Macrovision Signs tru2way Deals With CableLabs
Will Include Support for Interactive Cable Architecture In Its Products
By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 9/16/2008 10:18:00 AM
Macrovision Solutions, a developer of interactive program guides, content security and other software for home entertainment devices, has signed agreements with CableLabs that will let the company build products based on the tru2way interactive cable architecture as well as contribute resources toward the spec’s development.
Tru2way technology enables set-tops, TVs and other devices to access video-on-demand services, interactive program guides and other interactive applications.
Macrovision, which completed its acquisition of Gemstar-TV Guide International earlier this year, plans to incorporate support for tru2way into the Java-based j-Guide and the Passport IPG. In addition, Macrovision will provide key DLNA technologies for CableLabs’ tru2way Home Networking Protocol.
Other tru2way licensees include Sony Electronics, Panasonic, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, and EchoStar.
The cable industry has pushed tru2way as its preferred means of complying with Federal Communications Commission rules that require MSOs to let consumer electronics devices sold at retail to access interactive services, such as VOD.
The Consumer Electronics Association and several of its members—including Sony—had previously balked at licensing tru2way (formerly known as the OpenCable Application Platform), before the six largest cable operators this year agreed to revise the terms and contractually commit to widely supporting the technology.
