Rovi Bangs Over-The-Top Drum

Rovi Friday launched TotalCode, a new line of encoding software for adaptive bit-rate video, and said it is working with Broadcom to integrate its new DivX Plus Streaming technology into the chip maker's system-on-a chip platforms for set-top boxes and connected TVs.

Rovi is demonstrating the new products at the IBC trade show in Amsterdam.

TotalCode, based on Rovi's MainConcept codec technology, is designed for post-production facilities and digital content providers such as broadcasters, cable operators and online-video distributors.

Last week Rovi introduced the DivX Plus Streaming adaptive bit-rate streaming solution, which the vendor claims provides superior quality and advanced DVD-like features compared with Adobe Flash and Microsoft Silverlight.

Santa Clara, Calif.-based Rovi obtained the DivX product line and technology -- originally designed for file-based video playback -- through its $720 million acquisition of Sonic Solutions, which closed earlier this year.

Also at IBC, Rovi announced the availability of an updated version of its MainConcept Codec software development kit. New features in version 9 of the SDK include: a H.264/AVC encoder wrapper; network streaming for Flash RTMP, DLNA Media Server/Renderer/Control Point and SIP IP conferencing; and fragmented MPEG-4 support.