Toronto-based ViXS systems is using CES in Las Vegas this week to simultaneously introduce a new chip set and a consumer-targeted streaming stick extension, created to let mobile phone users stream free over-the-air broadcast channels.
The Xcode 5505 chipset is now available and delivers single-stream transcoding of HD video, with the support of a 600 MHz CPU. It has a USB 2.0 host port.
Available sometime in the first quarter, the CordCutterTV stick has the Xcode 5055 chipset embedded and delivers HD streaming with ATSC and DVB OTA reception options. It will support both Android and iOS devices.
ViXS hasn't released any information on pricing yet.
"The new CordCutterTV Stick will revolutionize this emerging OTA streaming market with its powerful hardware transcoder, high quality video output, its small form factor and its ease of use, making this platform a necessity for anyone looking to complement their On-Demand video services," said John Pomeroy, VP of marketing and business development, ViXS Systems.
The CordCutterTV Stick is one of several OTA-on-mobile products introduced following the June 2014 collapse of broadcast streaming service Aereo, which had its business model invalidated by the U.S. Supreme Court.
While the ViXS product is confined to OTA programming, the company has adopted a decidedly anti-pay-TV stance in its marketing.
"Recently in North America, there has been a significant decrease of traditional PayTV cable and satellite subscriber households," the company said in its product announcement. "Online subscriptions of On-Demand Video services are rapidly increasing, smart mobile devices are becoming the primary screen and the increased availability of diverse free OTA content has provided a new emerging opportunity for manufacturers. The culmination of all these trends has resulted in the opportunity to provide this growing consumer segment with a simple, affordable and easy to use OTA streaming solution, which allows them the freedom to watch free OTA content on their smart mobile device in addition to their On-Demand video services."
For more:
- read this ViXS press release
- read this Multichannel News story
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