Microsoft and CableLabs Announce Agreement to Enable CableCARD on Windows-Based PCs
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November 16th, 2005 - Viewed
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Microsoft Corp. and Cable Television Laboratories Inc. (CableLabs®) today announced they have reached an agreement that will allow Microsoft and PC manufacturers to bring to market digital-cable-ready Windows® Media Center-based PCs in the holiday 2006 time frame.
These Media Center PCs, capable of supporting a CableCARD™ module, will allow consumers to enjoy one-way cable programming, including premium high-definition cable content, on their personal computer and throughout the home on compliant network-connected devices, such as Xbox 360™, while protecting cable operators’ investments in high-value content in a digital environment. Microsoft is working closely with CableLabs to document final approval of Windows Media® Digital Rights Management (DRM) as a content protection technology for OpenCable™ products that receive one-way cable content under the terms of this agreement.
“This agreement is an important milestone for our customers who want access to high-definition digital cable content on their PCs and a major step toward enabling a solution for the delivery of that content,” said Joe Belfiore, corporate vice president of the Windows eHome Division at Microsoft.
“The cable industry is very interested in having the PC serve as another means to allow consumers to enjoy cable programming,” said Richard R. Green, president and CEO of CableLabs. “By working with Microsoft and the IT industry, we have come up with a solution to enable consumers to enjoy the wide range of entertainment options they want.”
“This agreement carefully balances the need to preserve the flexibility of the personal computer for consumers with the need for cable operators to be confident that the hardware and software shipped with compliant Media Center PCs will function like a CableCARD-enabled digital television,” said Glenn Britt, chairman of CableLabs and chairman and CEO of Time Warner Cable.
The agreement is the culmination of more than two years of extensive evaluation and technical reviews performed by the two entities under the CableLabs OpenCable process to develop specifications and test suites for the new solution.
The specified OpenCable architecture allows for multiple DRM systems to be used in the device and ensures content providers of protected delivery of content to the PC. Microsoft® Windows Media Digital Rights Management is the first major DRM system to complete the due diligence necessary for approval by CableLabs.
The OpenCable project will continue to play an important role as the new agreement moves forward, allowing the cable industry to work closely with the consumer electronics and IT industries to innovate rapidly on the new specifications developed by Microsoft and CableLabs.
CableLabs will host interoperability events to enable vendors working on products based on these specifications to test products in CableLabs facilities and conduct more formalized certification testing. More information about the OpenCable project is available at http://www.opencable.com .
Media Center PCs deliver advanced computing and easy-to-use integrated digital entertainment experiences. To date, Microsoft has sold more than 4 million Windows XP Media Center Edition licenses, and more than 130 PC manufacturers are offering Media Center PCs around the world. The cable industry supports more than 370 models of digital televisions manufactured by 22 companies that display one-way cable content via CableCARDs.
About CableLabs
Founded in 1988 by members of the cable television industry, Cable Television Laboratories Inc. (CableLabs) is a non-profit research and development consortium that is dedicated to pursuing new cable telecommunications technologies and to helping its cable operator members integrate those technical advancements into their business objectives.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
November 16th, 2005 at 11:11 am
This is definitely a step in the right direction for the big MS. CableCARD support will, in my opinion, put Media Center PC’s at a distinct advantage over TiVo for now. TiVo had better come up with some new deals and new hardware - this announcement now puts them behind in the DVR world.
November 16th, 2005 at 11:16 am
TiVo is working on it. See: “TiVo Meets With FCC, Talks CableCARD“
I’ll make you a friendly bet that TiVo will have a CableCard box before Microsoft’s expected 2006 holiday release.
Too bad the initial implementation will be “one-way cable programming” not CableCard 2.0, which offers bidirectional communication for interactive programming guide, Pay Per View, and Video On Demand features. Expected release for CableCard 2.0 is also in 2006, so maybe it might still happen.
November 16th, 2005 at 11:27 am
I’d hope so - and if they could get dual-tuner recording along with that in one box, then I’d be back on-board the TiVo bandwagon.
However, I will gladly take that friendly wager. I believe the big MS is being extremely aggresive with MCE and the Xbox 360 as of late.
November 16th, 2005 at 11:50 am
one way is disappointing to hear… I thought by that time the spec would allow for 2.0 cable card and two way.
Also - no mention of whether you can do 2 cards / tuners… that’s pretty critical
November 16th, 2005 at 11:56 am
Shhhhhhh don’t question Microsoft’s greatness, we might come under fire. Remember, I was “Spinning CableCARD FUD” a couple months back when I reported it would initially be only one way (middle finger salute to all my detractors — sorry, I couldn’t help myself)
To be fair, TiVo will most likely face the same difficulties.
November 16th, 2005 at 3:08 pm
Did you guys notice that besides being able to watch cable TV shows through a PC monitor, users will also be able to view programing through devices such as the Xbox 360 that are networked to the cable-ready PCs? Pretty Cool!
November 16th, 2005 at 3:24 pm
This is another area were multiple cable cards become crucial since you will probably want the XBOX to be able to show a different channel than the one currently displayed by the MCE.
November 16th, 2005 at 7:21 pm
That gets me to thinking… if Vista PCs were able to support multiple CableCARDs, then all you would need for each room in your house is an Xbox 360 or compatible media adapter/extender. Neat. So wouldn’t that mean the Xbox will take away from set-top MCE sales since all you would need is one MCE server PC?
November 16th, 2005 at 7:47 pm
I don’t think so. I always thought the plan was a single home server (MCE) and an extender in each room. You could choose an XBox or other device capable of delivering or even controlling the content remotely. Clearly there are advantages to a single network accesible DVR / Media Server…though how many HD streams can you beam around your home on existing network equipment? Not everyone has wired GigE. The best experience will probably still be local in key viewing rooms.
finishing a program in another or watching the same recorded show in muliple rooms at different or simultaneous, but delayed times is very cool and goes a long way towards family viewing harmony.
Hopefully the hardware can keep up with Vista… we’ll all need some mega multi-core systems overloaded with RAM and special video cards just to handle the graphical UI.
November 16th, 2005 at 9:17 pm
I agree with you in the fact that the medium priced MCE will slow in sales, but not for the reason you are saying. I think (or maybe it’s just hoping) that we will see extenders with T.V. (or cablecard in) and a dvd player. From there saved content will stream from the main MCE to the extenders, but the extenders will also serve as self-standing centers as well.
but again I might be just wishing it (DO YOU HEAR ME NIVEUS MEDIA).
But this is the best news I have heard all day.
November 16th, 2005 at 9:25 pm
I like all the “out of the box” thinking going on here! Maybe we should create a forum for devices or technologies we would like to see on the market. And then we could post the best entry every month on the site’s front page. What do you guys think?
November 17th, 2005 at 9:35 am
The thing I keep thinking of, is how does this come close to beating the cable and satellite companies?
Right now, I rent 2 non-networked DVR boxes, with 2 tuners each for $7 a month, or $14 altogether. I get on-demand programming and what ever new feature they decide to add. If I have a problem with either one, I can get it replace at no cost, the only downside being that I lose whatever was stored there (which isn’t a problem usually). My wife knows exactly how to program it.
If I went with media center, I’d have to pay roughly $1200 for a PC and an extender with maybe 2 tuners. I would gain the flexibility to playback one recording in 2 different rooms, possibly, I could burn what I’ve recorded, I could store some DVDs on the hard drive. If I have a problem, I need to spend hours fixing myself and dealing with a phone support guy, but only for as long as I have a warranty. I doubt my wife would easily figure out how it all works.
Comparing costs, at $14 a month, a media center/extender would pay for itself in a little over 7 years. Of course, if the media center still worked then, it would be extremely outdated.
If you want a media center for the sake of having one, then it makes sense. Otherwise, they are still very far behind.
November 17th, 2005 at 9:41 am
Sounds like a fine idea to me. You never know who may see the ideas on the board and take action on it.
November 17th, 2005 at 9:46 am
My hopoe is that this will pave the way for other companies to implement cablecards as well. Even if not, it’s definately a big boost for MS and I’d even consider switching to MCE just for this functionality. Although I really hoped it’d be 2-way by the time all was said and done…
November 17th, 2005 at 10:35 am
I think that would be good. We should invite the manufactures to the page so they can see what their customers want.
November 17th, 2005 at 10:43 am
I kind of thought that moving to cable cards were going to allow us to move away from having to have 2 subscription devices in order to record and watch at the same time. For example, right now I would have to have two directv boxes at one location in order to watch and record at one time. I thought that the cable card, in addition to the hdtv, was going to allow us to get back down to one device (box, card, whatever) per location. I was hoping the computer would split the signal, and give us the mulitple capablities of the cable and satillitie company’s dvr boxes, without dual costs.
November 17th, 2005 at 10:56 am
After I posted the message, I remembered this was something kind of similar to what you suggested to me in an email. I’m still waiting to see the interest level in this idea. Maybe I’ll post a poll on adding this feature.
November 17th, 2005 at 11:04 am
Cool. I just think that we need a place to put our suggestions so that companies can see what we want, versus what they want to give us.
Maybe you can get a sponser to give away a $15 or so gift certificate to somewhere for the monthly winners.
November 17th, 2005 at 3:08 pm
This whole idea is great anything that pushes the cable companies to adopt a more friendly approach to moving content around the home is excellent. Until TIVO came along the VCR was the only time shifting device available. Now that TIVO and MCE have pushed the boundaries we have cablecard. What is next. I really want the ability to have a central computer that provides all my digital needs. Photos, Music, Movies, TV all beemed around the house with a wireless network to Xbox360’s or media extenders is my kind of enjoyment.