From Multichannel News:
EchoStar Technologies is pulling the plug on efforts to sell set-top boxes to U.S. cable operators and will cease development of its Aria platform immediately, citing lack of sales traction, the company confirmed Monday.
With the change, the company said in a statement provided to Multichannel News, it will shift resources to support "EchoStar's unique intellectual property and advanced content-delivery technologies." The company owns Sling Media, developer of the Slingbox device, and acquired the adaptive bit-rate technology of Move Technologies last year for $45 million.
However, EchoStar said it "remains firmly committed to supplying advanced hardware, software, and system solutions to its global cable, satellite, and telecom customers outside of the U.S. cable set top box market."
"EchoStar recognizes that the highly demanding and competitive nature of the U.S. set-top market is very cost-competitive," the company said. "After considerable review of the market and EchoStar's sales/product development efforts, EchoStar has concluded the U.S. cable market offers insufficient revenue return opportunities to the company and our investors."
EchoStar last year launched the Aria suite of products, which included hybrid Internet set-top boxes designed to let independent cable operators deliver over-the-top VOD and HD user interfaces.
The set-tops included "SlingLoaded" units, which provided access to TV and DVR recordings programs over the Internet. Along with the Aria devices, EchoStar was offering IP-based content delivered via the Internet to servers at an MSO's headend, to let smaller cable operators deliver VOD, an HD guide and Slingbox features to customers without a large capital outlay for infrastructure.
EchoStar had previously said at least one major mid-tier operator was planning to test out Aria. Cable One had been testing the Aria boxes but ended those trials after the vendor missed several delivery deadlines, Light Reading Cable reported in February.
EchoStar Shutting Down U.S. Cable Set-Top Unit - 2012-04-23 22:36:01 | Multichannel News
EchoStar Technologies is pulling the plug on efforts to sell set-top boxes to U.S. cable operators and will cease development of its Aria platform immediately, citing lack of sales traction, the company confirmed Monday.
With the change, the company said in a statement provided to Multichannel News, it will shift resources to support "EchoStar's unique intellectual property and advanced content-delivery technologies." The company owns Sling Media, developer of the Slingbox device, and acquired the adaptive bit-rate technology of Move Technologies last year for $45 million.
However, EchoStar said it "remains firmly committed to supplying advanced hardware, software, and system solutions to its global cable, satellite, and telecom customers outside of the U.S. cable set top box market."
"EchoStar recognizes that the highly demanding and competitive nature of the U.S. set-top market is very cost-competitive," the company said. "After considerable review of the market and EchoStar's sales/product development efforts, EchoStar has concluded the U.S. cable market offers insufficient revenue return opportunities to the company and our investors."
EchoStar last year launched the Aria suite of products, which included hybrid Internet set-top boxes designed to let independent cable operators deliver over-the-top VOD and HD user interfaces.
The set-tops included "SlingLoaded" units, which provided access to TV and DVR recordings programs over the Internet. Along with the Aria devices, EchoStar was offering IP-based content delivered via the Internet to servers at an MSO's headend, to let smaller cable operators deliver VOD, an HD guide and Slingbox features to customers without a large capital outlay for infrastructure.
EchoStar had previously said at least one major mid-tier operator was planning to test out Aria. Cable One had been testing the Aria boxes but ended those trials after the vendor missed several delivery deadlines, Light Reading Cable reported in February.
EchoStar Shutting Down U.S. Cable Set-Top Unit - 2012-04-23 22:36:01 | Multichannel News
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