DiviCom Sets New Standards for Performance and Quality with the Introduction of the MediaView MV25 Program Encoder; Company's New MPEG-2 DVB Encoder Provides Integrated Compression and Pre-Processing.

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 12, 1996-- DiviCom Inc., one of the world's leading providers of MPEG-2/DVB based products and components for digital video networking, today introduced a new program encoder, the MediaView MV25, which will be available in limited quantities this Fall.

The new product, which offers improved performance and quality but without a price premium, will be showcased in DiviCom's booth, No. 9332 in Hall 9 at the IBC, which starts tomorrow and runs through September 16.

The MediaView MV25 is especially suited to PAL applications and for satellite broadcasting applications where getting as many signals as possible on a satellite transponder or cable channel is critical. The new encoder -- built around C-Cube Microsystems E-3 compression chipset -- offers unprecedented video quality at low bit rates, and is also the first encoder in the industry to integrate the pre-processor and an advanced video compressor within the same unit.

"With this new encoder, we're giving our customers two ways to save money, but without sacrificing video quality," said Nolan Daines, DiviCom's president and CEO. "We are offering customers a more affordable encoding system, and a way to dramatically reduce operational costs by maximizing use of expensive transponder space. Our new encoder can literally pay for itself in transponder cost savings in less than a year."

Added Tom Lookabaugh, vice president of marketing for DiviCom, "This product introduction serves as a wake-up call to all MPEG-2 encoder manufacturers. With the MediaView MV25, we've just raised the bar on the price/performance and picture quality we believe all program encoders should provide. We challenge our competitors to help us reinforce these new high standards so that our collective customer base can offer outstanding and affordable broadcasting services."

Adherence to Open Standards and International Formats

The MediaView MV25 can be configured with a wide variety of input, output and control modules to provide flexible solutions independent of the transmission medium. In addition, interoperability with other products and systems is ensured through compliance with the MPEG-2 and DVB international standards.

The new encoder also offers advanced PAL and NTSC composite decoding and processing.

More Channels Per Transponder

The new price/performance standard being established by the MediaView MV25 is especially important for satellite broadcasters, who can spend up to hundreds of thousands of dollars per month leasing transponder space. The MediaView MV25 enables satellite broadcasters to increase the number of channels they can utilize from a transponder, thereby reducing the number of transponders needed to offer the same number of channels and programs.

Integrated Preprocessor 

Like its predecessor, the MediaView MV20 (the first in DiviCom's family of encoding products), the MediaView MV25 is a fully integrated encoding system. The preprocessor and the advanced video compressor work in tandem, sharing the complex information that defines picture content and quality. This creates a performance efficiency that contributes to the MV25's ability to perform extremely well at lower bit rates than when the preprocessor and advanced video compressor are separate.

Standard Modules

The standard modules included in the MediaView MV25 include:

Advanced Video Compressor (AVC): Independent of its interaction with the preprocessor, the Advanced Video Compressor works to dynamically reduce artifacts. Other key capabilities of this module include adaptive spatial filtering; adaptive temporal median and low pass filtering for noise reduction; automated I-frame insertion based on scene changes or picture content; MPEG-2 adaptive field/frame motion estimation and DCT; dual B frames which increase the efficiency with film material; and activity-based Dynamic Rate Optimization algorithm for statistical multiplexing. Other features also contribute to superior filtering and compression efficiency.

Enhanced Video Input Module (EVIM): One of the key features of the new encoder is the Enhanced Video Input Module, or EVIM. This module decodes PAL signals with a programmable high quality adaptive field/frame or 3-line comb. PAL or NTSC comb filtering enables the MV25 to completely remove composite video artifacts, and this further enhances picture quality and compression efficiency. The EVIM module also offers level adjustment of Luma and Chroma; serial digital video input; and video synchronization. It also extracts and outputs embedded audio from digital video.

Audio Encoder Module (AEM): The Audio Encoder Module offers two stereo pairs, MPEG layer 2, and performs at bit rates of 64-192 kbps per channel. It handles digital or analog inputs.

Additional Modules

Other optional modules available for the MediaView MV25 include:

Monitor Decoder Module (MDM)

Data Input Module (DIM)

Access Control Module (ACM) for DVP or DES encryption

Remultiplexer Module (RMX)

ATM DS-3 Output Module (DOM)

ATM OC-3 Input Module (OIM)

These optional modules offer additional features that range from audio and video confidence monitoring, to audio encoding for up to 14 stereo audio channels, to support for encryption and interfaces to conditional access systems, to remultiplexing and ATM adaptation.

Size, Pricing and Availability

The MediaView MV25 is available in either a three-rack unit chassis with slots for six modules, or a four rack unit chassis with slots for ten modules. The MediaView MV25 is competitively priced. Actual pricing will vary upon the number of optional modules required. The new encoder will be available in limited quantities this Fall, with full commercial availability in January 1997.

For DiviCom customers wishing to upgrade their existing systems to incorporate the new features of the MediaView MV25, the company will be offering upgrade packages that include software, a video encoding module and video input module.

DiviCom Inc.

DiviCom develops and integrates products and systems that make digital video networking possible. Products include audio/video encoding and decoding systems, and integration consulting and implementation services. Based on the MPEG-2 and DVB international standards, DiviCom's products enable digital video broadcasting over a variety of networks including satellite, wireless, fiber, cable, and twisted pair wiring.

DiviCom is a wholly owned subsidiary of C-Cube Microsystems Inc. (NASDAQ: CUBE), and both companies are based in Milpitas, Calif. C-Cube designs and markets digital video semiconductor solutions for the communications, consumer and computer markets.

DiviCom can be reached by phone at [phone], by fax at [phone], or via the World Wide Web at http://www.divi.com. -0-

Note to editors: This press release is also available electronically via the NEWSdesk Virtual NEWSroom at http://www.newsdesk.com.

CONTACT: DiviCom Inc.

Lisa Croel, 408/944-6530

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