NEC DIGITAL TV CHIP INSIDE WORLD'S FIRST MHP-BASED IDTV FROM SONY.

Sony Europe's latest premium television for the digital age uses its uPD61030A Enhanced Multi Media Architecture digital TV chip.

The Sony KD-32NS100 is an MHP-based (Multimedia Home Platform) Integrated Digital TV (IDTV). The television, which premiered at IFA 2001, will be launched in Germany this November and is the world's first commercially available IDTV to support MHP. The launch places Sony at the forefront of an emerging standard for the European digital TV market.

MHP is a common API (Application Programming Interface) that is independent of the hardware platform it is running on. MHP was created by and is supported by the DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) which is an industry-led consortium of over 300 broadcasters, manufacturers, and network operators, software developers and regulatory bodies. MHP has enormous business implications for the future of the European digital video broadcasting industry. This will allow the creation of a truly horizontal market for IDTV's throughout the world.

The KD-32NS100 not only features the world's most advanced open broadcast standard, it also implements Sony's flat screen technology, FD Trinitron WEGA, and includes the Digital Reality Creation-Multi Function (DRC-MF), which increases the picture resolution by up to 4 times. Flicker-free viewing with 100Hz processing is also possible and Virtual Dolby Surround Sound is built-in with an optical output for connection to an appropriate A/V system for full surround sound. Additionally the IDTV set has a built-in digital satellite tuner giving the viewer access to over 100 Free to Air channels and services.

NEC's Enhanced Multi Media Architecture silicon powers the IDTV and provides generous processing power for the broadcast and interactive applications, together with powerful hardware assisted graphics support. The Multi-Media Applications Centre (MMAC), which is located in NEC Electronics (UK) Ltd's Milton Keynes based office, specified and supports the uPD61030A.

Tetsuya Hikino, Managing Director of NEC Electronics (UK) Ltd. said, "To have the opportunity to work with an established brand leader and ground-breaker is superb. NEC are proud to be associated with this product. MHP has the potential to enable a horizontal IDTV market to become established on the continent."