REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- BigBand Networks, Inc., a leading provider of broadband multimedia infrastructure for video, voice and data, today announced that RCN, a leading provider of triple play cable, high-speed internet and phone services, selected the BigBand BMR® (Broadband Multimedia-Service Router) to implement digital simulcasting in its markets. Digital simulcasting introduces digital services by replicating digital versions of analog programs. RCN’s digital simulcast implementation utilizes the BigBand BMR to manage program line-ups, control video quality and bandwidth efficiency, insert local advertising, and transport video content between facilities.

In digital simulcasting, basic and enhanced basic programming is encoded to digital form at video headends. The BigBand BMR is designed to facilitate this while providing increased functionality and efficiencies such as local advertising insertion and Gigabit Ethernet transport. Ads can be digitally inserted within programs and transport can enable delivery of content to network edge locations where analog versions can be recreated and digital versions can be modulated.

“RCN has been working with BigBand Networks for several years to implement and enhance our digital television offerings to subscribers, and that relationship has progressed to include digital simulcast,” said Jeff Winn, manager of network engineering for RCN.

RCN has launched digital simulcast in Chicago and New York, and is collaborating with BigBand Networks on implementation plans for the remainder of the operator’s markets.

“RCN is broadly recognized for leveraging innovation and advanced technologies to best serve its subscribers, so selection of the BigBand BMR for digital simulcast provides significant validation of the platform,” said Pirjo Tuomi, BigBand Networks’ senior vice president of worldwide sales. “We are pleased with the progress that BigBand Networks and RCN have made in our collaborations over time, and look forward to future work together in enhancing triple play services.”

BigBand Networks Inc. (Nasdaq: BBND)

RCN Corp.