DivX, Inc. (NASDAQ:DIVX), a digital media company, and Vestel A.S.
announced plans today to release a new STB from Vestel supporting the
high-quality playback of DivX video. The new STB is currently being
certified by DivX and is the first DivX capable STB to be announced for
the European market, expanding the DivX ecosystem in this important
emerging category.
Vestel is the world’s third largest original
design manufacturer for consumer electronics and a prominent producer of
STB solutions for the European market. Vestel’s
DivX capable STB, the t5000, is the first device of its kind to be
announced for the European market. The t5000 enables consumers to
seamlessly play back high-quality DivX video stored on personal USB
flash drives and complements the ecosystem of DivX Certified®
devices on the market including Blu-ray players, digital televisions,
mobile phones, and digital cameras. The new STB is currently being
certified by DivX and will be capable of being updated to full DivX
compatibility through a firmware field upgrade.
"A key defining trend of advanced television
services is the convergence of video content from numerous sources,”
said Kurt Scherf, Vice President and Principal Analyst with Parks
Associates. "The ability of set-top box
manufacturers to support high-quality video solutions –
including DivX – will be a critical factor in
their ability to offer flexible and unique viewing experience to
television subscribers. The new DivX capable set-top box from Vestel is
a good example of the type of integration we should expect in the future.”
"With the growing demand for devices that
play back DivX video, it was natural to ensure that our latest STB was
capable of supporting the standard,” said
Zafer Prim, Product Manager responsible for Digital Products at Vestel
A.S. "Consumers all over Europe have embraced
DivX as a way to enjoy high-quality video from the PC in the living room
and we are pleased to work with DivX in delivering a premium experience.”
"The STB market is an important new category
for DivX and the t5000 further highlights our mission of providing
consumers with a high-quality media experience across any device,”
said Kevin Hell, Chief Executive Officer, DivX, Inc. "Working
with Vestel has enabled us to continue expanding the DivX ecosystem into
a new product category and we are delighted that consumers will be able
to enjoy their favorite digital content with this device. We look
forward to this device becoming fully DivX Certified.”
Products that bear the DivX Certified® logo
have undergone a rigorous testing program to ensure a high-quality DivX
media experience that includes reliable video playback and excellent
visual quality. DivX is currently working to certify Vestel’s
t5000 STB and, upon DivX Certification, full functionality will be made
available through a future firmware update.
To learn about DivX technology, please visit www.divx.com.
About DivX
DivX, Inc. is a digital media company that enables consumers to enjoy a
high-quality video experience across any kind of device. DivX creates,
distributes and licenses digital video technologies that span the "three
screens” comprising today’s
consumer media environment—the PC, the
television and mobile devices. Over 100 million DivX Certified devices
have shipped into the market from leading consumer electronics
manufacturers. DivX also offers content providers and publishers a
complete solution for the distribution of secure, high-quality digital
video content. Driven by a globally recognized brand and a passionate
community of hundreds of millions of consumers, DivX is simplifying the
video experience to enable the digital home.
About Vestel
Vestel Group is comprised of 24 companies operating in manufacturing,
technology development, marketing, and distribution fields in the
consumer electronics, IT, digital technologies, and household
appliances, with € 3.7 billion turnover.
Vestel is the largest TV manufacturer in Europe, accounting for 21% of
the total TV, and 11% of the LCD TV, as well as 25% of the digital
set-top boxes markets in Europe.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical in
nature constitute "forward-looking statements." Such statements include,
but are not limited to, statements regarding DivX's visibility within
the investment community. Such forward-looking statements involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause
DivX's actual results to be materially different from historical results
or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: the risk that
customer use of DivX technology may not grow as anticipated; the risk
that anticipated market opportunities may not materialize at expected
levels, or at all; the risk that the Company’s
activities may not result in the growth of profitable revenue; risks and
uncertainties related to the maintenance and strength of the DivX brand;
risks associated with DivX's ability to penetrate existing and new
markets; risks regarding the effects of competition; DivX's dependence
on its licensees and partners; the effect of intellectual property
rights claims; and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section
of DivX's most recent report filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on August 8, 2008. All forward-looking statements are
qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. DivX is
providing this information as of the date of this release and does not
undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements
contained in this release as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.