Rovi Corporation announced that it has signed a new multi-year licensing agreement for DivX technology with Set-Top Box (STB) manufacturer Shenzhen Jiuzhou Electric.
For more information visit: www.rovicorp.com
Unedited press release follows:
Rovi and Jiuzhou Collaborate to Integrate DivX® HD in Set-Top Box
Rovi grows momentum in China by entering agreement with leading set-top box manufacturer for DivX HD devices
Santa Clara, Calif. – 11/14/2011 – Rovi Corporation (NASDAQ: ROVI) announced the signing of a new multi-year licensing agreement for DivX® technology with Shenzhen Jiuzhou Electric Co., Ltd., one of the largest set-top box (STB) manufacturers in China. Jiuzhou plans to integrate DivX HD into its STB products for sale globally, initially launching in Europe in Q1 2012. The collaboration with Jiuzhou is the latest in a series of wins for Rovi in the region. The company has not only been accelerating momentum with China-based OEMs and ODMs shipping on a worldwide basis, but it also recently secured an agreement with Mei Ah to power a new online video service in the region.
“The integration of DivX HD will contribute to a great viewing experience for consumers who use our set-top boxes to enjoy the wide range of high-definition videos available in the DivX format, including premium Chinese and Hollywood content,” said Huang Wei, vice president, Jiuzhou. “The number of set-top boxes in China is growing at a healthy pace, so having DivX HD also helps our STB vendors stay ahead of the curve in delivering the latest technologies to their customers.” According to recent IHS iSuppli research, China’s high-definition STB shipments in 2011 will rise to 3.2 million units, up 51.2 percent from 2.1 million units in 2010. By 2015, unit shipments are forecast to reach 5.9 million units.
“Jiuzhou is a premier China-based manufacturer and set-top box exporter, and we believe their commitment to launching devices with DivX HD technology illustrates Rovi’s continued momentum in key international regions as well as highlights the universal value of the DivX certification program,” said Matt Milne, senior vice president of CE sales, Rovi. “By making it easier for any global vendor to source STBs with integrated DivX technology, Jiuzhou is adding to the already expansive Rovi ecosystem and increasing the number of options for consumers who want to access and enjoy a growing amount of DivX personal and DRM protected content.”
Devices certified for the DivX HD profile can easily play back personal and protected premium entertainment in the DivX (.divx and .avi) format. The DivX HD format offers stunning visual quality and supports video resolutions of up to 1080p.
Recently, Rovi and Mei Ah Digital Technology Ltd. announced they will launch a Chinese online Video-On-Demand (VOD) service called BOYABO. Mei Ah plans to use DivX to power its content storefront in China, giving consumers access to premium movies and TV entertainment. Rovi is also collaborating with Chinese companies including TCL Corporation, Konka Group, Skyworth Group, and Hisense Electric Co., Ltd. Rovi now works with the four largest Digital TV (DTV) manufacturers in China, which are among the 20 largest worldwide.
More than 500 million devices with DivX technology have been shipped worldwide. DivX Certified devices contain digital rights management technology to enable the secure playback of premium content in the DivX format, helping consumers easily access and enjoy the wide range of Internet and Hollywood video entertainment available across an extensive, multi-manufacturer ecosystem of consumer electronics devices. Film Fresh, the WB Shop, and Media Markt are but a few of the global online retailers offering titles in the DivX format.
About Rovi Corporation
Rovi Corporation is focused on revolutionizing the digital entertainment landscape by delivering solutions that enable consumers to intuitively connect to new entertainment from many sources and locations. The company also provides extensive entertainment discovery solutions for television, movies, music and photos to its customers in the consumer electronics, cable and satellite, entertainment and online distribution markets. These solutions, complemented by industry leading entertainment data, create the connections between people and technology, and enable them to discover and manage entertainment in an enjoyable form.
Rovi holds over 5,100 issued or pending patents worldwide and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with numerous offices across the United States and around the world including Japan, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom. More information about Rovi can be found at http://www.rovicorp.com/.