog or digital television. USDTV's proprietary transcoding device ensures a smooth transition for existing customers who simply plug it into the USB port of their existing set-top-boxes. USDTV recently announced its second-generation set-top-box, which includes integrated MPEG-4 AVC capabilities and will be launched later this year.

"We selected TANDBERG Television's compression solution because it maintains, and even improves, our video offering while expanding the amount of content we can offer our customers," said Paul Boyden, Vice President of Engineering and Product Development for USDTV. "The system provides us with increased bandwidth efficiencies and controls that enable us to ensure our customers receive an outstanding viewing experience."

Tandberg Television